Birmingham City University’s continued commitment to providing regional transformation has been recognised with a Highly Commended award in Community Excellence at the Nachural Summer Business Awards.
Posted 12 July 2022
Recognising regional excellence
The awards ceremony took place on Friday 7 July at Wolverhampton Racecourse and saw over 500 important stakeholders from the world of regional business attend.
Taking place every year, the Nachural Summer Business Awards recognise the achievements of individuals and companies from across the West Midlands.
For the Community Excellence category, Nachural were looking for an organisation that had conducted numerous activities and initiatives, related to Covid-19 or not, that have benefitted their region.
Striving to be the University for Birmingham
Birmingham City University was victorious in Community Excellence, being recognised with a Highly Commended trophy.
The institution was recognised for its continued drive to be the University for Birmingham, enabling personal transformation within the region.
BCU’s mission is to be the University for Birmingham, serving its city, region and beyond.
Namely, the University triumphed due to a range of its programmes and projects, including:
- The support it offers the region via its innovation centre, STEAMhouse, and its programmes – STEAMhouse Incubator (business startup support), STEAM Hatchery (programme for budding young entrepreneurs) and the support it offered during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The Graduate Re-Tune programme, delivered in partnership with Aston University and the Department for Work and Pensions (and funded by the Office for Students), which helps under/unemployed graduates in the region into appropriate-level jobs.
- Higher Level Skills Match, part-funded by the European Social Fund, which works with businesses to identify their skills gaps and sources them with student and graduate talent, in turn providing the latter with valuable experience.
- The Kickstart Scheme Graduate Opportunities Gateway – a partnership between BCU, Aston University and West Midlands Police (WMP) – which works with WMP and has seen over 20 local graduates secure job roles with the organisation.
- The IntoUniversity Kingstanding project, a £1.2 million learning centre in Birmingham, which is aiming to help more people from underprivileged backgrounds progress into higher education.
Continued recognition for regional and national support
BCU was also named as finalists in the Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion category, for their continued efforts in breaking down barriers through endeavours such as the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity and the We Gather Exhibition.
It has been a highly successful few months for BCU, which is continuing to be recognised on both a national and regional level for their support.
Recently, it picked up two accolades at the AGCAS Awards for Excellence.
In July 2022, the University was named Higher Education Provider of the Year at the Education Awards.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Julian Beer is especially pleased to see that the University’s progress in widening participation is being recognised on a wider scale.
“The University’s mission statement is to be the University for Birmingham, ensuring that equality is advanced in everything we do,” Professor Beer says.
“We are thrilled that our continued commitment to providing a level playing field – where students, staff and professionals within the region can succeed without limitations – is being highlighted in such a way.”
Pictured: Legal Secretary to Head of Legal Services & Compliance Hardeep Kharbanda-Camp, Programme Officer Debra Stitt, and the award presenter
