Names & Job titles of team members:
Sam Kingsley- Senior Belonging, Equity and Engagement Manager Amelia Pulvertaft- Belonging, Equity and Engagement Co-ordinator
Please provide an overview of the work your team delivers:
Unite Students started its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Journey in April 2021, following an employee-led campaign for a DEI manager. The work in this space has continued to be led by the employee voice; through in depth focus groups, our newly founded employee forum, and our re-energised employee networks, a number of change initiatives have been launched. In just two short years, Unite have become DEIB leaders in the Higher Education Sector paving the way for sector-wide change.
In April 2022, they launched their first DEIB and Wellbeing Strategy, We are US, detailing their 3 year roadmap to instinctive inclusion. Following this structure, they have implemented a bespoke learning programme, for all levels of the organisation. This programme supports employees on their journey to instinctive inclusion, by teaching them the knowledge and skills needed to be consciously inclusive. They have also supported the launch of a unique piece of research into the experiences of Black students in student accommodation, and have led a national commission working towards creating meaningful change for Black students in the sector; appearing at a number of public events, and hosting their own conference, this research has empowered the sector with a number of recommendations to make change. They have initiated a number of policy reviews, most notably our renewed family leave policy, which boasts equity for new and expecting parents and offers an enhanced entitlement for primary and secondary parents through adoption and surrogacy that mirrors our offering for birthing and non-birthing parents; this policy and the work of the team have been credited as role models, by both All Equals Charter and Stonewall.
Please list any significant achievements made by your team since its inception:
– Designed, launched and implementing the organisations first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion , Belonging (DEIB) and Wellbeing Strategy ‘We are US’ (https://www.unitegroup.com/articles/belonging-creating-room-for-everyone )
– Developed a bespoke, tiered, conscious inclusion learning programme for all employees, launched October 2022 and delivered for a 24/7 operational business with 30% of the business completing training.
– Reinvigorated and or launched successful employee networks (Unite Women, People of Colour Unite, Keeping US Well and Unite LGBT+)
– Developed policies including DEIB, Family Leave and Menopause, as well as Transitioning at Work Guidance. (https://www.unitegroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-and-Belonging-Policy.pdf / https://www.unitegroup.com/articles/in-conversation-with-richard-morris-drive-to-update-our-family-leave-policy)
– Delivered the Living Black at University Report and Co-convened and co-ordinate the Commission (https://www.unitegroup.com/living-black-at-university)
– Hosted a Living Black at University conference at Newcastle University (https://www.unitegroup.com/articles/living-black-at-university-conference-2)
What impact has your team had on the organisation?
Sam Kingsley is an Inclusion and Belonging specialist with experience in setting and delivering tangible goals by combining research and data with lived experience and a hands-on approach. Joining Unite Students as Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Wellbeing Manager in April 2021, Sam previously worked in the Built Environment, where she was responsible for raising awareness of EDI across the business and wider sector, through her work on the Board of Architecture LBGT+. Passionate about acceptance over tolerance, Sam believes the workplace should be an inclusive space in which people are able to bring their full selves, increasing productivity, innovation and driving greater creativity.
Joined by Belonging, Equity and Engagement Co-Ordinator, Amelia Pulvertaft, the team have build strong foundations both internally and externally to lead Unite Students on a journey to instinctive inclusion.
Unite Students is the UK’s largest owner, manager, and developer of purpose-built student accommodation. It currently provides a home to c.70,000 students, in 156 properties across 23 UK towns and cities, partnering with the UK’s leading high to mid-ranking universities.
Tasked with developing the organisations first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Wellbeing (DEIB&W) strategy, ‘We are US’ launched in June 2022, the team defined the company’s strategic vision – ‘to be a role model organisation through developing instinctive inclusion, where our people and student communities thrive and are at the heart of who we are and what we do every day’ , and Sam was subsequently promoted to Senior Belonging, Equity and Engagement Manager.
The strategy is a three-year blueprint – and now essential part of the business’ purpose to deliver a Home for Success, where employees and students have room to grow and belong for academic and personal success. The strategy defines DEIB &W as a ‘golden thread’ to be considered in all areas of the company and this thinking has developed a culture of belonging, which has influenced a range of strategic decisions including the company’s one-off £500 cost-of-living payment in August last year.
