The NUS has given the University of Manchester Students’ Union two awards at the fourth Students’ Unions ceremony at the Macron Stadium, Bolton.
The Union won the Most Improved Employee Engagement Award, based on the results of the NUS’s annual survey which gives an idea of how employees feel valued by the organisation in areas including leadership, wellbeing, and recognition for good work. It also walked away with the Green Impact Excellence award, which recognises the efforts a Union has gone to take the next step after ensuring sustainability on campus.
Ben Ward, Union Director, said: “We’re really delighted to win the Most Improved Employee Engagement Award. We went up from 50 per cent last year to around 86 per cent and to do that in a year is incredible. That’s a tribute to all of our staff who have pulled together over the last year.”
According to the NUS, “excellent employee engagement doesn’t happen by accident. It’s about organisations valuing their staff and staff valuing the organisation. Research by our HR Support Unit shows a significant positive correlation between employee engagement and student experience.”
The Upcycling Project was the behind the Union’s recognition for Green Impact. Set up in the repurposed RBS building between the Students’ Union and Manchester Academy, the project helped raise money for charity, reduce the amount of waste produced by the student population, and share skills in the community.
Richard Brooks, NUS Vice-President for Union Development, said: “The Awards are fundamentally about celebrating excellence across the many and varied activities of Students’ Unions.
“We’re building a fairer, better education system and a more just world. I hope the awards encourage, inspire and, most importantly, build pride in our national efforts towards that. The Unions that have won awards have shown the ability to organise students and make a real change both in the lives of their students and the world around them.”
