Warwick Moves+ programme to close after two years, bringing an end to free coffees on campus

Warwick’s Moves+ programme is approaching its final lap before closure on Monday 30 June, just under two years after campus-wide implementation in 2023.

The main reason that Warwick Sport has cited for the closure of the programme is the rising costs associated with operations, choosing instead to safeguard finances in the long term.

Warwick Sport had been absorbing additional costs during the duration of the programme, which became “unsustainable”.

The potential for a new rewards-based platform is being explored by Warwick Sport. Such a programme would be integrated into the existing UoW Sport app

Despite the closure of Moves+, the potential for a new rewards-based platform is being explored by Warwick Sport. Such a programme would be integrated into the existing UoW Sport app.

The Moves+ app was conceived by OpenPlay, a fitness technology company who provides digital solutions to physical wellbeing.

The app provider won a competitive tender back in 2019 to implement Moves+, which successfully branched across eight universities including the University of Bristol, Nottingham Trent University, and King’s College London.

It wasn’t too long until Warwick joined the initiative, with the University starting their programme in September 2023 under the Warwick Sport brand.

At first, Warwick’s rewards included, among other options, a free baked potato at the on-campus Spud food truck. Opportunities to earn the sought-after University hoodie were also once available

To get people off their feet, Moves+ operates a points programme that converts recorded activity into points by automatically updating a user’s steps, swimming, running, and cycling activity when paired with a smartwatch or smartphone. These points are then used to purchase rewards in the app’s online store.

At first, Warwick’s rewards included, among other options, a free baked potato at the on-campus Spud food truck. Opportunities to earn the sought-after University hoodie were also once available.

Currently, the store advertises rewards such as prize draws and Warwick Sports and Wellness Hub passes. Entering a prize draw can be done for as little as 500 points, in comparison to the one-day and seven-day sports passes priced at 5,000 and 10,000 points respectively.

One of the most cost-efficient redeemable rewards is a hot drink from campus outlets, such as the Café Library and the Neuxs Café, priced at 1,200 points.

The University of Bristol also closed their app two weeks ago, but has cited different reasons, saying that the closure was due to ‘ongoing software issues that the app provider has been unable to address’

Costs associated with the maintenance of the Moves+ app has been one of the financial issues faced by Warwick Sport through the programme, however losses have also been made through the rewards scheme and the cost of items offered in exchange for points.

University-branded t-shirts are priced at £14.99, and hoodies are £35, for example.

Warwick is not the first university to have closed the Moves+ app. The University of Bristol also closed their app two weeks ago, but has cited different reasons, saying that the closure was due to “ongoing software issues that the app provider has been unable to address”, thus falling short of the university’s standards.

While one door closes though, another door opens. OpenPlay has celebrated its expansion outside of the British market, opening arms most recently in Australia after earning a grant for operations at the Universities of Sydney and Notre Dame.