Find the Best UK universities that were honored at CUBO Awards

The CUBO Awards were held to honour the best employees in UK campus and commercial services. At the group’s annual dinner, nine winners were chosen in nine different categories.

During the College & University Business Officers summer conference at Lancaster University, prizes were given to six English schools, the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Excellence in Sports Experience and Best Marketing Campaign went to the University of Nottingham, while Campus Experience of the Year went to the University of Bath.

Jan Capper, the CEO of CUBO, said that “several of this year’s entries were great examples of innovative ways to help students all over COVID.”
“The non-academic experience has always been important, but in 2020–21, universities did more to help students who were in lockdown. For example, they sent thousands of meals to students who were isolating themselves and set up a Christmas Day for those who couldn’t go home. They also provided more support for mental health to help fight loneliness and created new virtual social and physical activities to help people connect and make friends.
Some of the other winners were Loughborough University, the University of Warwick, and the University of Birmingham.

She said that Bath stood out as the Campus Experience of the Year winner because of the many steps it took during the pandemic. These include giving out food and drink vouchers, exercising equipment, and indoor gardening packs, as well as encouraging regular testing and online events like language cafes, book clubs, support sessions, and pop-up takeaway shops.

Capper says that the school also let students stay with others for free if they couldn’t go home for the holidays but their roommates could.

The Oxford Brookes University partnership with Gather & Gather and Coop showed “how businesses and universities can work together to provide support in a crisis, a better overall food and retail experience, and part-time jobs to students,” while the University of Edinburgh’s winning Best Residence Life entry was a “great example” of how universities can work together to help students deal with anxiety and reconnect with the Edinburgh community after the pandemic.

The organisation said that the award was a way to “recognise the huge contribution Andrew made to the establishment and development of the Code… and the respect with which he was held throughout his long and successful career in the higher education sector.”

Both David McKown MBE of the University of Sheffield and Jon Greenwood MBE of the University of York, both of whom used to be on the CUBO Board, were also given honorary memberships.
Extracurricular activities have always been important to universities, but in 2020–21, they went above and beyond to help students who were locked down.

Other winners were the University of Birmingham for Innovation in Conferencing, Events, and Hospitality; the University of Warwick for Innovation in Student Housing; and Loughborough University for Creativity in Catering and Retail.

“A lot of work, most of it unseen, goes into making sure that university campuses have housing, food and stores, wellness and sports activities, recycling, deliveries, child care, and other services,” Capper said.
“During the epidemic, event staff set up testing and vaccination centres; caterers switched from catered halls to takeout services; cleaners worked even though it put them at risk, and residence life teams came up with a number of online activities in what seemed like no time at all. We’re proud to give the CUBO Awards for this important work.

Here, you can find both a photo gallery from the event and a list of all the winners.
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