PRESS RELEASES & MEDIA
New student laundry service launches with wellbeing at its core
31st January 2025
An established textile care specialist has launched a new service catering, initially, to students in the North East.
Zube, launched in October 2024, has set out to ‘revolutionise the student laundry market in the UK’.
Zube currently operates in Newcastle, Northumbria and Durham universities. Sites either have a manned or mobile van kiosk on the university campus or a locker installation conveniently located for access/ drop off. They’re also trialling a drop off/ pick up direct to PBSA (purpose built student accommodation) sites.
Students use the Zube app to book, track and pay for their laundry service, as well as customise their service with the ‘Build your Wash’ feature. Laundry is processed in a central unit off campus.
Outside of term time, Zube Commercial works with PBSA operators to process laundry when the accommodation is often used for other purposes. This helps the business to generate revenue throughout the year.
Behind Zube is Nav Dulai. A leading textile care veteran with 28 years of experience within the commercial laundry, linen hire and drycleaning industry.
Zube was four years in the planning for Dulai. It was born out of the pandemic when his existing drycleaning and laundry business came to a standstill. All contracts were lost. A lifesaving call from local student accommodation led to a new stream of work. The seed for Zube was planted.
Zube operates with a student led model and Dulai actively seeks out ways to add value, empower students and support those in need.
He said: “We’ve always been about more than laundry, and we’re committed to supporting students on every step of their transition to university, through exams and deadlines and right through to graduation. We are proud sponsors of PBSA News and also official corporate partners of Student Minds, the UK’s leading student mental health charity.
“For every student registration fee of £12 we donate £2 to Student Minds, as well as a portion of profits. Our mission aligns closely with their values, focusing on providing financial support, mental health resources, and community engagement to create a healthier university experience for all.”
Zube also offers employment opportunities to the local students and has plans to make wellbeing and community facilities available to students at his processing units.
Sustainability is also key to the team at Zube and, despite the infancy of the business, they are already working towards achieving B-Corp status.
A project like this doesn’t get off the ground without collaboration and Zube has teamed up with some industry heavyweights to get the service started.
App providers CleanCloud said: “CleanCloud is proud to support Zube Laundry, a dedicated student laundry service in the UK. With CleanCloud, Zube can provide fast, convenient, and eco-friendly laundry solutions tailored specifically for students.
“Providing all the tools needed to offer door-to-door service, real-time tracking, and online booking options, students can focus on what matters most while we handle the rest.”
Jeremy Paul, head of commercial sales at Girbau, Zube’s equipment providers, said: “Girbau are very pleased to be partnering with Zube on this exciting project, as we feel that there are many synergies with how we approach the market, through continually innovating, offering unparallelled levels of service, and always considering our social and environmental responsibilities.
“The student community throughout the UK is such an important sector and we are happy that Zube have chosen to use our latest technology machines, so we can help to fully support them in achieving the highest benchmarks in operational efficiency and cleanliness, while ensuring the students wellbeing is at the forefront of all the operations.“
Ian Fittock, sales and project manager with Jensen said: “The Jensen Group is delighted to collaborate with Zube, a forward-thinking startup redefining sustainable laundry solutions for students and beyond. Our shared vision for innovation and environmentally conscious practices inspires us as we look forward to supporting Zube in their exciting journey, from layout planning to installation, and contributing to a greener future in laundry automation.”
The business had a soft launch in October as the team work to fully establish, test and refine their processes, and collect data about what’s working well and what needs to be tweaked. This will then shape their plans for rollout to other universities in the UK.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE LIVE ARTICLE
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Zube partners with PBSA News
9th December 2024
Zube partners with PBSA News to deliver an industry disrupting solution to the student laundry crisis.
Zube, the student first laundry service, is shaking up the choice for PBSA operators and disrupting the industry to offer more choice, more sustainability and more support. Partnering with the industry leading PBSA News, Zube is on a mission to show the benefits and value it can offer to student living. From accessible kiosks run by students to in-built app operated laundry lockers, student laundry is no longer an afterthought but a benefit of living in PBSA and its evolving for the better.
Whether its managing student laundry during term time or meeting the unique demands of holiday and short-term Airbnb rentals during out of term periods, there is now a solution to the student laundry crisis that saw limited choice and balancing multiple contractors with varying levels of service.
As a reliable partner, Zube and its commercial arm is dedicated to helping students and PBSA operators streamline their operations, reduce overheads and maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and customer satisfaction.
Zube is also transparent over its eco conscious commitments, with a focus on becoming B Corp certified in the near future. Utilising sustainable practices, non-toxic cleaning products and the most energy and water efficient technology, Zube ensures that its climate impact is as minimal as possible and brings PBSA partners on its eco conscious journey.
