A high-flying graduate from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.
Saffron Stickings, who graduated with an MA Management of Human Resources in January of this year, is one of just six students from across the country on the shortlist for the Michael Kelly Outstanding Student Award (Advanced Level) at the CIPD People Management Awards 2015.
The award is for students who are currently studying or who have recently completed a recognised CIPD postgraduate level qualification and can demonstrate how their studies have enabled them to initiate and implement business improvements, either within their own organisation or organisations they work for.
Soon after gaining her MA, Saffron joined NIACE (The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) as an HR officer. “It’s a really good generalist HR role,” she explained. “And I am involved with a range of activities from recruitment to staff relations.”
Saffron is grateful for the help DMU has given her to get her to where she is today. She said: “I completed a BA in Human Resources and Law at university in Scotland but had friends who had studied at DMU and spoke highly of the Business School.
“One of the main reasons for studying here was that I recognised that I needed a CIPD professional qualification in order to progress in my chosen career.” Saffron thrived on her MA course, and was awarded a DMU Business School Prize in recognition of her achievements on the programme.
“My time at DMU really helped me to develop my skills further for when I went into work,” she said.
“Elements of the course were quite practical – we developed our own assessment centre exercise for example – which was a good experience that led to helping redesign KFC’s graduate assessment centre.”
Dr Deborah Price, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management, said: “Being shortlisted for the CIPD award is a true testament to Saffron’s dedication to her studies and to HRM.
“Throughout her time at DMU, Saffron engaged with and challenged the theories and concepts. She sought to augment her learning through practice and was keen to reflect on this.
“Saffron’s ongoing success as an HR practitioner is evidence of her ability to translate her repertoire of learning into meaningful action and thereby make a positive and lasting impact in the working environment.”
Saffron will find out if she has won the CIPD award later this year on September 29 at an awards evening in London.
Posted on Monday 29 June 2015