Hertfordshire Students’ Union wins national diversity award
Hertfordshire Students’ Union has won ‘Student Union of the Year’ at the National Centre for Diversity (NCFD) FREDIE Awards 2021 in recognition of their commitment to embedding the NCFD’s values of Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement at the University of Hertfordshire.
The Students’ Union received the award after the reveal of NCFD’s 2021 Top 100 Most Inclusive Workplaces Index, which also took place during the online ceremony at the end of May. They were the highest ranked students’ union listed in the index, reaching 61st place.
The award reflects the positive progress made over the last few years by the Students’ Union to further inclusion and diversity. An example of a Students’ Union-led initiative that has contributed to this progress is Herts Empowerment, an online forum where students can leave feedback about things impacting them at University. The feedback is then assigned to one of the Elected Officers at the Students’ Union, who will decide how to take it forward within the institution.
Rebecca Hobbs, Chief Executive Officer at Hertfordshire Students’ Union, said: “The award is recognition of the considerable progress we have made in promoting diversity and inclusion at Herts, but we know there is still plenty of work to do. We are working closely with NCFD to develop an action plan that will shape our diversity and inclusion strategy for the next two years, ensuring we fulfil our commitment of embedding these principles into everything we do.”
Solat Chaudhry, Chief Executive at the National Centre for Diversity said: “I send my warmest congratulations to Hertfordshire Students' Union. It’s been a challenging year, and yet it has not dented the excellent work that organisations and individuals do in promoting FREDIE best practice.
“Through the work of the FREDIEs we are able to build a better society, and our winners come from a wonderful cross section of private, public, education and charity sectors representing the very best.”
In March this year, the Students’ Union achieved NCFD’s Investors in Diversity for Small Charities Accreditation after conducting a survey asking its staff, students, and external partners (including colleagues at the University) to evaluate whether they uphold the NCFD’s FREDIE values. They have been awarded the accreditation until March 2023.