The Estates & Facilities Times Not just business as usual.
Cardiff Met has a Black Out.
Newsletter Date: 01/04/14
It all went dark at Llandaff Campus. Friday 22nd March at 5.00pm Llandaff Campus plunged into darkness following an initiative organised by Richard James, the Energy & Environmental Engineer.
weeks to ascertain the cost and environmental savings.
The idea was to turn off all the lights and electrical items at their source. After the weekend the energy consumption was then compared to previous
Fifteen students, ten staff and one member of the SU participated, with some taking up to three hours to complete their check of allocated buildings.
Both staff and students really bought into the idea and enthusiastically took part in the black out.
The good news is that we saved up to 25% of night time energy consumption, with 575 items being turned off, and 645kg of carbon being saved. If we all just turn off everything as we leave on a Friday, tens of thousands of pounds would be saved annually, and more importantly make a real dent into our carbon footprint.
Inside this issue:
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Stubbing it out. Plas Gwyn goes smoke free! Upgrade of Data Projectors. More efficient and cost effective.
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The arrival of Mobile Printing Print from anywhere, anytime!
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Compliments. Everybody likes a compliment.
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Easter Recipe. 5 A delicious recipe from a student. E&F staff in Photos. Jumpers, Chairs & Boyzone!
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A Year of Resolutions. It’s not as easy as you think.
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Meet your Colleagues.
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Richard and Adrian.
Stubbing it out at Plas Gwyn. Supporting National No Smoking Day - 12th March 2014. Lisa Ah Mun, (pictured centre resting her foot on a student!) recently championed a No Smoking Day on the Plas Gwyn Campus. Students were encouraged to give up for a day with the enticement of an inter-block sports tournament, chocolate lucky dip and cigarette amnesty. A fun approach to quitting smoking was had by all, with anyone spotted smoking on the campus throughout the day encouraged to don a visi vest and collect 10 cigarette butts!
Breaking News: Its Double Points time! The whole of April is double points time in Cardiff Mets Catering outlets. Don’t forget generally to present your staff ID card whenever you purchase any item from Catering and watch your points quickly build up. During April double points are available on: Any Eatwell products across all campuses. A 5 Item Breakfast before 9am at either Cyncoed K1 or Llandaff Atrium.
Upgrade of Data Projectors. Contributed by Sophie Rowland - Estates Helpdesk Administrator. The 2013 Christmas recess saw shared teaching space across campus’ receive a much needed upgrade to their data projection facilities. Funding obtained through ISF (Information Strategy Forum) has enabled these works to be carried out in two phases, with phase two due to take place during the Easter recess 2014. Upgrade benefits include:
* Future proofing the rooms - The new projectors are HDMI ready and now able to accommodate room cabling upgrades as they happen. With the inevitable demise of VGA cabling, this was seen as paramount to teaching delivery and the student experience.
controls, will reduce the energy consumption of projectors by up to 50%. Improvements such as this help the University to reduce costs and emissions, and help work towards achieving increasingly challenging carbon reduction targets.”
* Energy/Cost Efficiency - The new projectors use less than one watt of power consumption in standby mode and last up to ten times longer.
* Improvement of lecture delivery - The Richard James, Cardiff Met’s energy new projectors are LED and don’t require manager says: bulbs. This means greatly reduced maintenance and zero waste production. “The new projectors are an efficient LED product which alongside improved
Exciting New Developments in Timetabling. Contributed by Elaine Griffiths - Space/Timetable Manager. The Timetable Unit is participating in a project to produce individual student timetables. A project team has been set up including staff from ISD, Registry and Schools in addition to Timetabling. Cardiff School of Management are participating in the initial pilot and we have already successfully created timetables for Year 3 Computing programmes in time for the start of last September. Since then we have created individual timetables for Year 1 Business & Management students. The pilot will continue from April onwards to
create timetables for the current year 1 Business & Management students that progress into year 2. This is dependent upon students making early module selections. The pilot should identify any pitfalls with our current business processes that may adversely effect this, as well as establishing resource implications, prior to this being opened up across all Schools. This is the first time this has been attempted and requires a lot of work and a change to the current timetabling process. The aim is to produce more user friendly
timetables, as students will only see the sessions that are relevant to them rather than having to try and pick out their sessions from a programme timetable which contains sessions for all modules Staff are now able to view their timetables in Microsoft Outlook, which has been very popular as staff are increasingly using mobile devices. We hope to do the same for students, and in the future hopefully students will be able to access their timetables via a mobile app which is being developed by ISD.
