A Discrete Meal Voucher Scheme
When it comes to enhancing the student experience, Hertford College identified two clear priorities. One – Improve its accommodation services by offering students a flexible meal option. And two – ensuring discretion for those receiving free meals.
With the introduction of a new meal voucher system, the college has successfully addressed both objectives, creating a seamless, efficient dining experience.
Challenge 1
Improving student services
Hertford College wanted to encourage more students to stay on campus for meals by providing a more attractive and flexible option.
Solution
A Meal Voucher Scheme
With the discounted meal voucher scheme students can now purchase vouchers in blocks of 30, 60, or 90 meals, with discounts that scale based on the size of the block.
These vouchers can be used for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, offering flexibility for students’ busy schedules. With the convenience of an end-of-year expiration date, students have ample time to use their vouchers without the pressure of frequent renewals.
Uniwares EPoS system has the functionality that Herford College needed to offer a pre-paid voucher bursary scheme that could be allocated to students via the UPay app. The college has made dining on campus more appealing and encouraged more students to take advantage of the meal services available.
Challenge 2
Protecting Student Dignity with Discretion
Hertford College also had a critical objective of ensuring that students receiving free meals could do so discreetly. For students in need of financial support, it was important to eliminate any visible differences between free meal tokens and paid-for vouchers.
Solution
The UPay App: Simple, Seamless, Convenient
With the new system, that challenge has been solved. Now, whether a student uses a free meal token or a paid voucher, there is no way to tell the difference. This ensures that all students can enjoy their meals without feeling singled out or embarrassed, fostering an inclusive and respectful dining environment.
One of the standout features of Hertford College’s new voucher system is its seamless integration with the UPay app. Purchasing meal vouchers has never been easier – students can quickly buy the blocks they need through the app, simplifying the process and making it easier to access dining services.
Since the introduction of the UPay integration, the college has noticed a significant uptick in the number of students opting to stay on campus for meals. This has not only enhanced the sense of community but also reduced the number of students choosing to dine off-campus.
A Trusted Partnership with Uniware
Hertford College has long relied on Uniware’s technology solutions, but their previous payment system presented some challenges. Under the old model, meal payments were collected at the end of each term, resulting in accumulated costs, disputes, and the time-consuming process of chasing payments. Additionally, there was a lack of detailed data on how students were using the meal services, which made it difficult to optimise offerings and streamline administration.
The new “pay-as-you-go” model powered by Uniware has transformed meal payments at Hertford College. Payments are made upfront, and students’ accounts are preloaded with the appropriate number of vouchers, avoiding the end-of-term billing scramble. This system also provides the college with valuable data insights into meal usage patterns, allowing them to better understand student preferences and enhance their services further. Additionally, Hertford College utilises this system to manage event bookings for formal halls and other functions.
The Results
A Smoother Experience for Everyone
Jamie Clark, Hertford College’s Bursar, sums up the success of the new system:
“Uniware’s solution has streamlined operations, reduced administrative workload, and improved the student experience.”
Jamie Clark, Hertford College’s Bursar
The impact of the new voucher system goes beyond convenience. By combining flexibility, discretion, and data-driven insights, Hertford College has transformed its meal provision process into a model that prioritises both student satisfaction and administrative efficiency. With more students choosing to dine on campus and a reduction in back-office headaches, it’s a win for everyone involved.
At the heart of this transformation is a simple idea: empowering students to access meals on their terms while protecting their dignity and privacy. Hertford College’s meal voucher scheme proves that thoughtful innovation can make a significant difference in student life.
