Lancaster-based student accommodation provider and family-owned business CityBlock has been awarded the International Accommodation Quality Mark 2019 by the National Student Housing Survey (NSHS).

This is the fourth year running that the business has achieved this prestigious award, which recognises a satisfaction rate of more than 90% among its international students.

CityBlock specialises in providing quality ensuite student accommodation at locations across the country including Lancaster, Durham and Reading. The business owns and manages several prominent student accommodation sites which together accommodate students from over 52 different countries, with over half of their students being international.

CityBlock recognises the importance of developing a safe, supportive living-learning environment, and this is especially so for international students who may be living in the UK for the first time. CityBlock’s smaller accommodation blocks allow on-site teams to know each resident by name, ensuring a personal touch. Multilingual staff help communicate with international students in their native language and ‘CityBlock Student Buddies’ of the same nationality and culture also assist with the settling in process.

Alison Bargh, COO of CityBlock, said: “This is the fourth time we’ve achieved this award but it is no less important today as the first time we received it back in 2016.

“We take great pride in looking after the welfare of each and every one of our students at CityBlock and so this recognition is meaningful to our entire team as it comes as a direct result of our student feedback.

“As the business continues to grow and develop, we will be looking to continue achieving this kind of high profile industry recognition as a tribute to the quality customer care and exceptional services that we provide.”