The University of Nottingham Students' Union

Analysis

The University of Nottingham Students' Union is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Nottingham. It was registered in July 2010, 16 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training and amateur sport, which this site groups under amateur sport and recreation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 07229624). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, provides services and provides advocacy/advice/information.

In the financial year ending July 2025, The University of Nottingham Students' Union reported income of £11.1m and spending of £10.8m, spending 97% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from July 2021 to July 2025, income grew from £6.4m to £11.1m (+73%), an average of +15% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to July 2022, when income rose by 46%. Over the whole period it spent 100% of the income it received.

Among 12,174 England and Wales charities whose main cause is amateur sport and recreation and that reported income, The University of Nottingham Students' Union sits at the 100th percentile: it is one of the largest 1% in its cause. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Liverpool FC Foundation (£10.1m), Imperial College Union (£11.4m) and The British Paralympic Association (£9.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from trading 37%, charitable activities 34% and donations and legacies 28%. Charitable activities took 62% of spending and raising funds 36%. Reserves of £500k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 233 people.