Friday 06-07-2018 - 10:44

Samantha Budd, Chief Executive of the University of Bristol Students’ Union (Bristol SU) has received the Simpson King Staff Achievement Award at the National Union of Students’ Awards.

The Simpson King Staff Achievement Award recognises those who have dedicated their careers to making an incredible difference to students and student unions.

Sam Budd came to Bristol SU in 2010 and has led the transformation of one of the oldest and largest Students’ Unions in the country – shaping a successful organisation that puts Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity in front and centre in everything it does. 

Sam is passionate about equality and diversity and was shortlisted for Chief Executive of the Year 2016 by the National Centre for Diversity Awards.

She has worked in an advisory capacity with NUS to shape the Race Matters agenda and has been involved in the development and implementation of Careers in Students’ Unions, the new employer brand that has been created to improve the diversity of the sector’s workforce.

The Panel were extremely impressed by Sam’s commitment to students, students’ unions, and her city. Her energy, enthusiasm, and ability, has shaped a huge range of work for the better. It is clear her relentless drive for change has had an extremely positive impact on our movement.

 

“I feel proud to be involved and deeply honoured to have been recognised for my contribution, which is only a small part of a big movement. I can genuinely say that working in the student movement has been the most inspiring time of my career. I know it’s the current thing to criticise this generation, but I can say as someone who works alongside these passionate young people that we shouldn’t be worried. The future in their hands looks bright to me as I see them championing a fairer and more sustainable world.” - Samantha Budd

 

In addition to Sam’s achievement, Bristol SU was awarded the Quality SU Award in recognition of achieving a ‘very good’ status in a recent verification.

Bristol SU was also shortlisted for the People Award, which recognises Students’ Unions who’ve gone above and beyond in living the values of equality, diversity and inclusion.

The awards were held at the NEC in Birmingham on Wednesday 4th July.