An exciting new collaboration between one of the leading operators of student accommodation, Fresh, and British department store, John Lewis & Partners is taking the stress out of move-in weekend for student residents. As part of Fresh's commitment to resident wellbeing, the collaboration is designed not only to ensure residents feel comfortable and supported from day one, but also features exclusive offers and practical support tailored to students' needs. The partnership reflects Fresh's ongoing investment in enhancing the student experience and is part of a wider programme of wellbeing-focused initiatives.

Sam Scott, Managing Director of Fresh, explains: “Check-in weekend can feel stressful for many students but at Fresh we are providing more than just a home.  We want our residents to be welcomed into a community and feel valued from the day they move in. Our collaboration with John Lewis adds a greater level of enjoyment for all involved.  With fabulous pop-up shops in several of our Fresh locations, free lunches and parking we are confident we will be making the move-in experience less stressful, taking the pressure off our new residents and their parents and carers for a smooth experience.”

The John Lewis & Partners pop-up shops will be available at selected Fresh properties as students move in, selling everything from power banks to duvets. Its stock is designed to ensure that students can access all forgotten essentials, no matter how big or small, to ensure check-in day is a seamless experience.

The unique collaboration between Fresh and John Lewis & Partners will also see dedicated shopping lists available for students who simply don't know where to start with their university packing. Created with Fresh properties in mind, the shopping lists take account of what students will already have in their rooms, as well as what they might need.

Parents and carers are also supported via the collaboration, with vouchers available for discounted food and drinks and free parking at participating John Lewis & Partners stores during check-in weekend (time limits apply). The offer means adults can take a breather and give their youngsters a couple of hours to unpack and meet their fellow residents, before ensuring all is well and saying their goodbyes.

The collaboration with John Lewis & Partners is the latest in a string of innovations implemented by Fresh to support students' wellbeing. The company already delivers the best-in-class Be Wellbeing programme, supporting the evolution of vibrant communities where residents can thrive. The programme is an integral part of the Fresh experience, meaning every student is supported to build friendships and enjoy a sense of belonging.

Regular events and activities take place throughout the year as part of the Be Wellbeing programme, from sushi-making classes and breakfast get-togethers to art therapy and puppy yoga. Students are also welcomed to a wide range of cultural and religious celebrations, including for Christmas, Lunar New Year, Holi Bhai Dooj, Eid, Ramadan and Hanukkah.

Louise Julier, Business Partnerships Executive at John Lewis & Partners comments: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Fresh to deliver this unique new service to students in support of their wellbeing. A stress-free start to the university term supports young people to settle in more quickly and enjoy the experience, rather than the anxiety of forgotten essentials. It's a weight off minds for parents and carers too, knowing their young people have everything they need to embrace their fledgling independence.”

To find out more, visit www.thisisfresh.com.

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For further information contact: Viv Onslow at The Oracle Group on 0208 394 2821 or email viv@oraclepr.co.uk

Notes to editor:

Links to participating John Lewis stores:

White City             https://www.johnlewis.com/our-shops/white-city  

Liverpool               https://www.johnlewis.com/our-shops/liverpool

Leeds                     https://www.johnlewis.com/our-shops/leeds

Nottingham         https://www.johnlewis.com/our-shops/nottingham

Norwich                https://www.johnlewis.com/our-shops/norwich

Cribbs                   https://www.mallcribbs.com/stores/john-lewis-partners/

About Fresh

Fresh (the trading name of Fresh Property Group Ltd) is the market leading third-party manager of residential for rent homes in the UK and Ireland. It manages 20,764 built to rent, co-living and student accommodation homes for a wide range of clients across 64 operational properties. Over the last 15 years Fresh has delivered effective management for clients while maintaining a focus on high levels of service for residents, holding an NPS score of +35 for customer satisfaction in the recent Global Student Living Wave (against the benchmark of +19 for private student halls and +11 for University Halls) an independent survey and winning 39 national awards. For more information, please visit www.thisisfresh.com

Fresh is part of Watkin Jones Group, the UK's leading developer and manager of residential for rent homes, with a focus on the Build to Rent and student accommodation sectors. The Group has strong relationships with institutional investors, and a reputation for successful, on-time-delivery of high-quality developments.

About the John Lewis Partnership

The John Lewis Partnership owns and operates two of Britain's best-loved retail brands - John Lewis and Waitrose. Started as a radical experiment over a century ago, the Partnership is now the largest employee-owned business in the UK, with 70,000 employees who are all Partners in the business. The Partnership is purpose-driven, existing to create a fairer and more sustainable future for our Partners, customers, suppliers and communities. Our Purpose not only inspires our principles, drives our decisions and acts as our guide to be a force for good, it steers us to do things differently and better - all in service of creating a happier world for everyone and everything we touch.

John Lewis operates 34 shops across the UK as well as johnlewis.com. Waitrose has more than 300 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 59 convenience branches, and another 27 shops at Welcome Break locations. The retailer's omnichannel business includes the online grocery service, Waitrose.com, and specialist online shops including waitrosecellar.com for wine. 

Have added the JL partnership boiler plat