The Estates and Facilities Times issue 30 Autumn Term 2015

The Estates & Facilities Times Not just business as usual.

Clare has had a Facelift.

Upgraded Halls building at Cyncoed.

How do you make 30 into 33?

Well you remove the communal bathrooms, and drying rooms and give the students what they really want, which is modern en-suite bedrooms and kitchens with a social area.

Work started in mid June and all rooms were completed on time and ready for the student arrivals in mid September.

Externally a new facia was added with distinctive lit signage in keeping with the rest of the refurbished blocks.

Since 2012 we have refurbished 158 rooms in Stradling, Herbert, Fitz and Clare gaining a further 18 en-suite rooms.

This leaves Bute, Neville and Ellis to complete.

Students and parents have been delighted with the new accommodation, with those living in Clare Block becoming the envy of the campus.

Newsletter Date: 23/11/2015 Issue #30

Inside this issue: Halls Summer Refurbishment.

Refurbishments all round.

1

New arrivals in photos.

Including mum, dad and the dog!

2

Rachel’s Green Corner.

ISO14001 Success Story.

3

Conference Services Update.

A New Newsletter.

4

The Atrium is Reborn.

Llandaff Catering updated.

5

E&F Photo Album.

Staff on film.

6

Live on CNN. A Welshman in New York.

7

Meet your Colleagues.

8

Richard, Lauren and Neil

Images courtesy of Eva Huw

The Magnificent Seven.

Kitchen Refurbishments at Plas Gwyn Campus.

During the Summer the refurbishment programme at Plas Gwyn continued at pace with the updating of seven kitchens in Carmarthen Block The students now benefit from modern, high gloss and on trend kitchens with a comfortable social area where they can get together and have an enhanced student experience.

The student response has been fantastic, especially a returning student who claimed it was an amazing transformation.

Breaking News: Cardiff Met Sports Facilities team and the Sport Cardiff team have joined the Estates & Facilities portfolio on 1st August 2015.

David Benson has taken the opportunity to look at the structure of the senior management team and has confirmed that Ian Jones has been appointed as Deputy Director Estates & Facilities within the team.

Mark Barry continues as Head of Commercial Services and Chris Jennings as Director of Sport.

Student Arrivals at Plas Gwyn and Cyncoed 2015.

More images available on the Cardiff Met Halls & Housing Facebook page.

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Estates Roundup.

Contributed by Glenn Roberts, Richard Clement & David Hardacre.

Llandaff

Cyncoed

On June 1st, Willmott Dixon commenced a 20 week building project to extend the NIAC building with a completion date for late November 2015.

These extensions will provide new Llandaff Campus has received a dramatic strength and conditioning facilities, external renovation with the recladding rehab training and a new biomechanics and re fenestration of D Block, greatly laboratory and performance analysis improving the aesthetics as you enter the suite. campus.

The sports hall replacement project is scheduled to commence in late NovemAlso, CSHS has seen the first phase of ber 2015, with it being located on the reconfiguration completed including external tennis courts at the rear of the brand new teaching spaces complete with indoor tennis centre. full audio visual resources, new furniture, Within the Halls, Neville building has office improvements and the refurbishundergone a minor refurbishment to the ment of Podiatry reception and its own bathrooms, snack kitchens and external teaching resources. These include intername plates. active whiteboards, digital signage and ‘smart’ screens.

Lighting up, energy down!

CSM Atrium cafeteria has undergone Contributed by Neil Bradley. major works to increase the capacity of This summer recess has been extremely busy and seen extensive project works and other various challenges undertaken by our Estates & Facilities units.

the kitchen and server areas as well as considerable cosmetic works and revamped hot and cold menus.

Finally a new grass football pitch at the rear of the campus is progressing with a completion date of November 2015.

Over the summer you may have noticed that certain areas have undergone a lighting upgrade to improve the levels and quality of light and also to reduce the operational energy consumed by the fittings.

The lighting industry has moved on a long way since the Government phased out the manufacture of incandescent bulbs and now the norm is fast becoming LEDs. The IT suites in Cyncoed and Llandaff have been retrofitted with LED panels complete with motion sensors to further improve energy savings when areas are unoccupied. NIAC has undergone a full retrofit of the high level spot lights in the first phase, with the replacement of the existing banks of fluorescent lights over the track scheduled to be replaced during the Christmas break.

As part of the refurbishment works in Llandaff, A and D block, LED panels have also been specified to improve the quality of light in those areas and reduce energy demand.

