Meet the Team: iQ Twerton Mill, Bath

If you’re fortunate enough to be heading to Bath Spa University or the University of Bath, you might want to get to know iQ Twerton Mill. Close to the River Avon and plenty of local shops and pubs, this south-westerly site has some great social spaces inside and out (recently given a snazzy upgrade), and good-looking rooms and studios just a bus ride from the city centre.

Today, we meet two of the team who have the, er, run of the Mill – Sam and Ruth.

 

Hey, it’s Sam!

I’m Sam, I am the Operations Manager at Twerton Mill.

What’s your best memory of the last year at iQ?

I have so many to choose from but most recently we held an Easter egg hunt for our residents.  It was great to see so many people taking part and seeing groups of residents that we don’t necessarily see together working as a group to find the hidden prizes.

What are your favourite places to go in Bath?

Bath is a beautiful Roman city. There is so much to do from shopping to sightseeing or bathing in the natural thermae spa. I personally spend a lot of my time at the Rec watching Bath Rugby in action.  The atmosphere of the city on a game day is remarkable, whether you attend the stadium for the game or not the city is covered in the blue of the team. I believe that if you come and live at Twerton Mill you must attend at least one game… but I can’t guarantee that you won’t get the bug and want to attend more.

What’s the nicest thing a resident has said to you?

We get so many nice compliments from residents throughout the year.  One that stood out for me was “This place feels like a home-from-home”.

What are you looking forward to this year?

I always look forward to check-in.  After the madness of turning the rooms and kitchens around for the new arrivals it is great to see new happy faces.  There is generally a lot of emotion for those leaving home for the first time and it brings a subtle reminder to the site management of when they went to university.

What’s your favourite band/ TV show/ movie?

There are so many to choose from… I do like unknown bands, for example Take the Seven who are based in Chesterfield and have a rock and roll vibe.

For TV shows, currently Game of Thrones is at the top of my list – I am an overly keen 2am viewer. I do have what is considered an unhealthy obsession with Superman so Smallville is my go-to show despite ending almost 10 years ago. 

The greatest movie of all time is The Lion King, you can’t go wrong with it. It’s got action, comedy, Shakespeare, tragedy and musical numbers that I can sing every word to (out of tune).

 

What makes your iQ a special place to live?

iQ offers a community feel to its sites. We encourage a lot of interaction between residents and staff to make living at Twerton Mill relaxed and stress-free.

Where is the best place you have travelled to recently?

Recently I travelled to Cornwall with my family to relax and chill out and enjoy the bliss of doing nothing but walking on the beach with the dog, swimming with my little boy and eating lots of local produce.

If you could give your younger self some advice about student life, what would it be?

Start your assignments early and plan the work as if you’re working a 9-5 job and enjoy your evenings. Make the most of the support that is available and don’t be afraid to seek help when needed. 

 

Hey, it’s Ruth!

My name is Ruth and I am Assistant Manager here at iQ Twerton Mill in Bath.

What makes your iQ a special place to live?

So many things! Our site is architecturally beautiful and the rooms and communal spaces are really homely and lovely, but more than anything I think the sense of community is what makes living at Twerton Mill so special.

Where is the best place you have travelled to recently?

I recently went to Iceland for the first time. It is such a beautiful country and we were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights while we were there. Quite a bucket list moment.

What’s your best memory of the last year at iQ?

There are lots but our recent refurbishment being finished has been great. The newly designed social space looks fantastic and is being used so much more by our residents already, for both socialising and studying.

What’s the nicest thing a resident has said to you?

There have been several students who have (understandably) felt quite anxious and homesick when they first arrive here and have come down to the office for a chat – being told that we helped to alleviate that stress and make them feel more relaxed and comfortable is always very gratifying.

 

What are your favourite places to go in Bath?

Bath is a beautiful historical city and the Bath stone buildings are lovely to wander around. Shopping, restaurants, bars are all great here – I would recommend seeing some stand-up comedy at Komedia, that’s always really fun!

What are you looking forward to this year?

Check-in weekend! Sam and I always have fun during move-in time. It can be a little stressful and full-on preparing the site but it’s all worth it when you meet your new residents and welcome them to Twerton Mill. We try to make the whole check-in experience a really fun one that adds to the excitement of starting uni and moving into a new place.

What’s your favourite band/ TV show/ movie?

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are one of my faves – punk rock covers of pop hits? Yep!

I am a complete and unapologetic nerd so X-Files will always hold a very special place in my heart. Something a bit more recent that I’ve also loved is Stranger Things. Looking forward to the new season this summer!

Alien is my favourite movie. I just love it. Great writing, great acting, great cinematography and it’s creepy sci-fi! What more could I want?

If you could give your younger self some advice about student life, what would it be?

Don’t panic! It can be daunting leaving home, family and friends especially if it is for the first time but most people are in exactly the same boat! Don’t be embarrassed to talk about your worries with others.

Any interesting facts about yourself?

Hmmm… My family on my dad’s side are all from Finland?

(Nothing like a big Finnish, huh?)

 

Thank you to Sam and Ruth for telling us all about themselves and how things roll at Twerton Mill.

Look out for the next Meet the Team soon – and find out more about Twerton Mill here.

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