The Estates and Facilities Times issue 29 Spring Term 2015

The Estates & Facilities Times Not just business as usual.

Newsletter Date: 25/05/2015 Issue #29

MET FEST! Staff and Family Fun Event - 3pm Friday 3rd July, Cardiff Arms Park To celebrate Cardiff Met’s150th year anniversary, staff and family have been invited to an afternoon of celebration at the Cardiff Arms Park.

On the day there will be a variety of entertainment for all ages including:

ments and have a mini human table football tournament!

Entrance to the event is via the North Stand , next to the Angel Hotel, and will only be Inside this issue: Staff attending the Met Fest event will be able to finish work possible on producing a Met Fest ticket Met Fest. at 2pm on Friday 3rd July to Fun and games at the Arms Park. make it to the Arms Park for Tickets can be collected from: 3pm.

Llandaff 8/9 June CSM from Sports Facilities at Cyncoed.

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9am-4pm

New weights, courts and pool.

Cyncoed 10/11 June Front Reception from 9am-4pm

Cyncoed Halls Office.

A much needed facelift.

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Conference Services Update.

A busy few months.

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* Entertainment zone with giant inflatables.

Estates Improvements.

Summer works.

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* Games and Zorb football matches.

E&F Photo Album.

Clare and the Prince.

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Our Man in Africa.

Andrew visits Mbale, Uganda.

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Meet your Colleagues.

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All attendees will be given food/drink tokens on arrival * Live bands and dance perfor- permitting one free drink and mances on stage throughout a free meal each. the evening. * A food court and bars.

All inflatable games will be free to use apart from the zorb football matches. You may want to have a think about teams for some games such as human table football and zorb matches.

Jonathan & Jessica

It would be great to have teams from each of the E&F depart-

Breaking News:

Cardiff Met Travel Plan 2014-15.

Wales leading sustainable travel university.

Cardiff Met’s latest Travel Plan is currently being printed and highlights how sustainable Cardiff Met truly is.

Our commitment to sustainable travel has grown year on year with the University being widely recognised as ‘Best Practice’ in South East Wales regarding travel planning.

Key Statistics 2013/14.

Staff car usage down from 74.2% in 2009 to 58.3% .

Student car usage down from 39% in 2009 to 27% in 2013.

Staff Walking has increased 5.8% in 2009 to 14% in 2013.

Student cycling has increased from 4.2% to 7.1%.

The report highlights major 130,000 journeys were taken on achievements and gives structure the Met Rider in 2013/14 to future initiatives.

Since 2007 we have witnessed a reduction of 12.2% in students and 24.4% in staff using a car as their mode of transport. This equates to the equivalent of removing 1549 cars from their daily commute. That’s equal to laying four miles worth of cars bumper to bumper!

If anyone would like a copy of the 2014/15 Travel Plan please email nwoollacott@cardiffmet.ac.uk or call 02920 416712.

September 19th sees not just Cardiff Met first year students arrive, but also all first years for Cardiff Uni and the Uni of South Wales. To complicate matters further there is also the small issue of two Rugby World Cup matches on the same weekend and all hotels are already fully booked!

To resolve this Cardiff Met Halls will be allocating students by block to arrive from Wednesday 16th September. Hopefully with our students arriving earlier we should avoid the chaos across the city on the weekend.

Sports Facilities at Cyncoed Campus, Summer 2015 and Beyond.

Contributed by Ian Jones - Head of Property Services June this year, sees the start of exciting times for Cyncoed Sports provision, as Estates commence the initial phase of the Cyncoed Campus Vision.

The first projects off the mark, in the month of June are the two extensions to NIAC. We will be extending NIAC to the rear, with a two storey facility housing a fully equipped Strength and Conditioning weights room on the ground floor, with the upper floor housing a dumbbell training/warm up area. We will also be extending the front of NIAC which again is two storey and will house a new Bio-mechanics laboratory on the ground floor and Performance Analysis laboratory on the first floor. Both facilities will be ready for the new Academic year 2015/16.

