2017 UHR Awards for Excellence in HR

The shortlist, runners up and winners of the UHR awards for excellence in HR in higher education are published. These recognise outstanding and innovative projects, teams and individuals that have led transformational change in their organisations. The winners of the 2017 UHR awards for excellence in HR were announced at the UHR conference on the evening of 11 May 2017 in Newcastle.

The categories

• Business Effectiveness through Innovation: for an innovative initiative led by, or with significant input from, HR that has driven demonstrably enhanced organisational performance through people.
• Learning & Organisational Development: for a learning and/or organisational development initiative led by. or with significant input from HR, that achieved culture change, demonstrably positioning the organisation effectively to meet future challenges and uncertainty.
• Equality and Diversity: for the role of HR in a successful and impactful initiative involving equality or diversity.
• Exceptional HR: for exceptional achievement by an HR team.

The shortlist, runners up and winners

Awards to the winners and runners up were presented at the UHR Conference Gala Dinner on Thursday 11th May. 

Business Effectiveness through Innovation

• Winner: University of Surrey - People Planning Process (PPP)
• Runner up: University of Bath - The Tier 4 Worker Improvement Project Team

Learning & Organisational Development

• Winner: University of Exeter - The Exeter Academic
• Runner up: University of Birmingham - People and Organisational Development Team

Equality and Diversity

• Winner: University of Manchester - The “We Get It” Campaign
• Runner up: Aberystwyth University - Digital Skill Training Courses

Exceptional HR

• Winner: Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) - People Services team
• Runner up: University of Wolverhampton - Shaping our Culture

• View the full 2017 shortlist here

The Judges

Key people with experience and knowledge of good people management practices within and beyond Higher Education

• Professor Janet Beer, Vice Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, and President-elect of Universities UK
• Professor Gareth Jones, INSEAD and London Business School
• David D'Souza, CIPD Head of London and Head of Engagement
• Sandra Heidinger, UHR Chair, and Director of Human Resources, University of Strathclyde

The ceremony

The winners and runners up were announced at the UHR Conference Gala Dinner on Thursday 11th May in Newcastle.

See the 2016 winners and runners up