Democracy - have your say at your Union

Sat 17th May 2008

What are UPSU and UPEL?

The Union is run by three companies: UPSU - the Union's charity which runs clubs, societies, volunteering and democratic processes - whose mission statement is to "promote, extend and defend the rights of students", UPEL - the Union's trading company - which takes responsibility for running the Union's entertainments and bars to the highest possible standard, and the University's catering department, which manages the Union's catering services in conjunction with UPEL.

The split: Summer 2005

In the past the Union was made up of the UPSU (charity) and UPSU Trading Limited (a subsidiary trading company) so that any profit made by the trading company would be covenanted back to the charity to support its charitable objectives.

Since moving into the Student Centre in 2002 it became apparent that the trading subsidiary would struggle to make a bottom line profit having a client base of only students and being able to trade for only 33 weeks a year.

The situation was therefore discussed at great length and a decision was taken that the UPSU could no longer sustain the UPSU Trading Limited in its present format.

After taking legal advice it was agreed that the trading company would be put into administration. To preserve the assets and facilities available to the student membership the decision was made that the University through their own subsidiary company University of Portsmouth Enterprise Limited (UPEL) would purchase and run the trading side of the Union’s facilities.

This meant that when students returned, in October 2005, they were able to enjoy full use of the Union’s facilities as they had always done.

The Current Situation

UPSU and UPEL are working alongside each other to provide representation, membership, social space and activities for the student body.

Who runs UPSU?

Ultimately you, the students of Portsmouth, do!

Therefore by getting your voice heard, things can be changed to the way that you want them to be.

However the practicalities are that all 18,000 registered students couldn't run the union, so each year the students of Portsmouth vote in a team of six Sabbatical officers to run the union in the elections.

They, along with two representative union council members and a university nominee, form the trustees of the union.

More information

In a nutshell...

UPSU is the charity that runs clubs and societies at the Union. They also organise the Christmas and Graduation balls.

UPSU is also responsible for the whole range of democratic processes that go on at the Union, including Sabbatical officers, and the wide range of support facilities provided.

UPSU also runs the Job Shop and Copy Shop.

UPEL is the company that runs the bars and most of the night-time entertainments at the Union, as well as the catering outlets.

UPEL lease the Union's buildings from the University of Portsmouth, who own the buildings, and UPSU (the charity) can use the rooms by agreement with UPEL for club and society events, etc.