About Leeds University Union

Managers are active in caring for their staff and ensuring they are happy in their work. They will regularly ask questions to ensure this in one to one meetings. The appraisal process includes consideration of individual learning and development needs allowing managers to ensure their staff are constantly improving and are able to explore their career aspirations.

In summer 2011 the company held an all staff event at the University's sport facilities to promote the facilities to encourage employees to sign up for membership. The event included dodgeball, swimming, 5 a side football, climbing wall, spinning, image consultancy, and walking tours amongst other things. For the last two years the company have also run an employee baking league. This has been particularly effective for engaging their staff in something fun at work , mixing with other people and encouraging them to take a break! In previous years they have offered an employee Wellbeing Week every January. Employees can participate in a number of healthy activities during their working time to improve their health, safety and wellbeing. Free fruit is also provided during the week. The idea for the week is that they provide free of charge taster sessions that employees can then choose to continue in their own time to improve their lifestyles.

Due to the recent surge in interest in baking brought on by television programmes such as the Great British Bake Off, LUU decided to hold its own baking competition and ran a baking league throughout 2010-11. Each month staff were invited to submit entries under a theme and they were judged and scores awarded. The baking league was successful in engaging a whole range of budding bakers from across the organisation and had the added benefit that those who did not wish to bake could be involved as judges or just chief tasters after the formal judging had taken place. The league culminated in a Grand Afternoon Tea provided by the two winners of the league which was held at lunchtime. This excellent event was attended by a good cross section of LUU and was very enjoyable.