Archive for category: News

Email sent to all FD staff from Ann Allen, Director of Campus Innovation and Development, on Tuesday 1 April. 

With the Employee Engagement Survey now closed, I am delighted to be able to tell you that the participation rate for the Facilities Directorate was 68% – that’s a 15% increase on 2023 and meets the ambitious target set by the University. Thank you to everyone who filled it in and to everyone who worked so hard to enable staff to take part, in particular Angela Baker, FD Culture & Engagement Lead supported by Prue Griffiths, Communications Manager.

The results will be available early in the summer and you will shortly receive an invitation to the next FD Online Town Hall on 12 June at 10.30am in which we will discuss those results.

I do want to reiterate that your views help us to shape the future and this is a major resource for helping us to understand what you think. Can I also reassure you that the Survey is anonymous; it’s run by an external company – Culture Amp – not the University, and no one here has access to the background data.

The ‘One Leeds’ review is still open for your comments – the deadline is 16 April. I’d urge you to find time to let the University know what you think.

Campus work begins

Our £32 million project to improve the campus this year has officially begun work this week with replacement of outdated audio/visual equipment at laboratories in the L.C. Miall Building – which houses the Faculty of Biological Sciences – including research offices and laboratories. This will make a real difference to learning and teaching.

The project as a whole will create new informal student spaces and upgrade teaching facilities across the campus, as well as see the refurbishment of existing university spaces and entrances, and roofing and cladding work. It’s an essential part of the University’s push to attract new students at a time when competition is fierce, so it’s exciting to see it underway. You can read more about it here.

Thank you to everyone involved in the space utilisation surveys for the Campus Reimagined project, which have now completed. These were needed to get a better understanding of how the campus is being used. The Campus Reimagined work is beginning in earnest with the appointment of Prior + Partners as the masterplanners. More information to come soon!

Net Zero update

I enjoyed reading this summary of our progress in Net Zero work, as featured in last week’s eNews.
As James Dixon-Gough tells us, we’re about to move from planning and feasibility studies into the design and delivery phases for two major projects in the Net Zero Delivery Plan:

• Upgrade of the ventilation system in the Worsley building to a ‘heat recovery’ system that captures waste heat to reduce heating needs.
• A new energy centre to heat the Engineering cluster of buildings using electricity.

This is exciting progress and my thanks to all involved.

Budgets for next year

It’s the time of year when we plan financially for the academic year ahead. Your heads of service will keep you updated on progress but I just wanted to respond to questions about staff roles that ceased to exist last year. These roles are not automatically being reinstated: we are working with heads of service to see where roles are critical to the business. The same applies across the whole University.

LinkedIn Learning

A reminder that there are many great opportunities to learn and develop your skills available for free through LinkedIn Leaning. You can read case studies from the University on this page and it’s lovely to see colleagues from Cleaning Services in this video explaining the benefits.

And finally….

It’s great to see our staff being featured and celebrated in the University’s eNews bulletin. You can read about why our Outside Spaces Manager Sean Craven finds the University so inspiring in this piece and how many of our fantastic FD colleagues were mentioned in the International Women’s Day ‘Wall of Women’ on the staff intranet.

Ann Allen,
Director of Campus Innovation & Development

Email sent to all FD staff from Ann Allen, Director of Campus Innovation and Development, on Monday 3 February. 

I hope that your 2025 has started well. January wasn’t without its challenges, including the very bad weather. My thanks to everyone who helped make campus safe during that period.

There is plenty going on in February, including the first Student Offer Days on campus, which many of our teams are involved in. While student recruitment numbers remain challenging for Leeds – as it is for many in the sector – these events are especially important.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) meeting

I was delighted that colleagues from the Facilities Directorate presented at the recent public meeting chaired by Rachel Brealey, the Chief Operating Officer. The FD is part of Rachel’s portfolio, and Mags Massip and Dawn Abel from Cleaning Services had been invited to talk about the success of the Functional English course that colleagues recently took part in.

We also heard from Kitty Binns-Hall and Michael Hern about the achievements of Staff Voice, and from Rob Wadsworth about Campus Reimagined Live. Thanks to all of you for your hard work. It was a wonderful showcase for the FD and attended by over 700 colleagues from around the University.

FD online town hall

We had the next in our series of online town hall meetings on 28 January, entitled ‘Have Your Say’. This was a chance to hear about the University’s Employee Engagement Survey – which goes live on 24 February – Campus Reimagined Live, and Staff Voice. Thank you to everyone who found the time to attend. Please let us know if you have ideas for future themes.

In the event, our new People & Culture Lead, Angela Baker, outlined the work that has been done to address responses to the last Employee Engagement Survey in 2023, and last year’s Pulse Survey. You’ll be hearing more about the Survey over the next month. Heads of service and line managers will be ensuring you all have time to complete it, and I can’t stress enough how important it is to our future. You can hear Rachel Brealey talking about it in this update.