There are a lot more lighting projects in the pipeline with a focus on upgrading student areas first, so keep an eye out on your travels around the campuses.

Remember to report to Estates any external lights that you notice permanently turned on. Ext: 6150

Rachel’s GREEN Corner.

Contributed by Rachel Roberts, Environmental Performance Manager.

We recently received the successful report from our two day external annual assessment for the University’s ISO14001 Environmental Management System. This is the summary of the review of all work by Aspect Owners, the review of targets/objectives progress and actions identified to continually improve the Environmental Management System.

The two day audit involved timetabled interviews with Aspect Owners and site visits at Llandaff, Cyncoed and Plas Gwyn.

The report summarised three areas of Best Practice: 1. The Audit plan now being completed internally with teams of volunteer staff and students.

2. The waste bin areas are now controlled and more secure with added areas for WEEE items, confidential waste and good controls on hazardous waste.

3. The Travel & Transport aspect is a most excellent example of the diverse ways in which environmental projects can be implemented to cover monetary, environment and community ideas.

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Conference Services update.

Contributed by Eva Huw, Conference Co-ordinator.

Its been a busy time for the Conference Services team, welcoming over a thousand residential guests at Plas Gwyn this summer as well as hosting numerous conferences and events at Llandaff and Cyncoed.

Did you know we have also recently refurbished our three Conference Rooms at Cyncoed?

The lime green and slate interior reflects our Welsh countryside. Modern comfortable furniture and built in AV facilities provide the perfect setting for a professional meeting. The flexible space takes up to 80 people theatre style with double projection. If you’re planning a high profile conference or event this year then why not book one of our new Conference rooms? Contact us to discuss your event on 02920 41 6181/2

At a Glance 2016 * Welsh Liberal Democrats Annual Conference * Church in Wales Annual Meeting * Ras De Cymru 2016 * Massage Training Institute Annual Conference * Mediconf UK Medical Conference and Exhibition * UCAS HE Convention * International Residential Language School

National Procurement Service Award.

Cardiff Met Conference Services have been successfully selected in a Sell2Wales tender process to be a preferred supplier for the National Procurement Service.

Members of the NPS include the NHS, Fire Service, Police , Educational Institutions, Local Authorities, Government and Welsh Government Sponsored Bodies. It is an excellent achievement to have been awarded this contract and is expected to lead to an increase in business for the department as well as strengthening relationships with existing customers.

Over the next few months Cardiff Met Conferences will be taking part in an NPS road-show to raise awareness of the new Conference Facilities framework.

View the latest Conference Serves Newsletter at: http: //issuu.com/uwicpublications/docs/internal_newsletter_10.15

Tales from the Met. Stories from around the campuses.

Cyncoed I Zone.

60th Annual Christmas Carol Concert.

Week One Welcome Event.

Did you know that there is now an I-Zone based in the main foyer on Cyncoed Campus? It is staffed by Luke, Kim and Tom. Open from 9am - 4pm Monday to Friday.

Staff and Students are invited to celebrate the festive season at Llandaff Cathedral on Friday 4th December 2015 at 11am, followed by mince pies and mulled wine at the CSM, Llandaff Campus. As with previous years, we are collecting gifts for the homeless.

Once again Estates & Facilities staff hosted a successful Travel & Transport stand at the WOW event to communicate sustainable travel options to new students.

The services they offer are very similar to the established I-Zone at Llandaff Campus. They are able to take payments for any School/Unit activities, as well as offering advice and sign posting on all manner of Cardiff Met based matters.

Page 4

Anyone who would like to donate a present, please wrap them and mark them with a M or F for male or female and hand them to Jen Perry in room M1.05 before 2nd December please.

A huge thank you to Sally, Rachel and Eva for their assistance on the day, as I could not have managed without them.

If anyone would like to volunteer to join the team next year for a fun day of meeting the students and eating Curly Wurlys let me know.

Neil W oollacott

New Atrium, New Look, New Menu!

Contributed by Andrew Phelps, Catering & Hospitality Service Manager.

Following the summer refurbishment, the Atrium food court on the Llandaff Campus reopened its doors in early September.

Staff and students have warmly welcomed the transformation to the space and are loving the all new menu.

The food court hosts dedicated stations that includes a daily hot and cold deli bar, a bakery station selling luxury cakes along with Costa coffee. There is also a new self service soup, jacket potatoes and a daily healthy salad bar.

