Students’ Union picks up award from Houses of Parliament

Pictured, l-r: Ryan Bird, Education and Representation Manager at UBU; Samantha Budd, UBU Chief Executive; Suzanne Doyle, Executive Support Manager at UBU; Vicki Baars, NUS Vice President for Union Development; Paul Uppal MP; Hannah Pollak, Elected Officer of Sport and Health at UBU; Professor Judith Squires; Paul Charlton, UBU Elected President; Martha West, Elected Officer of Activities at UBU; and Ben Pilling, Director of Operations and Development at UBU

Press release issued: 21 February 2013

The University of Bristol Students’ Union (UBU) has collected an award which celebrates its success over recent years from the Houses of Parliament. UBU received a bronze award from the Student Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI) in recognition of ‘transformational change’ within the organisation between 2010 and 2012.

UBU received a bronze award from the Student Union Evaluation Initiative (SUEI) in recognition of ‘transformational change’ within the organisation between 2010 and 2012.

The assessment panel for SUEI, a national programme in partnership with NUS, gave the award in light of UBU’s improved services and activities for students.

The parliamentary reception celebrated the impact of students' unions, students and universities across the country as part of Student Volunteering Week and the SUEI Awards 2013.

UBU elected officers and members of staff were invited to the event at the Terrace Pavilion of the Houses of Parliament, alongside Nick Hurd MP, the Minister for Civil Society, and Professor Judith Squires, who will take up the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Bristol over the summer.

Samantha Budd, UBU Chief Executive, said: “It was a real privilege to receive our award at the Houses of Parliament. The significance of democracy as a core value for UBU made the venue really special and it also reflects the reputation that SUEI has gained as a means of measuring the quality of a good Students' Union.

“It was also fantastic to be accompanied to the presentation by Professor Judith Squires, which demonstrated how much the university values our achievement.”

SUEI assesses Students’ Unions against a range of categories including representation, vision, participation, targets and impact. The assessment included interviews with the University, UBU staff and students not currently involved with the Students’ Union.

SUEI’s assessment panel on UBU’s achievement reported: “The Sabbatical Officers, Chief Executive and staff are to be congratulated on turning around an organisation which was failing and in severe financial difficulties.

“They have used the SUEI matrix as a basis for transformational change and this is despite being in the middle of a very disruptive and long building refurbishment. The plans for the new building are exciting and will help enormously with the impact on the student experience. This high level of investment is a good sign that the University has confidence in the Union.”