Also in the town hall, Kitty Binns Hall, Lee Bedford and Geraldine Baker updated us on Staff Voice. Applications have closed to join Staff Voice and people can expect to hear from the team this week. If you’ve missed the deadline but would still like to get involved, you can email the Staff Voice team. And you can watch a recording of the town hall here.

Campus Reimagined Live | 10-12 February

It’s nearly here! With free coffee, competitions and more than 25 talks by leading experts, Campus Reimagined Live lands on the University precinct and in the Refectory from 10-12 February.

As Will Reed outlined in the town hall, this is an FD-led initiative and offers colleagues and students the opportunity to feed their ideas into plans for the future of campus. Please go along; your line manager will make sure you have the time.

A huge thank you to the team behind this event including Will Reed, Rosanna Booth and Sue Pimblett and her team.

International Women’s Day/Women’s History Month

The University wants to celebrate inspirational women at the University by creating a digital gallery on the Staff Intranet. You can use this online form to nominate colleagues.

News from our teams

I was delighted to hear about the recognition for Residential Services in the recent Unipol Rate Your Landlord awards. Well done!

• Winner – Most Improved Landlord award
• Runner-Up – Best Purpose-Built Student Accommodation Building – Devonshire Hall
• Runner-Up – Best Purpose-Built Student Accommodation Provider

Print & Mail last week demonstrated their commitment to sustainability by taking part in a tree planting event at Smithills Estates in Bolton, organised by supplier Premier Paper. Scott Fleming, Print Production Manager, helped to plant 600 trees on the Woodland Trust’s largest estate in the country. This is a great effort and my thanks go to Scott. You can read more about the event here.

Finally, those who attended the town hall will have heard that over the coming weeks I am going to be less available while I spend more time with my family. Rob Wadsworth, our Director covering Campus Services, Experiences and Commercial has kindly agreed to step in as my deputy.

This arrangement will be in place initially for six months and he will have delegated authority to lead the Directorate when I am not available. I want to pass on my thanks to Rob for stepping into this role and to all of you who have passed on your best wishes to me.

Regards,

Ann Allen,
Director of Campus Innovation & Development

Residential Services manages the residential accommodation portfolio for The University of Leeds, with circa 9,000 bed-spaces in both University and private partner sites. Residential Services also operates in support of the University’s sustainability commitments across four themes:

• Embedding sustainability through collaboration
• Building knowledge and capacity
• Being a positive partner in society
• Making the most of resources

Residential Services has now completed six years of its Blueprint Action Plan, which commenced in 2018/19. This annual sustainability report covers the progress made during September 2023 to August 2024. In addition, actions are also highlighted where they address United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Embedding sustainability through collaboration

Actions that have had a significant or positive impact include:

• Blueprint: Residential Services was awarded with the top Blueprint Visionary Award back in 2022 and has continued to deliver on its Blueprint and Blueprint Plus actions thereafter, in collaboration with students, staff, key partners, supply chain providers, Estates Services, and Sustainability Services.
• Yorkshire in Bloom 2023: The combined impact of the collaborative work between Estates Services, Residential Services, Sustainability Services, and all of our students and external partners resulted in the University of Leeds being awarded a Gold Award at the Yorkshire in Bloom Awards in Tadcaster in 2023, and also Category Winner for HE and FE institutions in the Yorkshire Region for the second year in a row.

• Green Tourism at Cloth Hall Court: The University’s membership of the Green Tourism scheme was further enhanced in 2024 when conference venue Cloth Hall Court was awarded a Green Meetings Gold Award. The Conference Office team was supported by Residential Services and Cloth Hall Court is the 11th University venue to receive this level of recognition from Green Tourism, in how sustainability is managed in catering, conferencing and residential venues at the University of Leeds.
• Green Gown Awards 2023: Residential Services was shortlisted as a Finalist at the Green Gown Awards 2023, in the Student Engagement category. The submission included evidence of our collaborative work with our student volunteers; student sustainability architects; and the inclusive and welcoming outdoor environments that we help to create. Our submission received the following feedback from the judging panel:

“A wonderful suite of projects that create green spaces for students and involving many stakeholders. Lots of examples of best practice shared in local and national forums and media.”