We would love to hear any feedback from staff or students with suggested additions to the menu, so please get in touch.

For your daily menu at both Llandaff and Cyncoed Campuses, follow us on Facebook @ Cardiff Met Catering.

Daily Themed Hot Dishes:

Christmas Dinner Dates: Christmas Lunch dates in the Hospitality Suite in Llandaff will be on the following dates:

Steak Out Monday & The Curry Club Hot Carvery Baguette Tuesday Carvery Roast Dinner & Sausage Met Fest Wednesday Thursday Gourmet Burger Street Food Friday

8th 15th and 16th December To reserve your table please email Llandaffcatering@cardiffmet.ac.uk with the completed booking form from November.

Daily Cold Deli Menu: Christmas Lunches in the Cyncoed K1 restaurant will be held on the following dates: Tuesday 1st & Thursday 10th December To reserve your table please email: cyncoedcatering@cardiffmet.ac.uk with the completed booking form from November.

Feta Cheese & Rocket plum chutney focaccia Sliced Mozzarella cherry tomatoes with basil pesto ciabatta Artisan salt beef baguette Turkey & Swiss cheese bagel

View the latest Catering menus by visiting the Facebook page @ Cardiff Met Catering

More Tales from the Met. Stories from around the campuses.

Children in need Cake Bake.

You don’t always get wet in a Pool!

Keri’s latest film.

Plas Gwyn Campus recently held a charity cake sale in aid of Children In Need raising a fantastic £102.60.

Don’t forget that Cardiff Met has a fleet of ‘Pool Cars’ that as a member of staff you can access for work related business.

Estates & Facilities member of staff Keri Collins recently saw his feature film ‘Convenience’ roll out in cinemas.

Cakes of all sorts and sizes were contributed by several students, wardens and staff.

They are simple to book, you just need to go on the TSR and it even gives you the option to see if you could share with someone else and help reduce your environmental impact.

The film premiered at the Raindance Film Festival 2013 and was screened at a sell-out event at the Apollo Cinema, Piccadilly Circus. The film recently had a number of 4 star reviews - including one from EMPIRE magazine, the biggest selling film magazine in the UK.

There was also the prize of a Sue Stockdale/Mary Berry carrot cake with cream cheese frosting which was won and eaten Llandaff has 2 Ford Fiestas, 1 Ford Focus and a Ford Galaxy available. by a delighted Radnor Flat 4!

By 4pm all the cakes were scone!

Cyncoed has 2 Ford Fiestas.

The film is available on iTunes or from Amazon and various supermarkets.

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Estates & Facilities Photo Album.

Images of staff around the campuses.

This edition includes: Owen Roger, Alison Jones and Alan Evans entering Cardiff’s first Velathon race and raising £875 for Ty Hafan in the process. Next we see Lisa Ah-Mun helping provide energy drinks for those undertaking the Cardiff Half Marathon.

Then comes Denise, Jane and Michelle celebrating Denise’s recent retirement. Followed by the Halls team and PC Mike Neate welcoming students into halls. Over to K1 and we have Becky looking very witch like whilst serving the students. Jamie Reid and David Lloyd our new Baristas working their magic at the new Atrium. And finally Jim taking a well deserved rest in a skip!

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Well I didn’t know that.

Interesting facts to baffle your colleagues with.

The Beatles were once known as Johnny and the Moondogs. Johnny was of course John Lennon.

A duck’s quack does not echo and no one knows why.

The military salute comes from Medieval knights raising their visors to see A person can live without food for about a each other.

Most lipstick contains fish scales. month, but only a week without water.

Margaret Thatcher was part of the design team that invented Mr Whippy ice America may actually get its name from a Every human spent half an hour as a single cream.

Welshman called Amerik a sponsor of cell.

John Cabot’s voyage to America.

At its zenith in the 18th Century, the Hot water is heavier than cold water.

British Empire stretched 20% of the In the UK accents change notably every 25 world’s surface and contained a quarter The name Wendy was made up for the miles you travel - it’s the only place in the book Peter Pan, there is no evidence of a of the worlds population.

World with such diverse regional accents. recorded Wendy before!

Every day, in Britain we drink 165 The yearly production of Kit Kats (other million cups of tea which is 20 times chocolates are available) could spread the Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors. entire length of the London Underground Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than more than the average American. more than 350 times.

Champagne was invented in England toenails. by scientist Christopher Merret in The average car in Britain is parked for Women blink nearly twice as much as 1662.

