The Commercial University of the Year award was one of 7 honours awarded by CUBO – the Association of College and University Business Officers. The CUBO 2013 awards ceremony took place yesterday (3 July) at the University of Essex, with legendary snooker player Steve Davis announcing the winners.

Raymond Ciborowski, Registrar and Chief Operating Officer at Swansea University said;

“ Commercial and Campus Services is an ambitious, dynamic and innovative department at the heart of Swansea University – combining catering, sports, conferencing, campus services and a newly formed business development section.

“ I am absolutely delighted that the team have been recognised by CUBO for their  successes in realising our aspiration to develop outstanding services, providing unforgettable experiences and driving profitability.

“ The services operated on campus have gone through a period of significant change, restructuring and development but the key theme over the last year has been about working in partnership. The team, in a joint venture with the Students’ Union have worked with MyCostcutter to open a new store on campus, worked with Swansea City football club to develop and operate shared training facilities and in conjunction with Bay Leisure opened ‘360’ the first dual purpose beach and watersports centre in the country. 

“ And there is more to come with the University embarking on its most ambitious project to date, the development of the new £250m second campus – the largest project of its nature in Europe. This will bring further opportunities for the commercial departments to pursue development and partnership agreements in additional to other on-going initiatives and projects on the Singleton campus. 

 “ All in all an exciting time for Swansea University – a University which is definitely on the way up.”

CUBO is the professional association for senior managers in higher education whose responsibilities include the strategic planning, management, administration and development of the university's residential portfolio, catering and retail operations, and commercial income generation from business and leisure tourism, including the management of year-round conference and training centres. Members also have additional responsibilities in other areas of Facilities Management for example: Sport & Recreation, Security, Printing, Transport, Cleaning, Customer Services, Maintenance, Timetabling and Procurement.

Picture: Left to right – Nicolas Guerin [MD Bouygues Development (Sponsor)], Paul Robinson [Head of Commercial Services, Swansea University], Ben Lucas [Business Development and Marketing Manager, Swansea University] and Paddy Jackman [Director of Commercial Services, Imperial College London (Host/MC)].