Above and Beyond

Alongside a number of measures we are taking across our teaching, research, non-pay and capital investment to create additional savings, we are also working on ways to reduce our pay costs. This includes pausing the Above and Beyond financial awards for the duration of the 2025/26 financial year. The portal will, however, remain available for you to send an eThank You Card to colleagues. If you have received an Above and Beyond financial award, you will still be able to use the Above and Beyond online portal to redeem it. For further information, please read the FAQ below. 

A simple “well done” or “thank you” has a great impact on motivation and sense of value. Research has shown that recognition from co-workers is usually highly valued because colleagues understand what they do on a day-to-day basis. We want to encourage all colleagues to recognise the impact of each other’s contributions.

Through Above and Beyond, you can send any colleague within the University an eThank You Card to recognise contributions they have made that have gone above and beyond what was expected of them. The eThank You Cards enable colleagues to describe how an individual or team has made a difference. Colleague-to-colleague recognition gives the opportunity to recognise day-to-day events or actions that line managers may not always see.

You can send an eThank You Card by logging into the online portal and selecting Nominate Now.

Here are some statistics for how the scheme has been used in recent years.

2024/25

The Above and Beyond budget was reduced in 2024/25. This was one of a number of measures taken by the University to make savings across our teaching, research, non-pay, capital investment and pay costs.

2023/24

2022/23

For previous years see Above and Beyond Statistics 2015-2025

Above and Beyond is an online recognition tool accessed via the Current Staff website. It offers a quick and easy way to instantly recognise employees that have gone above and beyond.

Everyone will have access to the system. The system allows staff to search for their colleagues, make nominations, send thank-you cards.

We want recognition and reward to be accessible to all, with employees having realistic but ambitious goals.

All recognition will be aligned with the University values:

• Discovery
• Respect
• Excellence
• Inclusion
• Community

Those that receive recognition will be role models of these values. We want to recognise activities and behaviours that make a significant contribution to the University’s success and help drive the University Strategy forward. Additionally, they should have a positive effect at the local level, helping the Faculty or Division to achieve their goals and ambitions.

To gain recognition, you must have gone above and beyond what is typically expected in your day-to-day role. You need to have made a difference resulting in a great, positive effect on your team, department or Faculty/Division.

Going above and beyond can be described as:

• adding value;
• going the extra mile;
• helping others in ways that are an inspiration;
• moving mountains to achieve the best outcome;
• proactively delivering a better quality of service to students/colleagues/external partners etc. that exceeds their needs and expectations.

Everyday examples and situations of colleagues going above and beyond and really embodying the University Values will be showcased on the Above and Beyond online portal.

You can redeem your eVouchers to use in supermarkets across the UK, including:

• Aldi
• ASDA
• John Lewis/Waitrose
• Marks & Spencer
• Morrisons
• Sainsbury’s
• Tesco

eVouchers can be used in store by either printing them out or showing the voucher code on a mobile device. To use an eVoucher online, you can usually enter the code at the final payments page.

Please note that usage is subject to individual retailer restrictions. For example, some eVouchers may not be able to be redeemed online. Availability and terms are also subject to change, so we recommend checking the details for each voucher on the Above and Beyond portal before placing an order.

If you would prefer the eVoucher to be sent to a different email address, you can update your contact details in your Above and Beyond profile before ordering.

You can continue to redeem your awards as long as you are employed at the University. If you are leaving the University, you must redeem your awards before your final day of employment.

Guide on using eCodes/eVouchers