Already loved by universities in the North East, Zube now has more UK sites in the pipeline with plans to change the student experience for the better.
Regularly used by students who have cited the benefits of being able to tick off laundry from their to-do lists, it has also been highly praised by parents who can ensure their children aren’t struggling at university with keeping on top of washing or clean clothes.
“Our dedication to serving students extends beyond laundry and washing clothes. For too long students have had limited options, and PBSA operators haven’t known where to turn to open up the choice.
“We are delivering modern, innovative, environmentally and socially responsible solutions to the UK’s student laundry crisis. A broken industry in need of major reforms. An industry which has been monopolised and stagnant, lacking innovation as well as social and environmental stewardship for decades. Zube will meet the demands of PBSA developments and support students during their university journey.
“Allowing students to focus on their studies and prioritise their mental health and wellbeing is key, and something we have built into our core values here at Zube. Yet it’s not just about improving the experience for those residing in student accommodation but also about creating a better quality of service and living for PBSA operators, whether it’s for term time residents or even summer short term lets via AirBnB.”
Nav Dulai, CEO and Founder, Zube
“We’re delighted to partner with Zube who have a mission to revolutionise the UK student laundry experience, to set new standards and pave the way for a brighter, cleaner, and more responsible future for the student community. We’re looking forward to supporting them in this exciting journey.”
Nick Biring, Co-founder and CEO, PBSA News
CLICK HERE TO READ THE LIVE ARTICLE
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Zube simplifies laundry for North East students
4th December 2024
A student-focused, sustainable laundry service has unveiled new partnerships with two North East universities.
Zube, a Newcastle-based student laundry operator, has partnered with Newcastle University and Durham University to simplify laundry for students.
With a dedicated kiosk at Newcastle University and 24/7 drop-off lockers at Durham University, the service aims to take laundry off students’ to-do lists, allowing them to focus on their studies and transition into university life.
The company partners with technology and student accommodation partners to deliver a seamless end-to-end service.
Nav Dulai, chief executive and founder of Zube, said: “Zube is here to disrupt the student laundry industry while also being a helping hand for freshers starting university, seasoned students handling second and third year, and also to offer parents some peace of mind that their children aren’t stressing over laundry symbols and which detergent to use when they should be studying.
“We’ve already received a warm welcome from students from both universities, and we look forward to working with each and every customer who uses Zube.”
The partnerships mark Zube’s first step with higher education institutions and are part of ambitious expansion plans, as it targets major cities including Manchester, Edinburgh and London in the next year.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE LIVE ARTICLE
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THE STUDENT LAUNDRY REVOLUTION
29th November 2024
Who we are
Zube is the UK’s first dedicated student laundry service that’s quickly being snapped up and rolled out in universities, higher education institutions and purpose built student accommodations (PBSAs).
More than just cleaning clothes, it’s bringing choice where there have been limited options, shaking up a stagnant market and widening the choice for both students and operators.
It’s an integral part of the university lifestyle, and it allows students to focus on the things that matter to them, puts parents minds at rest and supports PBSAs to deliver the best experience to their student residents.
What we do
Here at Zube we are student led and are on a mission to show the benefits and value we can offer to student living and to the students that use us.
From accessible kiosks run by students to in-built app operated laundry lockers, student laundry is no longer an afterthought but a benefit of living in PBSA and it’s evolving for the better with us leading the way.
We have been created with students in mind, and our convenient options fit seamlessly into the university journey and lifestyle.
Zube Kiosk inside Newcastle University Student Union
There’s a student laundry crisis and we’re here to solve it
We are delivering modern and high tech solutions to the student laundry crisis, which has been stagnant and dominated by suppliers that can’t meet the demands of PBSA developments, and which don’t support students during their university journey.
For too long there’s been limited options, but that is going to change – and we’re going to show you how.
We’re shaking up the industry, and we’re on a mission to see things improve.
A typical Zube locker installation inside a PBSA Building – Drop, Load & Lock
Our promise to the environment
Our commitment to students and improving choice doesn’t have to mean we sacrifice the planet. In fact, saving the environment and lessening the impact of laundry on the world we live in is hugely important to us at Zube.
We have a focus on becoming B Corp certified in the near future, and we remain committed to utilising sustainable practices, non toxic cleaning products and the most energy and water efficient technology.
As part of our eco conscious promises, Zube ensures that its climate impact is as minimal as possible and we will ensure we bring our PBSA partners with us on our eco conscious journey.
Get in touch
If you think we could help shake up your laundry options, bring a fresh take to getting clothes clean or improve the student experience at your development, then reach out and speak to us.
hello@studentlaundry.co.uk
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PROUD TO SUPPORT
STUDENT MINDS
STUDENT MINDS IS THE UK’s STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY
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