University of Leeds retains the HR Excellence in Research Award for a tenth year

We are delighted to announce that the University of Leeds has retained the HR Excellence in Research Award after the 10-year review.

The HR Excellence in Research Award is an important mechanism for implementing the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. The University of Leeds signed up to the revised Researcher Development Concordat in September 2019. The concordat is an agreement between funders and employers of research staff to improve the employment and support for researchers around three defining principles: environment and culture, employment and career development.

By retaining the award, the University of Leeds has demonstrated the long-term commitment to the career development of our researchers and to create an excellent working environment, which enables our research staff to fulfill their potential. We have an ambitious action plan, developed in partnership with our researchers, which aims to have a positive impact on both our research staff and the institution.

Professor Nick Plant, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research & Innovation at the University of Leeds said:

Keeping our HR Excellence in Research Award for a tenth year is fantastic news. Both our 2015-2020 and current strategies placed great emphasis on people, and this award is an important reflection of our commitment to supporting our researchers and research staff across all career stages to develop to their full potential. My warmest congratulations to the entire team for their dedication and hard work.

Having retained the award, it will continue to provide valuable benefits to the University:

• Contribution to our strategic goals, including improving quality and impact of research
• Supporting research culture within the University
• Raising the status of researcher development
• Meeting and supporting researchers’ needs
• Helping to support funding applications
• Creates increased opportunities to share practice with other award-holders and organisations working towards the award

Two of the significant areas of development since the last retention of the HR Excellence in Researcher Award has been the provision of 10 days of career development for our postdoctoral staff, and the recruitment of a Careers with Research Consultant with OD&PL to support our work.

Our new 2-year action plan prior to the next review of the award will focus on:

• Expanding the range of career development resources including the Career Architect Programme
• Supporting our managers of researchers to support their staff
• Working to ensure our researcher contributions to funding, teaching and supervision are recognised through schemes like PRiSE and by the introduction of a PhD Advisor role

Researchers can get involved by joining the Researcher Development Action Group for Early Career Staff. The open group is for anyone interested in or holding a role in, the support of our researchers. OD&PL consult monthly with the group on our progress, plans and ideas.