Staff Cycling Update. You can buy a bike this Spring! January witnessed the launch of the new facilities for staff and students who choose to cycle or walk to work at Llandaff Campus. They are located on the ground floor of the new Cardiff School of Art & Design building, and already seeing plenty of use. Both male and female changing areas have several sinks, showers and lockers to store your clothing. The lockers are designed to be accessed via your ID card and will automatically open at midnight each night to stop anyone making a locker permanently their own. Page 2
If you are interested in cycling to work and do not currently own a bicycle, or would like to upgrade your current one, then hang on until late April. Cardiff Met will be launching its annual Cycle to Work window when staff can purchase a bicycle virtually tax free. You save around 30% of the cost. The other added benefit is that you can pay for it over 12 months, with a host of local cycle stores to choose from. All of Cardiff Met’s campuses and
particularly Llandaff are quite easily accessible via the power of the peddle. More details about the purchase window will be sent to all Cardiff Met staff in late April. September and October will see the annual cycle, walk or run to work for a free breakfast event. This year though we won’t be issuing the vouchers but plan to be crediting ID cards, with staff having to pledge to a particular travel mode to receive the credit. The Estates & Facilities Times
Meet John Cappock. Cardiff Met’s new Chief Operating Officer. I am the University’s Chief Operating Officer, and have responsibilities for Finance, Human Resources, Procurement, Library & Information Services, Estates & Facilities, Student Recruitment & Marketing, Registry and Secretariat. I joined the University in November. I am originally from a small seaside village called Skerries, near Dublin, and have a BA Degree in History and Philosophy and an MA in History from University College Dublin. I am a Chartered Accountant and originally trained as an accountant within the NHS. I have worked in a number of sectors including Local Government, Higher Education and a number of Charities and the Civil Service. From 20052010 I was Director of Resources at the Universities and Admissions Service (UCAS) and prior to joining the University I was Director of Finance at the Intellectual Property Office. I live in Bristol with my wife Sam, and sons Jack (16) and Louis (10). We live in a fairly old house with a big garden which keeps me busy. In my spare time I also do some cycling, and am trying to do my bit for the environment so I have recently started cycling to work (using the train as well!) around three times a week. I enjoy watching motorsports, and karting with my children, and we are off to watch the World Endurance Championship Le Mans series. I am also a regular platelet donor. This is a form of blood donation which helps people with cancer of compromised immunity. My favourite holiday destination is Lanzarote, but this summer I have been talked into trying Minorca.
Conference Services Update. Spring & Summer Events 2014. The next few months are going to be a busy time for our Conference Services department with some interesting bookings on the horizon.
Campus as its base for its examination period running from the Tuesday 3rd until Friday 13th (you don’t want to take an exam on that date!).
April 8th will see one of the years biggest events when Cyncoed Campus hosts the annual UCAS Higher Education Fair in the NIAC stadium. This normally attracts around 7,000 teenagers from all the schools in South Wales and is a real showcase event for Cardiff Met.
July sees the start of the Language School invasion with 150 students from Italy, Spain and further afield studying and living on the Cyncoed Campus for 2 week periods at a time.
Later in July, Cyncoed Campus is hosting the Father & Son Residential weekend June sees the Open University using Llandaff which is a great bonding session for all
involved and is residential on the Cyncoed Campus. July also sees the Welsh Schools Athletics largest event of the year with the SIAB Tournament including all manner of track and field events. Into August and Plas Gwyn will resonate to the sounds of the Amici Coro, who are a Surrey based Chamber Choir . At the same time Cyncoed will be making different noises as members of the Wales Tang Soo Do society practice their Malaysian martial arts.
Mobile Printing has Arrived! Contributed by Rachel Roberts - Print Service Manager. What is mobile printing you may ask?
monoprint@cardiffmet.ac.uk for black and white printing.
