Winchester: University scoops two UK Excellence Awards
The University of Winchester has scooped two awards for excellence at the British Quality Foundation Awards, the UK Excellence Award 2016 and the BQF Sustainable Future Achievement Award for outstanding environmental or social contribution to achieving a more sustainable world. It was named one of the most exceptional organisations in the country at the prestigious awards ceremony in London.
The University was the only higher-education institution of the seven entrants shortlisted and overcame competition from national corporate companies including ABM Finance, Arriva Trains Wales, Merseyrail Electrics, Rejuvo JPCS and Safe Move – Yorkshire Water. Another shortlisted entrant in this category, Cross Country Trains, also won the Excellence Award.
Entrants to the Awards are assessed against the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model, a management framework which helps organisations to evaluate and understand their key strengths and continuously improve their operations.
Professor Joy Carter DL, vice-chancellor of the University of Winchester, was presented with the UK Excellence Award by Baroness Karren Brady CBE, businesswoman, author, columnist and one of the stars of BBC One’s The Apprentice.
Carter commented: “This is a huge honour to be recognised for the excellent work of our staff and students in making this such an outstanding institution. Everything we do, built on our fantastic partnership with students and staff and our unrelenting commitment to our values, is about developing well-rounded, global citizens and world-class research that make a real difference in the world.”
The University of Winchester is one of the best universities in the country for sustainability, with its low-carbon estate leading the way in ensuring a more sustainable future. The BQF Sustainable Futures Award recognises a raft of University initiatives which are aimed at tackling the challenge of reducing its environmental impact and mitigating the risks of climate change in its operations.
These include its sector-leading low-carbon estate, its partnership with Winchester Action on Climate Change (WinACC), which works to cut the carbon footprint of the Winchester district, and an inaugural Campus Blackout event in February 2016, which achieved a 16% reduction in energy use overall in those buildings taking part. The University has also introduced parking charges for staff based on income levels and emissions of the vehicle, which is a first in the higher education sector.