We have also planned to replace the outdoor running track and associated field sports facilities. In addition to this we will be providing a 3G rugby pitch over the inner field area of the track. These projects will be complete by December 15 subject to Planning approval.

Once the NIAC projects are complete our Partnering Contractor (Willmott Dixon) will commence the construction of a new eight court (Badminton) sports Hall with associated changing rooms, to the rear of the tennis centre. This hall will allow Premier Standard basketball and X Standard Netball to be played with a 500 seat capacity for spectators , along with Badminton courts and cricket practice nets.

This project will commence in August 15 and complete by the start of academic year 2016/17. Phase 2 of the sports facilities will follow along with the new six lane swimming pool to be constructed over the existing outdoor tennis courts and car park.

Whilst these new developments are exciting, there will be disruption to the campus and Estates will communicate plans as soon as they are firm.

An Away Day, Facebook Menus and The Box. Contributed by Andrew Phelps - Catering and Hospitality Manager On Tuesday 21stApril, Catering & Hospitality held there first away day in six years that was called “Past, Present and the Future”.

In May Catering launched the Cardiff Met Catering Facebook page. You will find your daily menus for both the Llandaff and Cyncoed campus, plus images of what the The day began with a brief overview of food may look like. The page is also planned to be used for special promotions that the department’s financial performance and took the opportunity to look back at happen throughout the year. Come and have how the catering units have developed in a look at the page on www.facebook.com/ CardiffMetCatering the last 6 years. This was followed by lunch in Bella Italia in central Cardiff Following the closure of the Howard followed by a couple of games of ten Gardens campus and the relocation to the pin bowling in the Millennium Plaza.

The away day was also about celebrating Llandaff campus the new catering facility in the CSAD “The Box “ is proving to be what we have achieved in the last few years and looking to the future. The day really popular with both staff and students. would not have been such a success without the participation of everyone involved.

Many thanks to everyone for making it so enjoyable and thank you to all the catering staff for all their hard work in the last few years.

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Gaynor Kavanagh, Dean of CSAD, commented: “The Box is making a real difference to the atmosphere in the School and everyone is enjoying having it there. You’ve got the products right for the kind of customer you have there”.

In addition, The Box Café has recently been audited by the Environmental Health team at Cardiff City Council and was awarded a 5 star rating on the scores on the doors.

Please call into the box and try its quality self-service cup of coffee and a wide selection of grab and go items such as sandwiches, wraps and indulgent cake selection.

Opening Hours of The Box Cafe Monday - Thursday 8.30am-3.30pm Fridays 8.30am - 3pm

Cyncoed Halls Office Refurbishment.

All change over Christmas.

Christmas 2014 finally saw the Cyncoed Halls Office undergo its long awaited transformation.

The office has had pretty much the same layout for the past twenty years and was desperately in need of modernisation and a new breath of life.

The interior wall, doors, floor, ceiling and windows were removed and replaced resulting in a bright, airy, open plan office space. Secure card activated post cabinets have been added to the wall where the photos were taken from ensuring that the students still have to interact with staff to collect their post.

After much debate the newly released colour ‘Bryant Lilac’ was selected for an accent wall. The response from the students and parents has been that they find it a far more modern and welcoming experience.

News on two wheels.

An update of recent cycling initiatives.

Its been a busy few months on the cycling front, with our breakfast campaign proving immensely popular once again.

Dr Bike visited us in March and helped make sure that staff and student bicycles were road worthy. They also held a couple of cycle maintenance workshops.

We are approaching the end of the Cycle Purchase Window and at the time of publishing 40 staff have requested a bicycle, with another 15 pending.

Other initiatives have included a cycle donation of discarded bicycles at both Llandaff and Plas Gwyn campuses to Cycle Training Wales so that they may repair them and sell them back to the community.

We also have the addition of at least one further cycle shelter for Llandaff Campus which should be erected before the start of the next academic year and further Sheffield stands outside NIAC at Cyncoed.

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Conference Services update.