With the new fleet of Cannon copiers, staff and students can now print directly from their The document will then appear on your print list the same as if you’ve sent it from phone or tablet (Apple Ios, Android, Blackyour office pc. It could prove most useful berry, Windows mobile) using wi-fi or 3G. if for example you are on another campus Using your Cardiffmet email address, to and send an agenda for a meeting from attach the required document (Microsoft Office, PDF, JPEG, PNG and Rich Text only) your phone to a nearby printer. It should and send your print directly to the print queue also free up student pc’s as they can just go direct to the printer and collect. from anywhere on or off campus. Send to: colourprint@cardiffmet.ac.uk for colour.
Further instructions and flyers are available at printers, along with a 5 minute guide. Or just pop into your Print Studio. Page 3
Student Warden Training Programme. A calendar of training events. Every year we look at enhancing the Student Warden Training Programme and for this coming academic year Senior Warden, Dr Neil Hennessey has brought together an educational and entertaining programme. April will see the new warden team undertaking Mental Health Awareness training, along with their First Aid in the Workplace certificates. In September training restarts with Conflict Resolution, Drug Awareness and the Alcohol Toolkit. These events are supported by team building exercises, and social activities to help them bond as a group for the start of the new academic year.
Phase Two of Plas Gwyn Refurbishment. Work due to start this summer. Following the success of the first phase of the Plas Gwyn refurbishment programme, its fantastic to be able to confirm that the design for phase two has been approved. This summer work will focus on the forty eight bedrooms and six kitchens in Radnor block giving them a much needed facelift. The design will be similar to the Pembroke facelift (kitchen illustrated alongside) but will include a new accented colour to run throughout the scheme. Feedback from last years improvements have been really positive, and have helped develop the new design to include student suggested additions e.g. extra storage space in kitchens. Invitations to view will be sent ahead of the start of the academic year. Further details to follow
Estates & Facilities Compliments. “Everybody likes a compliment.� Abraham Lincoln. Congratulations & Huge Thanks.
A Big Thank You
The advice from Accommodation Services at the CSAD Open Day was especially valuable and was delivered with patience and clarity endless times over, as if each was the first.
I would just like to say a big thank you for the open day on Saturday 15 th March which we attended with my son and were completely overcome by the friendliness of the people involved. From the fantastic welcome greeting we had from the various students guiding us to the registration desk, to the spokesman for the day who chatted to us and sent over a student to talk to my son about the Product Design course.
Their involvement throughout the three days was hugely helpful to us.
We also had the same vibe whilst checking out the student accommodation. A young student warden showed us around the accommodation and again was so friendly it made such a lovely and special day. It was a very memorable day and helped make up my son’s mind as to which uni will be his top choice. I also feel that this would be the right place for him with such a nurturing and friendly environment and that its safe.
Professor Gaynor Kavanagh Dean of CSAD
Also the Welsh cakes were yummy. They will be on my shopping list! Yours sincerely
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Mrs Sabine Bell The Estates & Facilities Times
Butternut Squash & Orange Soup. Created by Caroline Marin, a CSHS student who developed an Eatwell soup that is now sold across all our campuses. Serves 4 Preparation: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 40 minutes 45ml (3 tbsp) butter 1 large onion, chopped 2 medium potatoes, diced 750g (1½ lbs) butternut, peeled, seeded and diced peel of ½ orange 750ml (3 cups) chicken or vegetable stock 65ml (¼ cup) orange juice pinch ground cinnamon 125ml (½ cup) double cream [optional]
Melt butter and sauté onions for about 1 minute. Add the vegetables, orange peel, stock and orange juice and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes until vegetables are soft. Transfer to a blender or food processor and work until fairly smooth. Return to the pan and add cinnamon, cream and seasoning. Slowly bring to boil, reduce until heated through, a few minutes. Add a swirl of cream to each dish if desired, and serve immediately.
New Vending Contractor. Snacks, Drinks & Sporting Supplements - contributed by Andrew Phelps. From May 1st 2014 there will be a new fleet of vending machines across the Cardiff Met estate.
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The vending contract has recently been tendered and was awarded to BVS Limited a local Welsh company located in the Swansea area. On Cyncoed Campus additional machines will be located in the gym and NIAC offering a range of sports and energy replacing supplements. These supplements will be the same as the ones already provided to the Welsh FA, Cardiff City (they need them!), Celtic FC, Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets. They are designed to boost performance either pre or post training depending on what the athlete opts for and will be ideal for staff and students who are committed to their training regimes.
