New Year 2014 honours list

To:

Heads of HEFCE-funded higher education institutions

Dear Vice-Chancellor or Principal

New Year 2014 Honours list

This letter invites nominations for the New Year 2014 Honours list. The deadline for nominations is Wednesday 10 April 2013.

We will shortly begin to compile our list of people whose names might be put forward to 10 Downing Street as possible recipients of a national honour in the New Year 2014 Honours list. I am seeking fresh citations from the heads of all HEFCE-funded higher education institutions for this purpose.

Recognising the contribution of people working in higher education is extremely important. We would therefore like you to put forward recommendations for your colleagues, undoubtedly among the best in their field, from all areas of the sector including research, scholarship, teaching and administration.

We would like to encourage nominations at all levels within institutions, particularly staff in manual, clerical or other support roles, who have made an outstanding contribution and had a positive impact on both students and colleagues.

We would especially welcome nominations for female candidates and for black and ethnic minority candidates, particularly those at senior level but also at all other levels. This is because these groups are generally under-represented in the nominations received.

As well as recognising the contribution the nominee has made to higher education, it is important to recognise any involvement they may have in charitable or voluntary activities, and we would encourage this to be detailed on the citation form. We would also wish to see more good candidates with a philanthropic background who are actively involved in higher education.

We are keen to encourage more nominations for candidates who are actively engaging in work to build a bigger, stronger society and the British Empire Medal (BEM) has been reintroduced to recognise this. It is likely that more junior or support staff would be suitable recipients of a BEM.

All nominations must be made electronically on the Cabinet Office citation form. If you wish to make a nomination, the form, instructions on how to complete it and general guidance can be downloaded below.

Completed forms should be e-mailed to Paula McLeod on p.mcleod@hefce.ac.uk no later than Wednesday 10 April 2013.

Yours sincerely

 

Alan Langlands

Chief Executive

  

General guidance

• The honours system is designed to recognise outstanding contributions at whatever stage in a person’s life rather than as a reward for a whole career. This means that nominations for younger candidates will certainly be considered. However, if a worthy candidate is nearing retirement then they should be submitted well in advance of that date (up to four years, if possible). Nominees will be considered out of time for an honour at New Year 2014, if they had retired before 31 December 2012. In the case of a scholar, they must still be engaged in active research on that date.
• The long citation is very important. It is to the benefit of the nominee that as much supporting evidence as possible is included in the space allowed. In addition to details about the work record of the nominee, supporting information in respect of achievements outside the workplace is particularly important. This could include voluntary activity within an institution or the local community, or a significant contribution at a national level.
• It is in the interests of the nominee if people who know the nominee’s work can be identified and encouraged to write to HEFCE by the prescribed deadline in support of the nomination. This should also include any voluntary or community activity that the candidate is involved in. Additional support will help to strengthen an individual’s case.
• If an honour has been awarded within the last five years it is very unlikely that a second honour of a higher rank would be considered. It is normal to leave a gap of at least five years, and even then a second honour would be given only for exceptional additional service.
• In view of the large number received and the time needed to check each one, late submissions are not normally accepted by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Share this:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

---