Contributed by Eva Huw - Conference Co-ordinator.

Cardiff Met Conferences have been focusing on their social media presence this year and were pleased to reach 1000 tweets last month as well as being well on their way to 500 followers.

The Facebook page has recently celebrated its first birthday with an impressive 200 likes. Follow them on Twitter and Like them on Facebook to keep up to date with the latest news and events of Cardiff Met Conferences @cardiffmetconf Other recent marketing campaigns included the very successful Open Day in February to launch the recently refurbished Conference Rooms where

they welcomed over 20 customers, including Apollo Teaching Services, Principality Building Society, Welsh Centre for International Affairs and Cardiff Community Housing Association amongst others. The day comprised an overview of our services and facilities, meeting the team, a buffet lunch with refreshments, a show round of our facilities and a prize draw!

The last week of April, Conferences attended the Welsh Business Show where they networked with potential new customers and ran a popular competition on the day to win a voucher for free room hire.

No Smoking Day at Plas Gwyn Campus.

Students and staff stub it out for the day.

On 11th March 2015 Plas Gwyn became a ‘No Smoking Campus’ for the day!

The students really got on board with the days events, with the campaign being a huge success, thanks largely to strict policing and enforcement

by Ms Ah-Mun! Student smokers either abstained for the day or went off the campus to smoke.

Numerous t-shirts, badges, chocolates, mints and fruit were given out as incentives to encourage them to quit.

This is an annual event in Halls and it would be encouraging to see it spread to Llandaff and Cyncoed Campuses, even if it is only once a year.

Tales from the Met. Stories from around the campuses.

Student Housing Action Plan.

Sally Groves Charity Round Up.

Three Peaks Challenge.

Cardiff Met have been instrumental in the launch of the latest Student Housing Action Plan. The plan was re-launched at County Hall on 23rd March at an event attended by in excess of 50 interested parties from Cardiff. The plan outlines the actions and partnership work that is needed to ensure that students can access good quality and safe accommodation in the private landlord sector.

This year my family and I have decided to raise money for Diabetes UK. We will be taking part in the Windsor River Trail half marathon, the Welsh Velothon 50k cycle race and the Cardiff half marathon! Tall order this year and training a bit slow!!

Hubby is trying to persuade me to register for the London Marathon next year but we shall see! So watch this space!

On Saturday 20th June, 2015, members of the Estates department will be taking part in the Welsh 3 Peaks Challenge, in aid of Ty Hafan. Starting at 3am, the aim is to climb and descend Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen-y-Fan within 15 hours, a distance of 20.35 miles, and a total ascent of 9,397ft (2,864m). Your support for our team for this amazing charity is really appreciated.

Many thanks, Ian, Jonathan, David, Jessica and Richard. www.justgiving.com/ CardiffMetEstates

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If you can sponsor us we would be very grateful, please see our Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/Groves-Family

Estates improvements.

Contributed by Glenn Roberts - Maintenance, Operations & Space Manager.

Over the past eight months, the Estates Team have been working hard on a number of improvement projects across the campuses. At Cyncoed we have: resurfaced a large section of Cyncoed footpath; refurbished B block ground floor men’s toilets; upgraded the external lighting; created a new path and ramp for access to the Dance Studio; replaced a faulty roof on Clare halls of residence; refurbished the bathrooms in Neville halls of residence; carried out general decoration to the library stairwell and C & B block corridors. In Llandaff we have: installed the new outdoor gym and petanque court; created several new parking bays; replaced the lower roof on PDR; upgraded the external lighting; carried out general decoration in Llandaff library, painted the CSM atrium, and various areas in A & D block and many more.

PDR Roof Replacement and Repairs.

The lower roof on the PDR building on the Llandaff Campus has recently been re-covered with a new seamless system resolving the problem of continual leaks. With a 25 year guarantee, the new roof allows the Estates Team to carry out much needed internal repairs, painting and decoration.