Building knowledge and capacity

Actions that have had a significant or positive impact include:

• The Sustainable Living Guide: The Sustainable Living Guide was updated for 2023/24, and outlined how students could get involved with their local community through volunteering, and by supporting local independent businesses, events, and elections. It also encouraged staff to become a Positive Impact Partner, by getting involved with local charities and other volunteer activities in their area. The Sustainable Living Guide can be accessed here. 
• Communications with students: The Residences Life Team continued to send out communications to students resident in University and private partner accommodation throughout the year, via email, the Residence Life website and their Instagram account (@uol_res_life). This included hosting both online events, and others that took place around the residential sites.
• Student Sustainability Architects: Residential Services appointed two Student Sustainability Architects during 2023/24.
  • Emily Barker focussed on circular resource use and worked with the British Heart Foundation, Mitie Waste and Environmental Services, and the Residential Services Marketing and Communications Team on delivering communications to our students living in University and Private partner residences.
  • Madeleine Norris worked on producing habitat maps for both Charles Morris Hall and Lupton Residences; and delivered a biodiversity action plan for Charles Morris Hall on what could be found on site, plus recommendations for subsequent improvements.

Being a positive partner in society

Actions that have had a significant or positive impact include:

• British Heart Foundation (BHF): Students and staff in University Residences donated a total of 4,522 bags of items for resale and re-use, diverting the equivalent of 36.2 tonnes of waste away from landfill; and generating £ 67,830 of revenue from BHF shop sales in Leeds, to fellow students and local residents. The subsequent revenue supports coronary heart and circulatory disease research, some of which takes place in Leeds. In total, the Pack for Good campaign in Leeds received 14,497 bags during 2023/24 from universities, private partner sites, and collections from student areas equivalent to 116 tonnes. This generated an amazing £217,455 towards heart disease research in the UK.

• Yorkshire Wildlife Trust: Six Wild Work Days were undertaken by student and staff volunteers during the year, generating a total of 94 volunteer days of work with YWT (564 hours). The work took place on sites in or close to the River Aire catchment, at Kirkstall Valley, Brockadale, the Wild Ingleborough Project, Sherburn Willows, Rothwell Pastures, and Water Haigh Woodland Park. Students took part from eleven countries; Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Latvia, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Taiwan, United Kingdom and Vietnam. The work on the Wild Ingleborough Project resulted in the planting of 2,536 mixed native tree whips at the rear of the University’s Outdoor Centre at Selside on a cold day in December, so hopefully the legacy should benefit both wildlife and visitors to that site in years to come.

• North Hill Well Wood Project: Activities continued at the Well Wood Project at the rear of North Hill Court with Unite Students and Groundwork Yorkshire, with student and staff volunteers working under the supervision of staff from Groundwork Yorkshire. Activities included the clearance of the previous summer’s growth; collection of the autumnal leaf cover from pathways and steps; the planting of extra trees and hedging whips to supplement the existing; and the introduction of two sandstone water features on site for use by birds and mammals. Evidence of the completed work was sent to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. We subsequently received a Wildlife Gardening Award and now sponsor the award, with a case study appearing on Yorkshire Wildlife Trust website.

Making the most of resources

Actions that have had a significant or positive impact include:

• Circular Economy and Waste Management: Mitie Waste and Environmental Services Ltd have continued to work in partnership with the University of Leeds for the waste & recycling contract on campus as a waste management broker with services provided by their supply chain partners. The contract covers all University residences located on campus; Central Village; Shared Housing; plus the recovery of electrical goods (WEEE), used lamps, and food waste from Devonshire Hall. AWM have subsequently been replaced by BIFFA on the contract during the year, providing collections of glass and dry mixed recycling, general waste, and the delivery of trade skips. In addition, Residential Services has also put the following initiatives in place:
  • Re-use: Bishops Beds continued to replace old beds and mattresses with new, in a planned replacement programme, changing 954 mattresses (c 22.5 tonnes) during the year. In addition, Over2hills also provided a reactive recovery service for old mattresses, and furniture, to offer to third sector charities for either Re-use, Restoration, or Recycling of component materials.
  • Repair: BinMasters provide an annual repair service for any damaged external waste & recycling bins used on residential sites. This work is carried out in the weeks before Intake Weekend, so that facilities are ready for use, once students arrive in September. The repair work extends the life cycle of the existing bins and reduces the need to purchase new bins as replacements.
  • Leasing Equipment: Forbes Professional continued to supply a number of leased washing machines at Storm Jameson Court, St Marks Residences, and Shared Housing properties. Leasing equipment maintains continuity of service, whilst repairs or replacement can be arranged more efficiently.
  • Single-Use Plastics Pledge: Gilchrist & Soames refillable Spa Therapy toiletries were used for conference activity in Charles Morris Hall over the summer for the first time during 2023/24 last year, thereby reducing the use of single use plastics on site. Gilchrist & Soames was accredited with a Silver by the global EcoVadis accreditation scheme in 2023, and also has additional ethical benefits of Leaping Bunny certification in recognition that it does not test it’s products on animals, plus that it only uses Responsible Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in its product range.