96% of the time. men.

James Bond’s code ‘007’ was inspired Big Ben doesn’t refer to the famous clock Coca Cola would be green if colouring by the author Ian Fleming’s bus route at the Houses of Parliament but to the Bell wasn’t added to it. from Canterbury to London. inside. The building itself is called the You’re born with 300 bones, but by the Elizabeth Tower.

Until 1877, lecturers at Oxford Univertime you become an adult you only have sity were not allowed to marry, and Bala Lake in Gwynedd is home to a rare 206. women were not granted degrees until fish called the ‘Gwyniad’, which is found 1920. nowhere else on the planet. It’s thought its All Polar bears are left handed. ancestors were trapped there at the end of Britain’s most remote pub is the Old Britain is the only country in the World the last ice age.

Forge on Inverie, Scotland. It is 107 that doesn’t have its name on its postage miles from the nearest city, Inverness Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print stamps. and has no road access. is different.

In 1811 nearly a quarter of all women in The lifespan of a squirrel is around 9 Until 1832, the UK only had two universi- England were called Mary. years ties: Oxford and Cambridge.

The story of a Welshman in New York.

Contributed by Alan Evans, Campus Services Manager.

In the summer I was fortunate enough to visit New York and not being able to sleep, my wife and I found ourselves walking around Times Square at 6am.

I was tapped on the shoulder and turned around to find a lady with a microphone and a chap with a camera on his shoulder saying “W e are live on Good Morning America!”

They asked my wife her views on the ‘Painted Ladies of Times Square’ and she replied she wasn't impressed! I might have answered differently had I been on my own!

Image courtesy of Emma Barry

Page 7

Dates For Your Diary: 4th December - Christmas Carol Concert.

24th December - Closed for Christmas.

5th January - Open again!

Editor: Neil Woollacott Deputy Accommodation Services Manager & Travel Plan Manager.

Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, Cardiff CF23 6XD Tel: 02920 41 6712 nwoollacott@cardiffmet.ac.uk Facebook: Cardiff Met Halls & Housing

13th February - Wales V Scotland - 6 Nations.

26th March - IAAF World Half Marathon Championship - Cardiff.

16th June - Rhianna plays the Millennium Stadium.

Welcome on board: Nick on joining the Plas Gwyn team.

Rosanna Rzepala joing the Cyncoed Halls team.

Ben Deacey, Eleri Deacey, Louise Manning, Michelle Dudley Julie Knott and Chris Konstantakou on joining the Catering team.

Congratulations: CSA Rob Lee on the birth of a beautiful baby girl called Imogen.

Estates & Facilities Times on making it to 30 editions!

Sorry to see you go: Denise Bridgeman on her retirement after over 30 years at Cardiff Met. Tom Belcher, Kitchen Manager who heads to pastures new.

Meet your Colleagues.

Introducing Richard, Lauren and Neil. suitable Move Contractor to move staff and existing equipment there.

Lauren: I graduated from what was UWIC in 2011 and since then I have worked across Cardiff Council and more recently with RCT homes.

Names: Richard Clement - Projects Manager Lauren Shmylo - Maintenance Administrator

I’m ashamed to admit.

Lauren: Most people don’t know that I am a Grade 8 violinist!

Neil: After passing my driving test, I couldn’t afford to buy a car so my dad and I revived our cobweb covered 1957 Ford Perfect with Neil: Sustainability Manager at the National 3 gears, a top speed of 45mph and vacuum Assembly for Wales. operated windscreen wipers! I drove it for three years and it received a lot of attention Interests: before I ‘downgraded’ to a modern car that Richard: My hobbies comprise of competing was far too reliable and much less fun to in Motorsport via Sprinting and Hill climbing drive! and the preparation and maintenance of my Racing Car.

Neil: Most of my spare time is taken up with entertaining and looking after my two young children and trying to keep our house in Neil Bradley - Energy and Environment some kind of order. Outside of this I find Engineer time to play football, run, cycle and Former Employment: occasionally indulge in landscape Richard: Previously I worked for Swansea photography when the weather is kind.

University’s Estates Department on the Did you know: Fixtures, Fittings and Equipment Project for their new Bay Campus. This included Richard: I once spent an evening in the company of Ray Davies from The Kinks the procurement and installation of all without knowing who he was! Something equipment and the recruitment of a

The Estates & Facilities Times has been initiated to keep us all aware of what is going on in each others 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 Cardiff Met 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 April 2016.