Further projects for roof replacements are in the planning stage and problem areas have been identified. Included in the roof covering replacement will be improvements to insulation to reduce heating costs and increase the comfort levels for staff and students.

Llandaff A Block Kitchen.

In Llandaff A Block, the kitchen has been remodelled to create a lot more space and project a more modern feel. There is increased workspace for staff to use and new cupboards which offer a great storage solution.

Llandaff N Block Pathway.

Following the completion of the new Art & Design building at Llandaff Campus, the back of N Block has been landscaped to create better access to the cycle shelters. Another all weather shelter is scheduled to be installed in the coming months.

Cyncoed Outdoor Learning Centre.

The new outdoor learning centre has now been completed and is looking great. It has gone through an amazing transformation over its construction phase from just a few pegs in the ground. It makes a fantastic addition to the facilities on offer and will be put to great use by the School of Education.

Selection of some Improvement works planned for early summer 2015.

Llandaff Replace road covering to the main road through the site and improvements to the drainage of the road.

Improvements to the main entrance area of P Block, cladding to the substations and paving alterations.

Improvements to the A block rear entrance, widening and extending the path and landscaping alterations.

Starting the programme of planned replacement of lighting in various classrooms, with LED light fittings.

Improvement of the ventilation in the IT Suite and T2.01 Laboratory.

Cyncoed Replace doors and two storey glazed screen to A block, physiology, entrance.

Replace the high level windows to the Syd Aaron gymnasium.

Replace the road covering of the main entrance from Cyncoed Road.

Starting the programme of planned replacement of lighting in various classrooms, with LED light fittings.

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Estates & Facilities Photo Album.

Images of staff around the campuses.

It’s a mixed bag this edition with a classic photo of Clare Brockway staring lovingly and somewhat manically at His Royal Highness Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales. Its an oldie but a personal favourite.

Next images are Catering staff including Ryan, Georgia, Charlotte, James and Yushann at Llandaff Campus raising money for charity by wearing their Christmas jumpers.

Catering’s bravest and daftest staff, Chris and Daniel having their chests and legs waxed for Comic Relief.

Halls staff doing the same thing on the Christmas Jumper front in December 2014.

Cyncoed K1 Catering staff getting into the spirit of things and serving Christmas dinners as Santas Little Helpers.

Finally a long awaited new arrival for the editor of this rag in the form of Dexter Woollacott born a healthy 6lb 8oz in January 2015.

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Our survey said . . .

Some of the funniest answers from Family Fortunes.

Something you do in the bathroom: "Decorate.."

A domestic animal: "A leopard.."

A method of cooking fish: "Cod.."

Something you borrow from your partner: "Shoes.."

Something that floats in the bath: "Water.." Part of the body beginning with N: "Knee" Something in the garden that's green: "The Something red: "My cardigan.." shed.."

A kind of ache: "Fillet-o-fish.."

Something a blind man might use: "A A bird with a long neck: sword.."

"Naomi Campbell.."

The last thing you take off before going to An item of clothing a woman might borbed: "Your feet.." row from a man: "Underpants.."

Something that flies without an engine: Something taken from a hotel as a souve"A bicycle with wings.." nir: "The lamps.."

Something you'd associate with the three Something you keep in a garden shed: "A bears: "Red Riding Hood.." gardener.."

An animal used as a form of transport: “ A A song with moon in the title: "Blue Suede turtle..”

Moon.."

Something you wear on the beach: "A A famous cowboy: "Buck Rogers.." deckchair.."

Something with a hole in it: "A window.." An item of clothing worn by the Three Muskateers: "A horse.."

A part of the body you have more than two An ingredient in chicken stuffing: of: "Arms.."

"Chicken."

Something that makes you scream: “A Something people might be allergic to: squirrel..”

“Skiing..”

A famous royal: "Mail.."

Something you lose when you get older: A jacket potato topping: "Jam.."

“Your purse..”

The first place detectives look for fingerprints: "The floor.."

Something you associate with the sea: "A coffin.."

A famous Arthur: "Shakespeare.."

