Axiom

nusonline.co.uk and activate.co.uk's email student database tops 500,000

The National Union of Students (UK) and ITM Communications today announced that the student databases they have developed through nusonline.co.uk and activate.co.uk have passed the 500,000 mark. This achievement places it well ahead of any other commercially accessible student databases and establishes it firmly as the first port of call for any advertiser wishing to use email and the web to target the valuable and growing UK student sector.

"We are delighted with the success we've had this academic year, " says Owain James, National President of NUS (UK), "We’re well on track to hit the 1 million mark in the next 12 months. "

ITM's relationship with the National Union of Students (UK) means it can offer online marketing opportunities to clients delivering substantial reach into the 3.5 million NUS membership. Opportunities include email campaigns, direct marketing, the NUS card and discount booklet and online promotions.

As operator of www.nusonline.co.uk (the exclusive website serving NUS' members) ITM is able to draw on the wealth of data accumulated through the website as well as the registration process for the NUS Card itself. ITM can also offer clients the opportunity to target students, through email, by gender, year of study, course and location.

"Our growing list of clients reflects confidence in our ability to access this difficult to reach market sector," says Ian Rose, CEO of ITM, "Agencies now have a sizeable, flexible and cost-effective solution to addressing the £10 billion annual student spend via email and web marketing. "

Brands that have used the online and email services available through nusonline.co.uk include Abbey National, HMV, TopShop/Topman, National Express, STA Travel and Endsleigh.

Ged Hopkins, Marketing Manager for HMV commented, "HMV.co.uk has enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with nusonline.co.uk. Our partnership with the UK's leading student website has enabled us to continue to offer students across the UK an on-going 10% discount off online purchases, which is also available through our nationwide network of 140 stores."

The NUS itself is especially pleased with the growing number of exclusive offers being made to its members.

"Students benefit from lower cost goods and services and our commercial partners get to work with the NUS, a brand that itself has established a unique position of trust over the past 80 years," comments Owain James, National President, NUS (UK).

About NUS (UK)

The National Union of Students (NUS) UK is one of the largest student organisations in the world and represents the interests of over 3.5 million students in over 700 students unions across further and higher education in the UK.

Established for 80 years, NUS is firmly established as the student's champion and generates outstanding levels of trust from its membership.

About ITM Communications

ITM Communications Ltd, a North West based student media specialist, is the technical, commercial and careers partner to NUS (UK). Under the terms of a long-term agreement with NUS signed in June 2000, ITM develops and operates nusonline.co.uk, the NUS communications and community website. In return for extensive marketing rights to the website, the NUS card and the NUS database, as well as numerous other online and offline media assets including all current and future electronic media.

About nusonline.co.uk

nusonline.co.uk is the leading student website in the UK with over 200,000 students visiting in January 2002 each spending over 22 minutes exploring the site's discounts and offers, the NUS' expert advice on students issues, searching for jobs as well as browsing the latest in on- and off-campus entertainment.

nusonline.co.uk was awarded a five star rating by The Sunday Times in a survey of student websites - "Comfortably the best source of online student information" (Sunday Times, 30.9.01)

About activate.co.uk

activate.co.uk is one of the leading student career websites. The careers partner to the NUS (UK), activate.co.uk offers extensive features to over 100,00 students every month. These include:

Job Agents - a service that emails registered users vacancies matching their job requirements

e-jobs - a monthly email newsletter with job hunting tips and a round up of the immediate vacancies available

CV Builder - students can create their CV online, making amendments when they need to

CV Agent - allows activate.co.uk recruiters to search through CV details as part of their candidate selection process

About NUS Ents

NUS Ents is the entertainment division of NUS (UK) and has teams responsible for event management and sponsorship, brand development, sampling and ambient media, PR and media buying services.