The company also took a tiered approach to the annual pay award this year, recognising its responsibility to consider inclusion. Frontline employees and lower earners were prioritised with a 10.1% annual pay award in January 2023. Across the business, the company’s average pay award was 8.6%, with 95% of its people receiving a pay award of 5% or more and the highest earners receiving 3%.
Aware that the same cost of living pressures are impacting students and their families, Unite Students froze its rents, inclusive of bills, for the 2022/23 academic year and created a Cost-of-Living Guide, providing financial tips for both students and parents. As a result of taking this more inclusive
approach, there has been ongoing healthy demand from students for the company’s accommodation with 90% of rooms being sold for the 2023/ 2024 academic year.
Implementing the strategy included policy review, with the launch of a DEIB Policy (June 2022), Family Leave Policy (March 2023), and upcoming Menopause and Transitioning at Work policies. The Family Leave Policy supports employees as they transition into their new family dynamics, whilst demonstrating Unite Students is an employer that embraces individuality and is passionate about building and retaining inclusive teams. The policy introduces enhanced benefits, including four weeks paid leave for non-birthing parents and for those whose newborn(s) are hospitalised post birth, ahead of the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023.
Embedding the strategy has been accelerated through the company’s employee engagement forum, Culture Matters. Designed and co-chaired by Sam, the forum puts employees’ voices at the centre of the business’ strategy, providing two-way communication between senior leadership and the wider company, engaging employees through consultation, and enabling them to contribute to business success.
The team also designed Unite Students’ bespoke and sector-leading learning programme, ‘Instinctive Inclusion,’ tiered learning, tailored for all employees, managers and senior leaders comprised of online, virtual, and face-to-face modules, delivered through the company’s Academy. An example of the social impact approach the strategy encourages, Sam is working with the University of Kent to discuss how the training might be shared to their accommodation services.
‘We are US’ is embeds the company’s strategic objective of being a responsible business by making ‘a positive impact through people and places’ with Sam leading on many aspects of achieving the ‘people’ aspect, incorporating DEIB, health and wellbeing of employees and opportunities for all students, employees and the communities it works in, so all can thrive regardless of background or characteristic, through programmes such as 10,000 Black Interns which the company has welcomed for its second year this summer.
The team developed our ‘People’ sustainability metrics to improve the visibility of underrepresented groups in leadership. Unite Student’s Board Diversity Policy seeks to enhance overall Board diversity which includes reaching a 60% to 40% male to female split and 10% ethnic minority representation by 2025.
Sam worked on the ‘Living Black at University’ report- ground-breaking research into the experiences of Black students living in UK student accommodation and has co-convened the subsequent commission, involving decision makers from across the Higher Education and student accommodation sector, responding to the recommendations at a national level.
Engaging the business in becoming Gold Sponsors of National Student Pride, Sam has been asked to join their Advisory Board, due to her commitment to creating a space of belonging within student accommodation. Alongside this Sam is also a member of UK student mental health charity, Student Minds,’ Anti-Racism Council, following her involvement through Unite Students, which partners it.
Please provide an endorsing statement from someone who can support this nomination (Max. 500 words) “I’m really glad to be supporting this with a testimonial. I was lucky enough to work with Sam and see her in action at a recent event we hosted as a part of our University Mental Health Charter Programme. And I know she is also supporting the work of our organisation by being a part of our Anti-Racism Council.
Sam has a clear commitment to anti-racism and is taking an intersectional approach to achieve positive change. I believe her approach to be incredibly inclusive, accessible and value-led. She
supports continuous learning, meets people where they’re at and empowers people to develop a better understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion issues whilst developing intentional interventions to create change.
“As an individual, Sam is incredibly knowledgeable, engaging and approachable. She’s generous with sharing her own experiences and insight to progress change. Her achievements at Unite Students have left a mark on the higher education sector and resulted in tangible action being taken to better support students.”
DOMINIC SMITHIES, HEAD OF INFLUENCING & COMMUNICATIONS, STUDENT MINDS
