The CIPD has been shortlisted for three awards recognising its commitment to championing better work and working lives – by improving practices in HR and people development, for the benefit of individuals, businesses, economies and society.

As well as making the shortlist for Membership Organisation of the Year in the 2020 memcom membership excellence awards, the CIPD’s Customer Services Team and Social Impact and Innovation Team have both been shortlisted in the ‘Team of the Year’ category in recognition of their collaborative, inclusive and strategic approach to delivering on the CIPD’s purpose.

The Customer Services Team plays a vital and unsung role in championing better work and working lives. It fields approximately 17,500 enquiries every month and provides members and other customers with professional support and advice on membership, learning, qualifications and assessment services. It has also been collaborating with other CIPD teams to transform the membership experience in response to member feedback, helping it to score nine out of ten for customer satisfaction.

David D’Souza, the CIPD’s Director of Membership, comments:

‘We've had a year of change and growth as we strive to be better than ever for our members. This has resulted in some systems and business issues but when an issue comes up, I can rely on our customer service team to solve it with due care and attention and leave our members feeling more positive about the organisation than before they called. Customer services teams rarely get the recognition afforded to more 'strategic' teams or those in the spotlight more often, but their level of dedication and commitment is remarkable and a genuine differentiator.’

The Social Impact and Innovation Team delivers against the CIPD’s charitable purpose by encouraging and supporting members to drive labour market change and create inclusive workplaces, while helping members develop their skills and expertise through volunteering. Recent achievements include: launching two new diversity and inclusion initiatives – Aspiring HR Directors and Parent Returners Programme; supporting 537 people into work through free Steps Ahead Mentoring support; supporting 33 charities with Skill Up pro bono HR support; and recruiting 489 Enterprise Advisers to support school career strategies which have benefited more than 300,000 young people.

Jemeela Quraishi, Acting Head of Social Impact and Innovation, comments:

‘Our Social Impact and Innovation programmes provide opportunities for people professionals to tackle real world-of-work issues and societal challenges. Our success is down to a dedicated and driven team. I’m proud to lead such a fantastic group of passionate individuals, who time and time again go over and above to improve life chances for everyone – whether through their day-to-day work or their own volunteering activities.’

In its submission for the membership organisation of the year category, the CIPD demonstrated how its well respected research helps shape the news agenda and how its practical content and resources helps people professionals champion fair and inclusive work in their organisations. It also highlighted the valuable role that members, volunteers and the CIPD’s own workforce plays in championing better work and working lives – and the ways in which the organisation supports them to do so.

The memcom awards recognise the work of professional bodies, trade associations, membership charities and other not-for-profit membership organisations. In the ‘Team of the year’ category, the CIPD is up against the Chartered Institute of Building’s Marketing Team, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy’s Membership and Operations Team, the Royal College of Physicians’ Communications, Policy and Research Team and the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Communications and Policy Team.

For the membership organisation of the year award, it is up against the British Pest Control Association, the Digital Marketing Institute, Logistics UK, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Winners are due to be announced on Thursday 4 June 2020.