We would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who submitted an entry - we have been truly blown away by the calibre of work taking place across the sector, with inspiring examples of innovation, collaboration and impact from HR teams in Higher Education.
These awards play an important role in recognising and celebrating the contribution of people professionals in HE, while also supporting shared learning, professional development and the continued advancement of people practices across the sector.
We will be announcing the shortlist at the end of April, with winners revealed and celebrated at the UHR Annual Conference in May - we hope to see you there and look forward to sharing more soon.
There are eight UHR Awards – here are the categories and criteria:
Organisational transformation, effectiveness and performance: this project has driven and demonstrably enhanced organisational performance and competitive advantage, or transformation, demonstrating new ways of working, or the collaborative nature of HR success in working with other functions. This category could encompass how HR has driven sustainable change in challenging financial circumstances, and innovative approaches to activities such as the REF and enhancing academic performance.
Culture change and organisational development: this project has achieved transformational culture change or greater staff engagement, or involved collaborative work with another organisation, enabling the university effectively to meet future challenges and uncertainty.
Equality, diversity and inclusion: this project has improved equality, diversity and inclusion in the organisation, and brought demonstrable improvements to performance or engagement.
Reward, recognition and resourcing: this project has demonstrably improved the ability of the organisation to reward, recognise, resource or recruit staff effectively, particularly in the current challenging climate.
Wellbeing: this project has enhanced the wellbeing of staff, and through that, improved the workplace and the student and/or staff experience.
Digital and technological innovation and change: this project has enabled the HR team and the university to provide a better service and/or saved significant resources, with potential for further impact in the future.
Exceptional HR: for exceptional achievement by an HR team.
HR Star: An award to recognise a member of HR staff who has been a valued member of the team and gone above and beyond their role and made an exceptional difference to the organisation through what they have done, or the way they went about it.
Take a look at some of our previous winners:
