Market Research About UK Freshers' Fairs

Preparing to exhibit your brand at a freshers' fair this autumn? Exciting! Whether your business is new to student-facing events or is a regular presence at universities across the country, freshers' fairs can open it up to a whole new audience of potential customers.

Whether you're part of a huge organisation or a one-man-band operating in a university town, there's huge scope for your brand to become a daily part in the lives of students with the help of carefully chosen promotional products.

With students stepping away from childhood brands and - typically - standing on their own two feet for the first time, this is a fantastic opportunity for them to discover new brands and businesses.

Fact 1: Most UK Undergraduates Are 18 Years Old When They Start Uni

Chances are you already knew that but bear with us! According to research shared by UCAS, there were 695,565 applications for full-time undergraduate degrees in 2018. Of these, 533,360 were accepted - meaning over half-a-million new students were approved. This year's acceptance rate was at its highest rate since 2008, with 76.7% of people confirming their places.

Within this, 51.9% were 18-years-old, with people aged 19 years the next largest group. It's also interesting to note that UCAS' study reveals an increase in people aged 26 and over entering higher education.

The take-away for your business: A freshers' fair can offer a valuable opportunity to get your brand in front of a whole new audience. Whether this is the first time students have encountered your business or a reminder of a brand they already love, promotional giveaways with your branding on are a simple yet highly effective way to strike up potentially life-long relationships with new customers.

Fact 2: University Fees Cost Up To £9,250 For UK And EU Students

The tuition fees of UK universities have undergone so many changes over the years that the subject actually has its very own Wikipedia page.

In a nutshell, fees were first introduced in 1998, when students were required to pay up to £1,000 a year. Fast forward 20 years and this has increased drastically, with students now paying up to £9,250 per annum for their degree. International students - who account for 14% of undergrads and 38% of postgraduates - fork out even more, with base rates starting at around £10k per year and going as high as £38,000 for certain degrees.

The take-away for your business: With student debt looming over them, students will more likely than not be keen to get hold of freebies that can help support them throughout the term ahead. In fact, a recent study found 67% of students attend freshers' fairs purely for the freebies!

With that in mind, what better way to align students with your brand than by providing them with promotional products that they can actually benefit from using, and that have a purpose in their day-to-day lives on campus? Products with guaranteed functionality - such as printed notebooks or branded travel mugs, for example - offer fantastic potential for brand awareness.

Fact 3: Students Want To Learn About Your Business

Whether you run a localised start-up or are on the marketing team of a global brand, students want to hear about your business. Exit-poll research conducted at freshers' fairs by BAM in 2017 found that almost a quarter of students were unfamiliar with huge brand names, including Domino's and Virgin Media. Despite that, over half of the people quizzed said they were planning to spend with these brands in the future after discovering them at a freshers' event.

The take-away for your business: If people haven't heard of Domino's, there's no need to worry that they won't have heard of your business. What matters is showing up and representing your business in the best possible way you can.

Browse our full range of promotional products for freshers and contact us today to order the perfect branded merchandise for your business.

Main image via Pexels.