Elected Officer roles are full-time, paid graduate positions that will set you apart in the graduate job market. You will spend a year working at the Students' Union, addressing complex student issues and driving meaningful changes to improve the student experience. Supported by a team of professional staff, you’ll be guided and empowered to succeed.
But why should you run? Hear from some of our previous officers on how these roles impacted their careers.
Brandon Tester, VPEW 2022-2023, and President 2023-2024
"From my beginnings as Vice President Education and Welfare for High Wycombe in 2022-23 to stepping into the role of President for 2023-24, it's been a period filled with dedication, growth, and significant achievements
I carry immense gratitude for the opportunity to serve and the incredible support from the Bucks community. It's been a period filled with dedication, growth, and significant achievements"
Read more from Brandon's last post in office on what made this role so transformative
Sruthi Kurumozhiyil Subhash, VPEW 2023-2024
"This role has helped me grow both personally and professionally, allowing me to develop invaluable leadership, decision-making, and communication skills. Most importantly, leaving a lasting impression and making a meaningful difference within the university is something I take great pride in.
From initially feeling unsure about nominating myself to becoming a strong advocate for students, this journey has been truly transformative."
Read more about one of the best decisions Sruthi has ever made
Honor Fletcher, President 2021-2022
"Being President of Bucks Students’ Union is the best thing I have ever done to kick start my career. Being able to be a governor of a university, running campaigns to make positive change for students to gaining incredible career skills that will stick by you for life, and that’s only half of it!
You have the amazing opportunity to meet like-minded people within your Union but also on a national stage to create change nationally across the UK. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Read more about Honor's time as President.
Georgia Nosal, VPEW 2018-2019
"The amount you learn when you're on the job and the new ways you find to push yourself is incredible. Employers now massively value all the transferable skills you learn while in office. It's not just speeches and organization. It's dealing with conflict, helping students out in times of difficulty, time management and all the training courses you undertake when you're in the role. Plus a secured job straight out of uni? Hardly anyone gets that opportunity! "
Read more about Georgia's time as VP Education and Welfare.
Tao Warburton, President 2019-2020
"I wanted to help other people enjoy the univeristy experience as much as I did, I wanted to change people's attitudes to certain things and if I'm completely honest I was trying to buy myself time.
Graduating is daunting, now more than ever, but having that security of knowing you were going into a full time paid job with people that I already knew and had spent time with, at a place I loved was just too good a chance to pass up."
Find out what Tao thought about being President of the Students' Union.
Tom Featherstone, VPAB 2020-2022
"The role of a Sabbatical Officer is one I genuinely can’t compare to anything else. And it’s an experience I wouldn’t change, my two years in office as VPSI were the polar opposite of each other. The first being in the middle of the pandemic and then second post pandemic and rebuilding.
You’re provided with so many opportunities to not only help students and develop their experience but also the chance to evolve your skills and confidence providing you with the chance to develop friendships to last eternity."
Like what Tom has to say? Nominate yourself today.
Brooke Pilbeam, VPEW 2019-2020
"When I started my third year, I was thinking about running but very often I would think that no one would vote for me so why should I bother? Well, I learnt so much just from the campaigning week that even if I had received zero votes I would still recommend the experience to you."
"I felt like I learnt and grew more in one year of being a Sabbatical officer than my whole degree."
Head over to Brooke's story to see why she thinks running for a leadership role is such a wonderful thing.
Ohio Orumen, VPAB 2015-2017
"Despite it now being less than 48 hours until nominations closed, my mind started to spin about how much Bucks Students' Union had done for me as a student but also my development as a human being. It really started to hit home that I wanted to give back to the Students' Union in the same way it gave to me."
"Anyone who knows me can tell you I would have run a third time if I could have; so if you have the chance to take this once in a lifetime opportunity? Take it."
Read Ohio's story to see what made him take that leap of faith.
Want to find out more about our elections or nominate yourself? Head over to our elections hub to find out more.