You can find out more about our current SU Officers here. 

Here are a few reflections from previous SU Officers on their year in office and what it has meant to them.

Ellie Hynes, SU President 2013-2014

Deciding to stand in the officer elections for SU President was a very late decision for me, and looking back now I can’t believe I hadn’t considered it sooner! Initially people were surprised that I was running for president, and not Sport Officer, because I was studying Sport and Exercise Science. In truth, I decided to run because other people inspired me and gave me the confidence to do it. When you start the job in June, there is a  long summer period that gives you plenty of time to learn about university governance, and learning to work with the student media groups is easy if you provide them with plenty of food and love during Freshers’ Week.
 
Over the course of the year you will gain lots of new skills, and most of them you will learn without even realising it. In a typical day as President you will spend a lot of your time in meetings with staff and students. Being able to organise your time, catch up with the rest of the officer team, and stay on top of your own goals for the year, requires you to be able tick all of those key skill boxes on LinkedIn. Joking aside, you learn things on the job that no skills training session could ever teach you; nothing prepares you for the real world quite like just getting stuck in. And what better place to learn than in a University and an SU that you love! 
 
After my brief period in university politics I returned to sport science, and moved to Loughborough to do a masters degree. I found that the year as president was surprisingly helpful when I returned to being a student, and even gave me the confidence to apply for a PhD. I feel as though I now have a very unique approach to life as a research student, as a scientist, and also as a teaching assistant here at the University of Kent that I would not have without my year as an SU officer. 
Whether you want to return to postgraduate studies like I did, or apply for graduate jobs, spending a year working in this incredibly unique job is guaranteed to teach you more than you could ever imagine at this stage in your student life. At the very least you get to work with some amazing people and have one more year of going to SCORE, what more motivation could you possibly need!   

 Paul Goodstadt, Education Officer 2013-2014

I was Education Officer at the Student Union from 2013 to 2014 – wow, it doesn't feel that long ago! During my time at the University of Bath, I did an undergraduate course in Economics. After finishing my officer year four years ago, I began working for a consultancy firm called McKinsey & Co., where I have been working as a Project Manager over the last two years. The best thing about being an SU Officer was the responsibility. I had to throw myself into it, even if it was out of my comfort zone, and ultimately it was up to me alone to determine if my year would be a success or not!  
 

Alix Lyons, Activities Officer 2012-2013

I studied Medical Engineering while I was at university and I am now a Postdoctoral Researcher in upper-limb prosthetics.  As a student, I was really involved in my societies.  I sat on various execs and even had the opportunity to help organise Freshers' Week!
 
 These experiences in themselves were amazing and really made my time at Uni, but before I left I felt that I could give back that little bit more to help others to have just as good a time.  University offers so many opportunities and it's really important to make sure you leave with more than just a degree.  That's why the role of Activities Officer really appealed to me as you get to help so many people to develop.  My time wouldn't have been anywhere near as good if it wasn't for all the other students who got involved!  Being on a committee or an exec or organising events all gives you a great opportunity to shape the way the SU is run and meet some great people whilst you're at it.
 
The best thing about being an Activities Officer was the chance to give something back to the SU and the other societies that gave me so much during my time as a student, to help shape the area, and to encourage others to get as much out of University as possible.

Alex Nicholson-Evans, SU President 2008/9 

Being SU President gave me so many opportunities - writing strategies, planning campaigns, leading a team, the list is a long one. It was an amazing chance to make a genuine change for the better to the student experience but it also set me up very well for the career ahead of me; particularly giving me valuable early insight into leadership and how to drive change.

I am now Commercial Director for Birmingham Museums Trust, I head up our Trading Company and have leadership for our 6 historic properties. In my spare time I run Living For The Weekend Ltd the company behind Birmingham Cocktail Weekend, Birmingham Wine Weekend and, new for 2020, Birmingham Restaurant Festival.

Sébastien Long, Media & Communications Officer, 2002/03

The best thing about being a sabb was the opportunity to fully live out the student experience whilst getting paid and not having to go to lectures! I gained great professional experience and had a fantastic time with great people. It made me much more confident in both my personal and professional life. And hopefully we improved the overall student experience at Bath too.

After the sabb year, I had a year in industry as part of my course in Madrid and came back for my final year. I embarked on a global career in banking after graduating for close to a decade. Lately I’ve pivoted to the startup world, initially working for two Silicon Valley-based unicorns launching new international markets. I’ve lived and worked in 9 countries across 5 continents, and recently moved to the US where I’ve launched my own startup.

I seem to have hardly any photos from my sabb days…. Probably not a bad thing after some questionable fashion and grooming choices!

Chris Dutton, Vice President (Student Support) 2000/01

I was Vice President (Student Support) and the role focused on welfare/campaigns in 2000/01.  I graduated in Summer 2000 in Modern Languages (German and French) with European Studies.

When I finished my sabbatical year, I secured a job in the City in London, working for one of the world’s biggest tax firms.  I soon realised that it wasn’t for me and came back to Bath to complete a PGCE and I am now in my 17th year of teaching.  My current role is Assistant Headteacher in a fairly large secondary school in charge of the school’s curriculum, timetable and I am Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead among other minor roles.

I was active with my teaching union (ATL) for several years until it amalgamated with the NUT to form the National Education Union (NEU), Europe’s biggest education union.  I am now on its National Executive having stood in the elections last year to the inaugural executive. 

In terms of skills I gained during sabb ... I guess you’re in a privileged position of making some significant decisions at quite a young age so I guess I recognised that you have to respect people’s experience regardless of their role.  I think it gave you excellent opportunities to lead on projects and oversee events and in turn developed leadership skills.  The year can be quite intense, especially living and working on campus.  Work becomes your home and home becomes your work so it’s important to know how and when to switch off which is a skill for life as you have to have a healthy work-life balance.  I also think it helps develop team working skills and decision making skills.