Management industry veteran launches student housing firm

MANAGEMENT firm Acis Student Housing has been launched in a joint venture.

Not-for-profit housing association Acis Group and former managing director of Derwent Facilities Management, Martin Corbett collaborated on the project.

Acis Student Housing will provide student residential and facilities management under a board which consists of Acis chief executive Valerie Waby, commercial director Paul Wisher, and non executive director Graham Ward.

Acis Group already manages 1,150 student accommodation beds in Nottingham and Sheffield.

Mr Corbett, a veteran of the industry, helped grow former firm Derwent’s portfolio to 18,000 student beds with a pipeline of over 5,000 lease opportunities throughout the UK to bring into the joint venture.
Valerie Waby, chief executive, Acis Group Limited, said: “As a not-for-profit housing association the new joint venture extends our commercial activities for the benefit of the group and we look forward to successfully growing the new company using the unique blend of the housing association strengths and synergies combined with the commercial acumen and technical skills of Martin and his management team.”
Martin Corbett, managing director, Acis Student Housing, said: “The launch of Acis Student Housing will create a major new player in the student accommodation market, which will provide a first-class student experience for our residents and allow Acis Group to generate revenue streams to expand its housing stock.

“My aim is for the Acis Student Housing brand to be seen as the best student accommodation partner in the marketplace. Our approach provides a number of significant advantages to both investors and universities including our long-term, fixed price guarantee.”