• Recognition pack

    To thank those who have gone above and beyond.

    There are a number of ways you can recognise colleagues. Whether it's to say thank you for a job well done or to recognise someone whose work goes above and beyond what is required.

    The Recognition Pack sits alongside the Brookes People Awards and ACE scheme to promote recognition on a more regular basis, from small gestures to bigger celebrations.

    It is suggested that Administrators manage the supply of the printed elements of the pack and store them locally, so as to minimise the quantity of orders.

    Here is a summary of some ways that you can recognise colleagues:

  • 1. Thank you cards

    Thank you cards are available for all staff to send to colleagues, as a thoughtful way of appreciating their work. Whether it’s to express thanks to someone you line manage, or show an appreciation of the result of a project a colleague has worked on.

    The images on the cards were selected as winners of a staff photography competition held in Onstream (now known as the Staff Communications Hub).

    Printed cards can be ordered by emailing Pam Fortescue, Executive Assistant to the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Staff Experience on pfortescue@brookes.ac.uk. 

    Send an e-card »

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    2. Certificates and letters

    Personalised certificates can be used to commend the achievements of a colleague or a team's work on a project or campaign.

    The document can be downloaded which will allow you to edit the text. Please then send this to Print Services who will print the certificate onto card in A4 and specify where you would like the certificate sent to. Please copy in Pam Fortescue so that she can provide the requisition form.

    Handwritten letters could be used to offer a personal acknowledgement of a staff member’s commitment to work, perhaps through challenging personal circumstances, or to those who have delivered an exceptional standard of work in a high pressure situation.

    Download certificate template »

    Possible wording for letters:

    I want to commend you on your recent commitment to work during your period of challenging personal circumstances. The team have valued your input and I want to express my thanks for your perseverance and professionalism.

    The outstanding work that you have completed over this past year has been extremely well received across the University. I want to extend my personal and honest thanks for your dedication to the project and the time that you have put in.

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  • 3. Long service award

    Colleagues who have achieved significant durations of service will now be recognised formally by the University.

    Every July, HR will circulate a list of colleagues who are eligible for a 10, 15 or 20 years of continuous service award to all Deans and Directors. 

    Colleagues will be acknowledged with a financial gesture of £50 which increases to £75 and then £100 once 10, 15 and 20 years of continuous service have been achieved respectively. This is in addition to the current policy for those who have achieved 25 years service, which has not changed. More details on recognition for staff with 25 years continuous service can be found on the Long service web page.

    Additionally, an annual event will take place to collectively recognise staff who have achieved 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service and colleagues will receive a personal congratulatory note from the Vice-Chancellor (in cases of 25 years service), Dean or Director.

    We are proud that we are able to offer financial recognition as a thank you to those who have served the University for substantial amounts of time. This policy will come in with immediate effect and only apply going forwards. This is in addition to the current arrangement of an extra day of annual leave added to leave cards.

    4. Recognition from Senior Staff

    Colleagues from across the University have the opportunity to be thanked by senior staff including the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Chief Operating Officer.  

    Suggestions on recognition for teams or individuals will be recorded through the Senior Staff Recognition Form. The staff experience group will monitor this form and make suggestions to senior management on the best channel to recognise staff for their efforts, which could be through an all staff email or at campus briefing or similar event.

    Please note, only line managers are permitted to nominate their team to be recognised in dispatches.


    5. Recognition Awards

    • Departments may make smaller, more timely awards (£200 before tax in all cases) to recognise one-off, significant contributions at any time of the year. These are known as “RecognitionAwards”.
    • The purpose of the Recognition Awards is to reward special one-off contributions or examples of achievement or excellence by individuals or teams at any time (e.g. the delivery of an important departmental initiative, helping others to meet an unforeseen challenge, providing an exemplary service, etc.)
    • Recognition Awards are handled locally by faculties and directorates, i.e. they do not require an application as part of the annual ACE exercise.
    • Nominations for a Recognition Award should be made in the form of a brief statement of the case to the head of department, using the pro forma nomination form. If supported by the head of department, the nomination should be forwarded to the PVC/Dean or Director for final authorisation. The decision of the PVC/Dean or Director will be final.
    • The award should be accompanied by a personal acknowledgement of the individual’s contribution, such as a letter of thanks from the head of department.
    • The distribution and reasons for making Recognition Awards will be monitored by HR for consistency.

  • 6. Supporting walls

    ‘Supporting walls’ can be displayed in staff spaces where teams can pin their letters, thank you card and certificates.

    Pin boards can be purchased out of local budgets, which will then be reimbursed from the staff experience budget. Please contact Pam Fortescue, Executive Assistant to the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Staff Experience on pfortescue@brookes.ac.uk with details of the expense to be reimbursed. 

    It is advised that colleagues who wish to put up a supporting wall seek approval from others sharing the work space first. Please raise a ticket with the service desk for a member of the Estates team to put the board up.

    7. Pin badges

    Branded Brookes Recognition pin badges, which can be worn on lanyards or clothing, are an informal way of recognising a colleague for their contribution.

    Pin badges can be ordered by emailing Pam Fortescue, Executive Assistant to the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Staff Experience on pfortescue@brookes.ac.uk. 

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    8. Events and celebrations

    Recognition Awards aim to reward special one-off contributions or examples of achievement or excellence by individuals or teams at any time.

    Faculties and directorates may chose to set aside some of their local budget to reward staff with a one off thank you offering, event or celebration.

    Local budgets could be used for issuing vouchers to staff or providing a "thank you" lunch at the Brookes Restaurant. Teams can spend however much they think is appropriate on these celebratory events.

    This provision sits alongside the ACE scheme (formerly CRSP).

  • 9. Extra day of annual leave

    An extra day of annual leave can be given to a team or an individual to recognise a particular effort and contribution they have offered.

    This might be granted at a time when a colleague put in sustained effort to complete a project or key piece of work and the line manager feels that they would benefit from taking a day off to relax over a long weekend.

    Issuing extra days of annual leave is at each line manager’s discretion and does not require a formal notification to HR.

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    Contact

    Anne-Marie Kilday

    If you have any questions on staff recognition at Oxford Brookes, then please contact Professor Anne-Marie Kilday, Pro Vice-Chancellor Student and Staff Experience on akilday@brookes.ac.uk.