Unity Campus wins award for excellence in community building

Leading regional property investor and developer Howard Group, is delighted to announce that Unity Campus has been awarded the Driving an Interactive Community – Small award at the UKSPA 40th Anniversary Awards.

Held at the University of Warwick on 17 October 2024, the awards ceremony celebrated the exceptional achievements of the UK’s science parks and innovation hubs over the past four decades.

Unity Campus, owned and managed by Howard Group, stood out in the Interactive Community category thanks to its carefully curated engagement and events programme. Since its inception, Unity Campus has been dedicated to supporting local charities, schools, and residents, as well as creating a working environment that meets the needs of its professional inhabitants.

The award recognises Unity Campus’ personal approach to successfully building a collaborative and inclusive environment that drives both social and professional collaboration and champions community groups, including Cambridge City Foodbank, Sawston Village College, and the Royal British Legion.

Jess Harvey-Bowman, Community Engagement Manager, Unity Campus, accepted the award on behalf of the team: “Thank you to the UKSPA judges for this recognition. It reflects the hard work and dedication of the Unity Campus team in engaging both our campus members and the local community. This award means a great deal to me and the wider Howard Group team – we’re incredibly proud of the impact we’re making together.”

Unity Campus was commended for its ability to connect campus members through regular initiatives such as ‘Meet Your Neighbour’, ‘Lunch and Learn’, and wellbeing programmes. The Campus has become known for its extensive events calendar, including summer barbecues, quiz nights, and creative workshops and training sessions, such as British Sign Language lessons, that encourage both personal and professional development.

Katherine Friend, Director – Investment and Asset Management, Howard Group, said: “Bringing the community together is no small feat, given everyone’s busy work and social lives. We are incredibly proud of the collaborative, engaging, and supportive community we have built at Unity Campus. Our members are truly at the heart of the campus, and our events programme is designed with their interests in mind.”

The team’s dedication extends beyond its immediate Unity Campus boundaries by providing free event spaces for local groups including a Friday craft morning for the elderly and a Sunday STEM session for Cambridge Electronics and Robotics Club, litter picking, and sponsoring Sawston’s charity fun run.

Katherine adds: “This award not only recognises the dedication of our on-site Community Engagement Manager, Jess, but also the commitment of the entire Howard Group team and the active involvement of our campus members. This accolade will inspire us as we prepare our programme for the coming year, particularly our work with the local community.”