• Biodiversity and ecology: We have been working with Outco as our grounds maintenance contractor in how we manage our residential sites to support nature and encourage a broader diversity of species on our sites. Some of the examples of this work include:
  • The collection of fallen leaves and their placement on shrub beds at Lupton Residences, to help increase the number of invertebrates on site and so support the local European Hedgehog population in the Headingley Hill area.
  • The establishment of no-mow areas at Charles Morris Hall during the months of April – August, to help protect bee and pyramidal orchids on site, plus the planting of crab apple trees to support the activities of local ground burrowing tawny mining bees.

• Carbon Management Plan: Geothermal borehole trials were conducted at both Charles Morris Hall and Henry Price Residences during the year. In addition, a further 2,829 new LED lights were installed across the residential portfolio in 2023/24, effectively more than doubling those previously installed before the previous year, an increase from 9,570 to 19,585 LEDS installed in the two years prior to 2022.

• Clean Air Pledge: The fleet of Residential Services vehicles was reduced to five in the year, comprising four electric vehicles and one diesel Luton tail-lift, which is used for the movement of bulky furniture and electrical items around the residential portfolio. Electric vehicle mileage has steadily been increasing from 53% in 2018/19 to 81% of mileage covered during the year.

• Health and Wellbeing: Residence Life Team events continued for both online activities, and face-to-face events, as part of the social events calendar taking place in Residences. During the year, we held a Health and Wellbeing event in North Hill Well Wood for our staff in 2023.

Further events included improving wildflower meadows for insects and birds; pond habitat for dragonflies; fen land habitat which we also have in Yorkshire, plus two sessions working alongside local volunteers on the Wyke Beck Project in East Leeds, clearing rushes in Halton, plus brambles and scrub at Fearnville Fields.

Email sent to all FD staff from Ann Allen, Director of Campus Innovation and Development, on Thursday 28 November. 

As we move towards the end of the year, I am particularly pleased about the shifts I am starting to see in our culture.

When we created the Business Plan in February 2023, we said in its first aim that we would “develop our culture so that our staff can thrive and succeed”.

I also said, in my introduction, that “I strongly believe that we need to work together as one directorate, not a collection of services, and that we have a huge amount to learn from each other and the incredible array of skill and talent across the institution.”

Fast forward to the end of 2024 and we have in place a Staff Voice group, a People & Culture Strategy with work started across its eight workstreams, and an operational excellence team seeking out ideas to improve our services.

All of these groups, I hope, feel empowered to create change and to keep challenging. The culture of an organisation takes a while to embed but I’m very grateful for the progress made.

Staff Voice Open Meeting

Joining Staff Voice is a great way to get involved in positive change. The group are hoping to recruit more Staff Voice champions – you can find out more at an Open Meeting on 15 January, 10am-12pm LT. G23, 28 University Road, which is in the space above the Cleaning Services building. Please email the Staff Voice team with any questions.

Other news from Staff Voice:

• The group are providing in-person updates at team meetings and away days. Get in touch with a Staff Voice rep if you’d like them to come along.
• Staff Voice reps have been involved in reviewing the results of the University’s Pulse Survey, helping to improve things where we can.
• From next year, FD Staff Socials will partly be organised and run by Staff Voice. They will be asking your opinion about what you would like to see happening there.
• The group are working even more closely with the FD Internal Comms team (Prue Griffiths and Matt Shevlin) to help keep you updated with Staff Voice news and to get support with campaigns.

Save the date: Campus Reimagined Live!

From 10-12 February, the precinct and the Refectory will be the settings for a festival! ‘Campus Reimagined Live!’ will feature talks, workshops, and a host of other activities to enable you to share your thoughts on the future of the campus that we all help to create and maintain.

You’ll be able to read more about this on the Campus Reimagined website when information goes live on 2 December. For now, the ask is to save the date and subscribe to the newsletter.

Have your say

Car parking:

The University is developing a long-term parking policy aligned with our ways of working and Sustainability Strategy. Workshops will be held in early 2025 to gather feedback from colleagues. You can also share your views now. Learn more on the Staff Intranet.

Woodhouse Lane Gateway consultation:

Have your say online as part of the latest public consultation about the proposed Woodhouse Lane Gateway. Consultation closes on 16 December.

Race Equality Charter Staff Survey

This survey goes live on 2 December and is an opportunity for staff to share their experiences working at Leeds to help identify and address the barriers facing Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic students and staff. The data will be used to identify and address any barriers to race equality.

Further information about the survey can be found here.

Congratulations

Residential Services successfully completed an ISO9001 surveillance audit in October. ISO9001 is a globally recognised standard for quality management, and this year the audit scope was extended to include Residence Life for the first time.

Finally….

Don’t forget the Festive FD Staff Social in the Refectory, 3.30pm-5pm on Monday 9 December 2024!

Regards,

Ann Allen,
Director of Campus Innovation & Development