News in Brief. Stories from around the campuses. Get Fit For Summer Its time to think about getting fit for summer, and you can do that in work! Sports Facilities are hosting increasing numbers of classes for staff to participate in:
150 Year Celebration.
NSHS Survey.
Cardiff Met is approaching a major birthday milestone in 2015 having been in existence as an educational establishment for 150 years.
In March the Accommodation Services launched their first participation in the National Student Housing Survey.
Llandaff Campus:
We were originally based in Cardiff city centre and started as the School of Art and Design in 1865.
Monday / Wed - Express Circuits 10-10.30 Tuesday - Yoga - 5.15pm-6.15pm Tuesday / Friday - Boot Camp 12.45-1.30 Cyncoed Campus: Monday - Power Bag - 12.00pm-12.45pm Tuesday - Boot Camp - 7.15am-8.15am
As a University we are keen to celebrate our history, and are already planning a series of events for next year which will allow both staff and students to celebrate our heritage.
As the name suggests it’s a student survey seeking to establish opinions on their experience in Halls and private housing. To encourage participation an I-Pad Air will be the prize for one lucky student. To date around 400 students have responded, with the survey running until May. Some of the key findings will be included in the next edition of Estates & Facilities Times.
Thursday - Core Class 12.45pm-1.30pm Page 5
Estates & Facilities Photo Album. Images of staff around the campuses. Congratulations Andrew Lee on earning his black belt in Karate after training for 15 years, the grading examination comprised of more than three hours of intense training! Next up we have Adrian and Chris trying out the new Evac-Chair. Please drop me an email with any suggestions for a Caption Competition. Those received so far include: “You too could scare the life out of your friends!” and “Is this Freddy Kruger’s new job?” Bottom left we have members of the Halls team wearing Christmas jumpers and raising money for Save the Children. Finally we see a very star struck Rachel Bryant and Diane Bryant (clutching her annual Cliff Richard calendar) with Shane Lynch of Boyzone fame, bizarrely found hanging out in a branch of Superdrug. Rachel was so star struck that when Shane asked what her name was she replied “Me!”. She then managed to walk out of the shop without her phone and without paying for a Shane Lynch Gift Set! Eventually she went back to pay!
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The Estates &
A year of Resolutions. It’s not as easy to do as you might think it is. Contributed by Neil Woollacott. Like many people I start the new year with the greatest intentions of sticking to my new years resolutions to improve my health, wealth and soul. Unfortunately each year by the end of the first week of January all is forgotten and normal service has resumed.
(mortgage and council tax excluded).
This was a sharp shock to the system, and one that had me questioning how easily we often waste money on unwanted items. I also realised that fuel is extortionately high, and that food can be bought a lot cheaper by shopping around. I just about This year I decided to take a different ap- managed each week, although I did have proach and opted to have a resolution a the odd steak off my mum, and was forced month, with the theory being that breaking by Mr Tan to renew my season ticket. it down in to more manageable chunks March was a month for purchasing everywould make it far more achievable. thing, whether it be food, drink, garden What to do though was the question? I already exercise regularly and eat healthily, so I needed to look at other areas of my lifestyle. Giving up alcohol was the obvious option for January. Sounds like an easy thing to do. In theory it is, but cast your mind back (those who are tee total or pregnant need not apply) to when you last went a month without a glass of wine over lunch or a beer with friends. I was surprised to learn that for me it was probably a staggering 26 years ago! I won’t pretend it was an easy month, but the benefits were surprising. I was more productive in the day, sleeping like a log at night and rising early. I also found that my wallet was a lot fatter, and that I was far more selective in my diet. February came next with the decision to experience living life on £63.30 a week
The remaining months I still need some suggestions for, but at the moment I have thought about: Month of Charity & Community Work. No packaged food for a month. Skip the Gym for a month - Exercise outdoors. Car Free Month. 6am Alarm, Cold Showers & Meditation
I am still looking for suggestions plants or diesel only from local family though, so if anything springs to mind owned businesses. So out went the Tesco’s drop me an email or give me a call. and Esso’s of the world and in came the Alternatively why don’t you have a go local greengrocers and butchers. at doing a half year of resolutions? An interesting experiment that certainly I can guarantee it’s a fun thing to do, made me feel more of a part of the local and will make you feel healthier and community - my butcher thought I had just wealthier in numerous ways. moved in. It also made me appreciate that we need to use these local shops or pretty soon they will be gone for ever. April is a goodbye to technology with no access to the internet, i-pad, sat nav, digital camera, LoveFilm, PS3 or mobile phone. I obviously need to use a pc in work, but come 5pm, it will be like a trip back to the late 70’s for me! I plan on filling the enormous amount of time we spend staring at screens with DIY, cooking and reading. My house will be looking fresher, my tummy a little larger and I am expecting to have ploughed through two books a week!
