Education sites across the UK are under pressure to manage high volumes of traffic with limited parking spaces and outdated systems. From long queues to mounting admin, the challenges are clear, but automation is offering a smarter, seamless solution for students, staff, and facilities teams alike.
From large universities to busy colleges and multi-site academies, educational institutions face some of the toughest parking challenges in the UK. Thousands of vehicle movements occur every week, a mix of user types, and varied infrastructure make managing parking a complex and resource-intensive task. Without the right systems in place, operations can quickly become bogged down with manual processes, compliance gaps, and frustrated drivers.
Parking pain in the real world
At De Montfort University in Leicester, students have reported spending up to 30 minutes each day just hunting for a space, leading to lateness, increased stress, and even attendance penalties. One commuter told local reporters:
“It takes at least 25 to 30 minutes to find a parking space… which affects my attendance for lectures because I’m listed as being late.”
It’s a scenario that plays out across the education sector, from further education colleges to school campuses, where limited space, outdated systems, and growing demand combine to frustrate drivers and stretch facilities teams.
Why Hozah’s ecosystem works for education sites
Hozah’s parking ecosystem is designed to work across all types of education settings, delivering benefits for both drivers and site managers.
For students, staff, and visitors, it means:
- No more queuing for machines or fumbling with apps.
- Automatic payments, once registered, with concessions applied instantly.
- Flexible account options for occasional or regular drivers.
For estates and facilities teams, it means:
- Reduced admin through fully automated permit and concession management.
- Improved compliance and revenue through accurate ANPR data.
- Live reporting to guide capacity planning and policy changes.
- Seamless integration with existing infrastructure, avoiding costly upgrades.
The result is a frictionless, sustainable parking system that frees up time, reduces stress, and improves the daily experience for everyone on site.
Hertfordshire’s manual system for managing permits, Blue Badge concessions, and payments was eating up hundreds of hours each month. Hozah’s Autopay solution integrated with the existing ANPR network to deliver cashless payments, automatic concessions, flexible account management, and live reporting, all without new hardware.
Impact: Higher compliance, increased revenue, thousands saved in operational costs, and hundreds of admin hours freed up.
Bournemouth University: flexibility for diverse needs
Bournemouth’s challenge was inconsistent infrastructure across a sprawling campus, combined with varied requirements from staff, VAT-exempt students, and visitors. Hozah’s fully automated, app-free permit system recognised different user types, processed VAT exemptions automatically, and operated seamlessly across ANPR and non-ANPR sites, with Pay-As-You-Go for occasional drivers.
Impact: A tailored, user-friendly parking system that works across all sites without overhauling existing infrastructure.
The bigger picture for the education sector
The experiences of Hertfordshire and Bournemouth prove that:
- Automation reduces administrative tasks and frees up valuable resources.
- Flexibility boosts compliance and user satisfaction.
- Data insights enable institutions to make informed, future-proof decisions.
For the education sector, parking automation isn’t just about convenience; it’s about creating systems that scale, adapt, and support the entire community, from schools and colleges to multi-campus universities.
Want the full story?
Reach out to hello@hozah.com for a free PDF.
Want to Simplify Your Parking Experience?
Want to learn how Hozah® can support your site? Book a meeting with a member of our team now.
