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A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR EMPLOYEES
A great place to work
As a responsible employer, we work hard to attract and nurture the best talent which is why it is vital that our Home for Success ethos extends to all those who
work with us.
This means creating a culture and working environment where difference is valued, and employees feel a sense of belonging.
As a responsible employer, we work hard to attract and nurture the best talent which is why it is vital that our Home for Success ethos extends to all those who work with us.
This means creating a culture and working environment where difference is valued, and employees feel a sense of belonging.
We recognise the importance of enabling employees to be more engaged, happy and healthy at work, including the part this plays in lowering turnover, sickness and absence, improving performance and productivity, and boosting employee safety.
Data is key to this, and 2023 saw the implementation of a new people data dashboard through which we track progress in real time and make more informed data-led decisions.
Investors in People 2024
Gold standard of culture
We’ve achieved the Investors in People 'We invest in People gold accreditation'.
With only 28% of organisations achieving gold, it demonstrates how we’re pulling together as one team and investing in our people.
Joe Lister, our Chief Executive said: "This is a great achievement so thanks to everyone who contributed to the research and the focus groups and more importantly to all our teams for making Unite Students what we are."
Our key achievements
Wellbeing
Our approach to wellbeing focuses on mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing. In 2023, we introduced a number of new wellbeing-focused employee benefits including:
• Physical and mental wellbeing resources, courses and benefits
• Discounted gym membership and access to wellbeing tools for employees and their families and friends
• A new one-stop employee benefits, discounts and recognition platform which also allows employees to celebrate and reward each other every day
Fair Pay
We are proud to be a Real Living Wage employer, and in 2016 became the first in the purpose-built student accommodation sector to earn Real Living Wage accreditation.
In 2023 all our employees and temporary workers earned at least £10.90 p/h (£11.95 p/h in London) in line with the recommendations of the Living Wage Commission. Our average total pay award in 2023 was 8.6%, with a 10% award made to over 45% of our employees, recognising the impact of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis on our lowest paid colleagues.
High quality and impactful learning
In August 2023, we became the first student accommodation provider to earn external accreditation from the Continuous Professional Development Certification Service in recognition of the work we do to enhance work-based skills and knowledge for all employees via The Academy – our learning and development programme.
Also new for 2023 was an experiential learning programme for General Managers, who are key to providing a positive experience for students, as well as their colleagues, on a day-to-day basis.
Case study
Employee forums and employee wellbeing
We're focused on achieving consistency in inclusive leadership and business behaviours, aiming to increase diversity among our workforce and delivering employee wellbeing initiatives.
As a result of our work in this area we were awarded the Diversity Champion Corporate Award and International Inclusion Award 2023/24, which specifically recognised our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Wellbeing strategy, We are US and our employee forum, Culture Matters.
We’re focused on achieving consistency in inclusive leadership and business behaviours, aiming to increase diversity among our workforce and delivering employee wellbeing initiatives.
As a result of our work in this area we were awarded the Diversity Champion Corporate Award and International Inclusion Award 2023/24, which specifically recognised our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Wellbeing strategy, We are US and our employee forum, Culture Matters.
Separate policies on maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption and surrogacy leave have been combined to incorporate consistent use of inclusive language and enhancements to employee benefits. Work is ongoing on transitioning at work guidance to support the hiring and retention of gender diverse employees, and the employee resource group Unite Women are developing a menopause policy. A disability network was launched to provide greater inclusion and support for employees who have a disability and to educate those supporting colleagues and customers.
Our employee engagement score improved by five points to 70, compared to 2022. This reflects progress on wellbeing and balance.
Training events were delivered throughout 2023, via The Academy - our learning and development programme.
We increased our training events, delivered to employees, by 80% in 2023
Users awarded The Academy - our learning and development programme - an overall Net Promoter Score (NPS) of +86.
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Health & safety
