University College Birmingham celebrates top 10 students’ union position | News

August 2026

University celebrates top 10 students’ union position as Guild publishes annual review

By Claire Huggins

Share post:

Read time: approx 4 mins

University College Birmingham (UCB) is celebrating another standout year for its Guild of Students, after the students’ union published its latest Annual Review 2025-2026, confirming major growth in student involvement, sector-facing impact and employability outcomes.

With an 85% satisfaction score in the National Student Survey (NSS), the Guild is ranked among the top 10 students’ unions amongst providers included in Times Higher Education reporting - a success that reflects the strength of the University’s wider student experience.

Soham Chougale, Guild Education Officer, speaks in Parliament

Guild achievements strengthen UCB’s student experience

All UCB students automatically become members of the Guild, meaning its success directly enhances the University’s wider student experience. This year’s Annual Review highlights record engagement, expanded opportunities and national influence.

Dr Alex Harden-Way, Managing Director of the Guild, said the review captures “just a snapshot of the team’s wide-ranging achievements last year with our highest ever levels of student involvement.”

“We’ve been committed to directly supporting students, helping them to find their people, and offering them opportunities to shape their lives at UCB and beyond”, he added.

“The elected officer team especially have been dedicated to championing students’ needs and should be incredibly proud of their impact.”

National influence and civic engagement

The Guild is a registered charity that is led by elected officers who represent UCB students at a national and regional level. This year, their work has included submitting responses to consultations on post-16 education and the Teaching Excellence Framework, as well as campaigning in Parliament for fair student loan terms.

Working in collaboration with the University, the Guild also played a major role in supporting democratic participation ahead of the 2026 Local Elections, reaching more than 2,200 students and helping over 400 first-time voters to register.

More societies, more community, more ways to belong

The Guild continued to expand opportunities for students to connect, make friends and build communities:

32 active societies, spanning sports, hobbies and identity‑based groups
Five new societies open to under‑18s, supporting our College and Sixth Form students
A 3.2‑fold increase in involvement from younger learners

This growth directly supports UCB’s commitment to helping students ‘find their people’ - a core theme of the Guild’s work.

"The elected officer team especially have been dedicated to championing students’ needs and should be incredibly proud of their impact."

Dr Alex Harden-Way Managing Director of the Guild

Employability boosted through leadership and representation

The Annual Review also highlights the Guild’s contribution to student employability:

550+ Course Representatives supported each year
3,426 student sessions recorded through the Skills for Success partnership
84% of students polled in their Pulse survey agreed that “being involved in the Guild helps employability and development.”

These opportunities complement UCB’s own employability offer, giving students leadership experience, sector ready skills and the confidence to use them.

Record engagement across campus

According to Guild data, their work reached 10,637 students in 2025–26 representing the highest engagement ever recorded.

Soham Chougale, who continues in a second year as the Guild’s Education Officer said this milestone reflects the shared commitment between the University and the Guild:

“Everything we do is about strengthening the student experience every day, building community and ensuring students feel supported, represented and ready for their futures.”

Read the full Annual Review

The Guild’s full Annual Review is available to explore online, offering a deeper look at the achievements, impact and student stories behind this year’s results.

Banner image L-R: Soham Chougale - Education Officer, Kunal Chavan - former Equalities & Wellbeing Officer and Saroj Kamtee - fomer Societies and Activities Officer.