Derby Wins Two National Awards
25 November 2011
The Community Relations team collecting their award
The University of Derby Corparate team collecting their award
The University of Derby won in two categories at the finals of the Times Higher Education Awards 2011, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, last night (November 24).
Derby was shortlisted and won in the Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative and Outstanding Contribution To The Local Community categories.
Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative
The University's business-to-business arm, University of Derby Corporate (UDC), won this category which recognised strategic and innovative approaches to delivering employers' workforce development needs.
UDC, based at the University's purpose-built Enterprise Centre in Bridge Street, Derby, delivers accredited vocational training in the workplace to meet employer needs.
In 2010/11, it generated £4m in revenue - a 400% increase in the three years since it was launched. It has 260 clients and around 2,500 learners. Clients include Croda and Citibank.
Outstanding Contribution To The Local Community
The University's Community Relations team won this category which recognised imaginative attempts to aid the wider community socially, culturally or economically.
More than 500 people have benefited from the innovative community work run by the University of Derby, under the leadership of its Community Relations Officer Peter Walker.
Projects included a sewing group, community exhibition, a drop-in centre for people going through the asylum seekers process, and a library community space which has already hosted more than 200 events and art therapy sessions.
These initiatives have been done with community support, including that of Betty Phoba; Chair of the Voice of Congolese Women group and a key player in the University's work.
Professor John Coyne, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Derby, said: "It is always pleasing to see the University recognised at such a high level for the excellent work that my colleagues produce.
"These are major awards for the universities sector and to win in two different areas is very special."
Peter Walker, Community Relations Officer, said: "I am delighted that we have won, it's an endorsement of all the work we have been doing in reaching out to our local communities over the past three years."
In the Outstanding Contribution To The Local Community Derby was up against five other institutions, University for the Creative Arts, University of Huddersfield, University of Kent, Universities of Leeds and Huddersfield (ALPS) and University of Salford.
And in the Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative, Derby faced competition from Bradford University School of Management, University of East London, Middlesex University, University of Roehampton and Sheffield Hallam University.
