Accreditations
Work Life Balance
The Students’ Union has won a Birmingham Best Business Award for its work-life balance policy.
Work-life balance is all about making sure the Union employees get the right mix between their home life and their work life. The policy covers things such as flexible working, time off in lieu, bereavement leave and many other incentives that Union employees can take advantage of. The Birmingham Best Business awards identify the companies that lead the field in this area, and Birmingham City Students’ Union was this year a winner in the medium size category (businesses with 50 to 200 employees).
The Students’ Union has been developing its work-life balance policy for a number of years now, and with this award has been highlighted as the employer of choice, not just amongst Students’ Unions, but amongst all companies within Birmingham.
Press Release
Students’ Union strikes award winning balance...
Staff at Birmingham City Students’ Union, based at Birmingham City University, are celebrating after scooping first prize in the Birmingham and Solihull Best Business Awards for the Development of Work Life Balance 2007.
Hosted by Birmingham City Council’s Birmingham Early Years and Childcare team, the awards recognise employers who provide their staff with a real balance between their lives at home and at work.
Grant Badgery, Communications Officer at Birmingham City Students’ Union, has already seen benefits from the awards when it comes to recruiting staff. He explains,
“As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, I know it isn’t the pay level that attracts the best talent. Work-life balance and flexibility offer a big incentive to potential new staff and help us retain the staff we have.
“It’s an achievement for us to be a finalist three years running and I’m proud that we offer flexibility to all of our staff in a fair way. Every single employee now takes some benefit from the packages on offer. Our induction process and training includes aspects of work-life balance so that we start as we mean to continue. The results speak for themselves, staff turnover has dropped significantly and retention has improved. But most of all, our staff are engaged; they are motivated at work.”
Birmingham City Students’ Union has implemented best practice standards for its staff to enhance their work-life balance. Elements include flexible working options for staff, newly re-furbished staff room and improved social activities, taxis home for staff working after midnight, paid compassionate leave and a transparent performance management system.
The University’s Technology and Innovation centre also received a Highly Commended award at the ceremony, in recognition of their support for carers. Other winners include NEC Group, Aspire People Ltd and Real Point Design Ltd.
Best Bar None
For the 3rd year running Bar 42 achieved accreditation in the Best Bar None annual awards run by NUS Services Ltd.
The award is granted to bars with a long standing commitment to social responsibility and the safety of its customers. The scheme aims to cut down on alcohol related crime and irresponsible drinking through various methods of assessment including:
• Door and security policies and practices
• Handling instances of alcohol abuse
• Managing customer behaviour.
We are proud of our involvement in the Best Bar None Awards and show our commitment to socially responsible drinking and the safety of our members when using our venues.
The Union will continue to work hard on Corporate Social Responsibility, and hopes to achieve overall winner at next year’s awards.