Alkhemy Group
Advice Support Programme
Expert student advice capacity delivered remotely, flexibly, and built around your needs. When your team is stretched, we step in, seamlessly and without fuss.
Supporting over 50 SUs, Associations and Guilds
We understand the pressure on SU advice teams: rising case volumes, complex issues, and limited in-house capacity. Our remote support gives your team the expert backup it needs, whether for a few hours or extended cover. We work within your systems and values, and our advisers are experienced across the full range of student advice issues.
Support options
Hourly Support
Ideal for light-touch or occasional support. Need help reviewing a complex case, drafting an appeal, or providing short-term cover? No minimum hours, no commitment.
- Pay-as-you-go flexibility
- No minimum hours
- Ideal for advisory-only work or quick turnarounds
Supervision and Case Review
Professional supervision for student advisers, helping your team reflect on complex cases, strengthen practice, and stay resilient under pressure.
- One-to-one or group supervision
- Case reviews, safeguarding reflection, and professional development
- Delivered by experienced student advice specialists
- Ideal for teams without internal supervision capacity
Longer-term support? Our prices work on a sliding scale.
For SUs needing regular, ongoing capacity, our rates are based on the length of contract and hours per week. The more you commit, the better the rate. Get in touch or complete our form to discuss what works for your budget and your needs.
Request a quote
Expert advice, delivered remotely. Your students, properly supported.
Remote-first. Fully GDPR-compliant. Insured and ready to go.What our advisers cover
How it works
Get in touch
Tell us your situation and what kind of support you need.
We match you
We allocate an experienced associate adviser suited to your context.
Onboarding
Your adviser is set up with your systems, policies, and procedures.
Work begins
Your adviser delivers support in line with your priorities from day one.
Extend or close
Extend if needed or conclude with a smooth, documented handover.
Our associate advisers
Every adviser in our pool brings direct, hands-on experience of student advice in the HE sector. Here is a selection of the team.
James White
Accredited advice caseworker since 2023 with extensive experience across academic regulatory processes including exceptional circumstances, academic appeals, complaints, disciplinary processes, Academic Offence Panels, and Fitness to Practice Panels.
Melissa Burns
Previously worked in students’ unions with a strong passion for higher education and ensuring students have access to the support they need throughout their studies.
Fleur Porter
Four years’ experience at two of the largest HE institutions in the UK. Specialist in disabled student advocacy, academic and behavioural misconduct, Fitness to Practise, appeals, complaints, and housing advice. Previously a Housing Adviser with Shelter.
Susie Mellor
Eleven years in the advice sector, seven of those in students’ unions. Specialist money adviser with expertise in student finance, funding entitlement, and financial support. Works in an AQS-accredited service.
Ben Stanley
Three and a half years as a student adviser including senior advisory work. Extensive experience across academic, housing, finance, and wellbeing issues including domestic violence, sexual violence, discrimination, and hate incidents. Also holds international HE experience in Australia.
Candy Preater
Four years in student support with a background in advocacy for looked after children and young people. Experience covers gender-based violence, safeguarding, academic processes, housing rights, and immigration issues.
Jamie Robertson
Over twelve years in the students’ union sector. Extensive experience across Fitness to Practise, Fitness to Study, academic appeals, disciplinaries, and wellbeing. Background in equality, diversity, and inclusion. Now returning to frontline casework from a people management role.
Declan Katwala
Highly experienced caseworker with a background as both an SU Adviser and Advice Service Manager. Experienced in academic procedure, housing, financial issues, and service delivery improvement. Currently working towards a Professional Coaching Accreditation.
Natalie Portman
Seven years as an advice and advocacy worker in students’ unions. Over twenty years in advice and advocacy including disability rights, housing, finance, academic appeals, complaints, and OIA submissions. Former Samaritans Listener. Specialist in disability and LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
Rhian Bendall
Six years in SU advice as Adviser, Senior Adviser, and Advice Manager. Experience in complex university policies, panel chairing, caseload management, and team leadership. Trained in critically reflective practice through a social work background.
Emily Lovett
Six years across three students’ unions including senior advisory and people management roles. Specialist in academic advice, financial and housing issues, and sexual misconduct cases. Holds Level 2 Skills in Counselling and Mental Health First Aider qualifications.
Ali Chahine
Nearly fifteen years in the sector across student engagement and welfare. Experience in academic advising, university regulations, disciplinaries, complaints, Fitness to Study and Practice, and working with survivors of sexual harassment and those at risk of suicide.
What our partners say
Alkhemy’s associate adviser worked with us at a time when we urgently needed some extra advice hours in the team. Their experience working in many institutions meant they got to grips with Edinburgh’s policies and regulations very quickly. We were really impressed at how soon they were able to adapt to our delivery model and start to advise students. They had a lovely calm and cheerful manner so were a wonderful energy to have in the team at a time when we were feeling stretched. We would not hesitate to use Alkhemy again.Clair Halliday Acting Manager, Edinburgh University Students’ Association
Working with Alkhemy and their associate advisers has ensured we can continue to deliver our advice service during a period of limited staffing and whilst inducting new staff members. They have proved invaluable in increasing our capacity at this time and made sure we were up to date on the cases they were taking on, whilst requiring minimal support from our internal team. Working with them has been a no-brainer and we would do it again with no hesitation.Rosie Harvey Head of Membership Services, Northampton Students’ Union
At a particularly busy time in our academic cycle during which we had gaps within our advice service, we reached out to Alkhemy for support. From our initial correspondence, to the turnaround on our query and delivery of the offer, Alkhemy exceeded our expectations. Alkhemy’s advisers were kind, supportive, and were able to integrate with our advice service within the Guild following a one-day induction. Over a three-week period, Alkhemy worked alongside our advice service to ensure student queries and issues surrounding housing, financial, wellbeing, and academic matters were responded to within our expected response windows. We appreciate all the work Alkhemy did for us at such a critical time whilst also providing consistent quality throughout.Scott Dawson Student Voice and Representation Manager, Birmingham Guild of Students
Advice Service Reviews
Beyond capacity support, Alkhemy also offers a comprehensive Advice Service Review, a strategic deep dive into how your service operates, uncovering potential risks, highlighting areas for development, and helping you position your service within the wider support ecosystem of your institution.
We use our custom-built Advice Service Benchmarking Tool to compare your practice against sector trends and peer organisations, giving you an evidence-based foundation for change. From there, we craft tailored, practical recommendations that reflect your unique context.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of advice work does the programme cover?
The programme covers mitigating and exceptional circumstances, academic appeals, non-academic misconduct, fitness to study, fitness to practise, complaints, support for both reported and reporting parties in sexual violence cases, general wellbeing and signposting, and housing and money advice.
What is casework capacity?
Alkhemy provides extra support to handle the workload of your advice service. If your team is overwhelmed or dealing with an influx of cases, our experienced advisers can step in to manage those cases directly. This allows your service to maintain high-quality support without overburdening your existing staff. We can cover absences, sick leave, maternity cover, and many other capacity challenges.
What is supervision?
Supervision involves experienced members of the Alkhemy team supporting and mentoring less experienced staff, or offering expert advice on complex cases. This includes case reviews, insights into best practice, and ensuring quality and compliance in your service. It is about offering expert guidance to enhance the quality and effectiveness of your advice team during busy periods or when extra support is needed.
Is support delivered remotely?
All support through this programme is delivered remotely.
Ready to talk about your needs?
If you are unsure which option fits best, book a free call with Ollie. We can tailor a plan that supports your team and delivers the best outcomes for your students.