Plas Gwyn’s new look. As worn in Paris, Milan, New York and Llandaff. Staff at Plas Gwyn have recently been decked out in new polo shirts and fleeces to present a uniformed look to students and visitors alike. As you can see by the photo they all look particularly smart and happy with their new look! Don’t forget if you ever want to use the Multi Use Games Arena (MUGA) at Plas Gwyn for any sports its FREE for you as a member of staff to use. Why not get together with your colleagues and have a game of netball or football? Just give Lisa or Sue a call on 02920 577065 to make a booking.
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Dates For Your Diary: 28/04/14 Derren Brown - Infamous Tour at Wales Millennium Centre. 18/05/14 Edwardian Picnic with Wild West entertainment - Cardiff Castle. 28/06/14 Armed Forces Day - Bute Park. 12/07/14 FIM Speedway Grand Prix - Millennium Stadium.
Editor: Neil Woollacott Deputy Accommodation Services Manager & Travel Plan Manager. Cardiff Metropolitan University. Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff CF23 6XD
07/08/14 Brecon Jazz Festival
Welcome on board to the following: Eva Huw who is joining Conference Services in April. James Howell who is the new Deputy Campus Services Manager. Adrian Dennehy (see below) as the new Security Manager
Phone: 02920 41 6712 Fax: 02920 41 6968 E-mail: nwoollacott@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Sorry to see you go: Carys Holt who has moved from Conference Services to the School of Education Malcolm Thomson the Residences and Accommodation Health & Safety Officer who is retiring. Aneta Nowicka and Eirona Collier who are both leaving the Domestic Halls team for pastures new.
Meet your colleagues. Introducing Richard and Adrian. This edition features two new members of Time at Cardiff Met: the team based at Llandaff Campus. Richard: Started 1st July 2013
decipher the conversations that her family have in front of me!
Adrian: Started 16th December 2013 Former Employment:
Did you know?
Richard: Principal Sustainable Development Manager for Willmott Dixon Group
Richard: I recently proposed to my partner, Rachel and we’ll be getting married at St Paul’s Cathedral in 2016.
Adrian: Recently completed 22 years service in the British Army.
Adrian: I have fallen down an open sewer in a Bosnian cemetery! I’m also getting married, Interests: but unlike Richard it will not be St Paul’s Cathedral. I have no idea where it will be but Richard: My daughter, Elsi was born last year, so she’s currently taking up a lot of my it is highly likely to be Welsh speaking, time! Any spare time I get is divided between which frankly terrifies me at the moment as I will have no idea what I will be saying ”I do” playing football, trying to play golf, and an to! ongoing project refurbishing my home - a Victorian terrace - to modern energy efficiency standards (yes, I do practice what I The Estates & Facilities Times has been initiated to preach!). keep us all aware of what is going on in each others
Names: Richard James, Energy & Environmental Engineer. Adrian Dennehy, Security Manager.
Adrian: A keen follower of Newport Gwent Dragons, spending too little time on keeping fit and spend too much time on ruining my house through ill-thought out DIY projects! I also enjoy making, drinking and sometimes sharing my own beer. Under relentless pressure from my fiancé (Delyth). I am looking to learn Welsh so that I can understand her when she is being less than polite to me, and to
sections. If there is no article about your area, it is because no one has spoken to me, please contact me yourself! Anyone who wishes to contribute articles, will be greeted with a smiling face and open arms. A copy of the Estates & Facilities Times is also available in Welsh if required. Any staff who are leaving UWIC for pastures new, let me have a forwarding address and I will send you a copy. The Estates & Facilities Times next issue will be circulated from October 2014.