MORE THAN 2,000 students took part in Northumbria Students' Union's (NSU) Hidden Fees campaign, which called for the elimination of costs over and above tuition fees. The union's success in raising participation levels helped earn it the crown of student union of the year in 2011. To celebrate its awards victory, a party was held to thank officers, staff and volunteers. NSU's 167 employees say their teams have fun together (90% positive) and working with colleagues gives them a buzz (81%). The scores are placed third and fourth on our list of small organisations respectively, and NSU has the fifth highest factor score of 84% for My Team. Its mission to have a "positive impact on the lives of all our students" was aided in 2010 by the £7m refurbishment of the students' union building, with a new cafe, theatre, performance venue and atrium. More than half of NSU staff are under 21 and the average age is 24, so personal growth is an important consideration. The union will foot bills for work-related qualifications, including post-graduate courses, for staff. The workforce believes their jobs are good for growth (84%) and say that the experience they gain is valuable for the future (83%), two top 10 ratings. www.mynsu.co.uk
