As the leadership of the organisation, each of the elected roles will receive appropriate support. This will include both role-focussed and more general training designed to ensure that your skills and knowledge will be enhanced and suitable for the challenge ahead.

Post holders will be presented with an initial timetable of training prior to the commencement of roles, with the Union taking all reasonable actions to ensure you are able to attend and benefit. Whilst in position this development will be reviewed and will continue whilst support from staff will be directed appropriately (as resources allow).

All elected officers have a raft of support to make their year in office a positive experience and to assist them in representing students to the best of their ability.

Here is some of the support you can expect, if you are elected.

You will have a package of training to supplement your knowledge, skills and experience.

You will get together as a team for a session with the management of the Union before you take office.

You will have a handover period with the current officer team, with a series of sessions with the current officers.

If elected to a full time post you will take part in a residential event for full time officers early in your term of office to help you build the team and to develop your objectives for the year.

There will be a series of workshops covering all of the things you need to know about the way the Union operates.

There is a very user-friendly day long course on how to understand the finances of the Union.

Each full time officer will be able to attend a residential training event run by the National Union of Students.

You will have access to a range of other training throughout your term of office.

You will also have the opportunity to participate in a number of networking meetings with officers from other Unions to discuss things and to develop your ideas. Some of these are regional, while others are national.

In addition, many staff in the Union participate in networks in their own fields, sharing information and best practice with other Students’ Unions.

All of the activities of the Union are funded either by a grant from the University or from our trading activities. You will have sufficient funds to shape the way the Union operates and to run events in your own areas.

If you need to travel in the course of your duties, the Union will pay all reasonable expenses The Union pays the same expenses as the University pays for staff. (If you want to see the detailed expenses policy, it’s available in the SU at Helena Kennedy Students’ Centre).

The Union employs a range of professional staff who are there to support you and help you to achieve your ambitions for the Union.

You will develop a close working relationship with a number of staff, and you will each have regular support meetings with a member of the Management Team.

Other members of staff have considerable experience of working in the Union, and would all be happy to share their experience with you.

Staff in various areas of the Union have been officers in the past, either at Brookes or elsewhere, and will be more than happy to help you achieve your goals.

We have staff who are there to support all representatives, including officers. They will provide you with a briefing of key points before any major university committee meetings, and will work with you on reporting back to students on the results.

There is a Communication team who provide market research, communication and design skills as well as support in finding sponsors for your activities.

There is a team of staff who run the Union’s social facilities who are there to support any social events you want to organise.

The Union will organise a number of review sessions throughout your year of office, supported by the National union of Students. In addition, there is a six month review with an outside agency, which should help you in your personal development as well as in achieving your objectives.

The Union normally hold two staff days each year in which the staff and officers of the Union learn more about each other and the varied work of the Union

If you are elected to the post of President, or to one of the Vice Presidents, the University will give you sabbatical leave from your studies, so that you can pick up your studies at the end of your term of office.

The Union will pay you a salary of over £17,000 for the year for these full time posts.

[ Back to Previous page | Return to the Homepage ]