A number you might have to memorise: “Seven..”

A weapon in the game of Cluedo: "Dice.."

Something people take to the beach: "Turkey.."

A reason someone digs a hole in the road: "Grave digger.."

Something a girl should know about a man before marrying him: "His name.."

A game played in the dark: "Charades.."

Some famous brothers: "Bonnie and Clyde.."

Something you do before going to bed: "Sleep.."

Something you might do in a power cut: "Read a book.."

A way of toasting someone: “Over a fire..”

Animal with horns: “A bee..”

Visit to Mbale, Uganda March / April 2015 Contributed by Andrew West - Facilities Manager I have recently returned from a trip to Mbale in Uganda where I helped with the installation of a Micro-Hydro Electricity Generation Project.

A Primary School was given some lights, a laptop computer and the electricity to power them utilising water from a nearby stream as a source for the generation.

This was a Pilot Project with some WAG funding to evaluate the technology and the ability of the local community to help with the construction and maintenance of the system.

Lights and sockets were installed in all classrooms, staffroom and a store-room. The Generator controller, inverter, batteries and all of the instrumentation were installed and wired in the Head-teacher’s office.

A Forebay tank was built and a pipeline layed from the tank to the generator house. The system was commissioned on my last day there and the water flows were set to give enough power output to feed the lights and the laptop. There is capacity to increase the power output in future.

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Dates For Your Diary: 3 July - MET FEST at the Cardiff Arms Park.

10-12 July - Cardiff Festival, Cardiff Bay. The UK’s largest free festival.

24-26 July - The Big Cheese Festival, Caerphilly.

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

21 September - Week One Welcome (WOW) at NIAC.

Welcome on board: Claire Francis Watkins - dealing with HR issues for Estates & Facilities.

Thomas Belcher and David Powell in Catering.

Gethin Herbert and the Lauren Thomas in the Print Studio.

Congratulations: Rachel Roberts in your new role as Environmental Performance Manager.

Sorry to see you go: Richard James who I am sure will still be in touch on a regular basis.

Next Edition: If its green and its friendly then you’ll find it in Rachel’s Green Corner. If you want to find out more, Rachel will be keen to hear off any enthusiastic staff. Call Rachel on The Green Line extension 5843.

Photos from the Met Fest. Don’t forget to snap away at the events and share your images with the Estates & Facilities Times.

Meet your colleagues.

Introducing Jonathan and Jessica This edition features two members of the Estates team both based in M Block on Llandaff Campus

enjoying learning more about Estates & Facilities maintenance and feel lucky to have such a great team to show me the ropes.

Did you know:

Former Employment:

2015 signed up for the Welsh Three Peaks challenge - must be mad!

Jon: 2008-13 Working within the Rhondda Cynon Taff corporate estates department, project managing refurbishments and new builds to school and public buildings.

Jon: In 2012 I completed the National 3 Peaks Challenge, Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pike and Snowdon in 23hours 24minutes.

I also plan to get my pilots license before I reach 50. Watch this space!

Jess: We are part of a team from Estates tak2005-08 Working for Cardiff County Council ing part in the Welsh 3 Peaks challenge this June to raise money for the charity Ty Hafan. private sector housing as the department We have to climb Snowdonia (Yr Wyddfa), manager.

Cadair Idris and Pen Y Fan within 15 hours.

Jess: I worked in a distribution centre, alloNames: Jonathan Brown - Maintenance Supervisor

cating engineers to fix products and planning deliveries. I also worked in customer services and a lot of these skills can be applied to my The Estates & Facilities Times has been initiated to current role in the uni.

Jessica Hemming - Maintenance Helpdesk Interests: Assistant.

Jon: I love mountain biking, golf, walking, Time at Cardiff Met: travelling and eating out with friends.

Jon: I have worked at Cardiff Met for the Jess: I enjoy my music, and like to play guipast two years. tar. When I have the time I love to go back Jess: I have been working at Cardiff Met home to visit Cornwall. for just over 2 months and am so far

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 October 2015.