A UK entrepreneur has drawn inspiration from his cash-strapped student days to launch www.StudentsInNeed.com as a new choice and way of helping the UK’s six million students to save money and find jobs.
StudentsInNeed offers exclusive online discounts of up to 20% on top brands popular with students and comes at a time when they are facing mounting debts and struggling to find part-time jobs to make ends meet.
According to SIN Managing Director Andrew Billingham, from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, students can save up to £700 per year on major retail, leisure and entertainment brands, based on a typical average annual student spend of £3,500. SIN membership is open to youngsters at school, college or university and mature students or graduates are also eligible.
Users can access some discounts for free with a ‘Freemium’ membership via the website, or pay an annual £4.95 membership fee for the full ‘Premium’ SIN discount card. They then qualify for discounts on items such as books, CDs, DVDs, clothing and travel purchased either online, or using a SIN ‘partners’ voucher book containing up to £200 worth of savings.
“It seems few people are willing to help students as consumers. That’s why I launched StudentsInNeed as a new and independent choice for students across the UK aimed at making their lives easier,” explains Andrew. “This is something I am passionate about – and SIN is particularly relevant now with recent surveys suggesting that new students starting university this autumn can expect to graduate owing £23,000.
“Every week, we partner with more of the UK’s most forward-thinking brands to negotiate the discounts that young people and undergraduates want,” continues Andrew, a Brunel University graduate. “With part-time and seasonal work harder to find and living costs rising, many students are understandably worried about what lies ahead. That’s where SIN comes in, offering genuine discounts on what students buy, what they need and what they like.”
The SIN website also has a jobs section, putting students in touch with part-time jobs to help them earn while they learn, as well as finding permanent graduate positions throughout the UK.
Andrew adds: “StudentsInNeed is the fastest growing Student brand in the UK with hundreds of new members joining every week. Obviously, as our membership grows, the better deals we can negotiate and we’re asking SIN members to spread the word.
“As they will be the working taxpayers of the future, I think that students deserve the greatest help with their budgets when they need it most,” adds Andrew, who worked in the retail sector for over 15 years before putting his long-held business dream into commercial action.
For more information, check out www.studentsinneed.com.
Notes to editors:
1: Discounts are exclusive to StudentsInNeed and not available to any other type of student discount card; this is what makes SIN unique. The 20-plus top brands include Borders Books, AllPosters.co.uk (the world’s largest poster and print store), Oasis (ladies fashion), Play.com, Lovefilm.com, Avon, Uniqlo and Moss Bros. Savings are unlimited, but are obviously dependent on an individual’s level of spending.
2: Freemium membership allows students to register for free and take advantage of some discounts. If they wish, they can upgrade to Premium annual membership for £4.95 and access the full range of discounts.
