There is limited literature that looks at the evolution of student services in the UK and their effectiveness in providing student support. Student support is broadly defined as all services that support students to learn. Academic and non-academic support are essential mechanisms in providing holistic student support. In this article, the author primarily discusses non-academic support delivered by student services. In today's higher education (HE) environment, student services play a substantial role in the life of the student and within a university's planning team when developing strategies for improving the student experience. However, this has not always been the case. This article looks at the evolution of student services over the past thirty years resulting from government legislation, social pressures and trends, a change in the student body and an increase in student expectations; discusses the importance of the role; and highlights the challenges faced by student services in the coming years.