NEWS October 2014You could say that winning awards is becoming something of a habit for this department! While we didnt win the Times Higher Education award for which we had been short-listed, we did collect the trophy for the Best University Accommodation for Groups for an unbelievable seventh year.

After a really busy summer, the turmoil of Turing, a couple of Open Days and the arrival of this years students, I am sure that everyone is now looking forward to the end of term and the chance to relax over the Christmas/New Year break. As this is my last newsletter, Id just like to wish you all well for the future. Liz Culmer, Editor

Staff news

A very warm welcome to the many new staff who have recently joined the department:

Krystle Allsopp, Hospitality Supervisor, CargoSylvia Bartolini, Catering Assistant, RutherfordGabriela Bengulescu, Catering Assistant, RutherfordMatthew Bicknell, Junior IT Technician, TanglewoodMartin Brind, Kitchen Porter, OriginsGrace-Louise Byrd-Dowd, Hospitality Supervisor, TuringAbigail Cook, Part-time Receptionist, KeynesMarthese Enwright, Part-time Receptionist, EliotCharmaine Fitch, Domestic Assistant, KeynesGeoffrey Forster, Commis Chef, CargoRebecca Geach, Domestic Assistant, TuringCharlotte Godley, Hospitality Supervisor, TuringDannielle Harris, Domestic Assistant, Park WoodTara Hoult, Chef, TuringTariro Hwapunga, Domestic Assistant, Park WoodAmanda Intrieri, Day Cleaner, KeynesSheralyn Johnson, Domestic Assistant, Park WoodAgneta Jurgaityte, Domestic Assistant, KeynesDarren Kay, Senior Chef, CargoMichael Leonard, Domestic Assistant, Park WoodMarco Liguori, Domestic Assistant, KeynesMohan Sing Limbu, Domestic Assistant, KeynesSimon Marsh, Hospitality Assistant, TuringElizabeth Mason, Assistant Housekeeping Manager, EliotNicola McGrath. Housekeeping Supervisor, KeynesJoel McManus, Kitchen Porter, OriginsDeborah Missen, Domestic Assistant, Park WoodSara Mussett, Housekeeping Supervisor, Park WoodIan Page, Part-time Receptionist, TuringCraig Phelan, Catering Assistant, RutherfordSandesh Rai, Domestic Assistant, EliotRebecca Reeves, Senior Chef, TuringCassie Rocks, Part-time Receptionist, DarwinBrenda Rogers, Domestic Assistant, TuringJames Salt, Domestic Assistant, Park WoodGarry Saunders, Kitchen Porter, OriginsSophie Shipton, Receptionist, TuringBeverley Small, Housekeeping Supervisor, TuringShawn Stanley, Day Cleaner, TuringAngela Steer, Catering Assistant, TuringEmmanouil Theodorakis, Chef, TuringEmma Thornhill, Hospitality Supervisor, TuringAdriana Toutoudaki, Part-time Receptionist, Tyler CourtScott Tulloch, Bar/Bistro Supervisor, CargoThomas Waters, Domestic Assistant, TuringDan Weale, Bar/Bistro Supervisor, CargoAlana Whitcombe, Accounts Assistant, Tanglewood

Ben Wright, Commis Chef, CargoRebecca Wyatt, Part-time Receptionist, KeynesLyle Young, Kitchen Porter, Rutherford

Rebecca Boughton, Senior Chef, CargoStephen Cullen, Maintenance Handy Person, TuringTom Davis, Senior Chef, TuringRita Griffin, Housekeeping Supervisor, Tyler CourtJiwan Gurung, Day Cleaner, RutherfordKamala Gurung Ghale, Charge Hand, KeynesGeorge Harris, Chef, RutherfordLeighton James, Chef, TuringKelly Leonard, Assistant Events Co-ordinator, Conference OfficeEvelina Linkute, Hospitality Assistant, TuringDesmond Oliver, Domestic Assistant, DarwinSamantha Riddington, Food and Beverage Manager, MedwaySarah Tooze, Receptionist, Turing

Best wishes to Judith Hope, who retired in July after working at Tanglewood for nearly 14 years and Anthony Baker, who retired in September after working for Housekeeping for 12 years .

The following staff have been appointed to new roles:

Septembers Pride award winners

Congratulations to Sarah Tooze and Sophie Shipton (Turing Receptionists) on winning the September Pride award.

Sarah and Sophie were nominated for setting up a temporary reception for Turing with only 24 hours notice and for all their hard

work in ensuring that those new students who were able to move in to Turing had as smooth an arrival as possible.

The deadline for the next Pride award is Wednesday 17 December and nominations should be sent to the PA to the Director of Commercial Services at Tanglewood.

Dates for your diary

The 2014 awards ceremony is on Thursday 11 December in Darwin Conference Suite from 10:00 to 12:00 and the Christmas quiz will be held on Monday 22 December. More details of both events to follow.

Beverley Farmhouse has a make over

New bistro at Medway

Congratulations

As well as providing a new base for the Conference Office, eleven of the rooms at Beverley Farmhouse have now been refurbished to provide high quality guest accommodation for visitors to the University. Prices range from 55-45 for a night, with discounts available for longer stays.

The pictures show Beverley Farmhouse as it was in earlier times and how it looks today. With the original building dating back to the 17th century, Beverley Farmhouse was extended in the 19th century and then taken over by the University in 1962. Registry staff were based at Beverley Farmhouse during the 70s and following restoration in the 80s, the building was then used as student accommodation.

Rooms at Beverley Farmhouse can be booked by calling the Conference Office on extension 8000.

After a lot of hard work from everyone involved in the project, our newest catering outlet, Cargo, officially opened on 20 September.

Situated in Block T of Victory Pier at Medway, the Cargo bistro is open to students, staff and visitors from 12:00 to 23:00 seven days a week, with late night opening on Tuesday and Friday to 01:00.

With space for 247 people, Cargo has a stage for live music and entertainment and Sky TV for sporting events.

Charitable donation

An orphanage in Romania, which looks after 70 abandoned children aged 2-18, was grateful to receive a donation of bedding, towels and crockery from Housekeeping. Some items had been left behind by students and others were things no longer required by Housekeeping, which would otherwise have gone to landfill. The collection was arranged by Hope Carriers Trust, which is small charity providing immediate and long term help for people in need and especially children who are living in poverty

In a letter of thanks, the orphanage said they were very thankful that with your support we were able to provide the children with beautiful warm duvets and towels.

Record 7th win for our accommodation

Not expecting to win the award for Best University Accommodation for Groups, staff from Housekeeping and Conference Office were delighted to be proved wrong at this years Group Travel Awards. With Kent having now won this accolade for seven consecutive years, you could ask whether other universities even have a chance of lifting this trophy!

While recognising the support of regular clients who return to the University each year and the continuous investment in our accommodation, Kevin Stuckey (Head of Residences and Conference Services) attributed this success to Kent Hospitalitys staff who work so hard to maintain such consistent high standards year after year.

Pictured is Sarah Tooze (Turing Receptionist) with her husband James. Following their wedding on 8 August at Beacon House, Tankerton, Sarah and James enjoyed a mini-moon in Jersey.

Congratulations are also due to Wojtek Politowski (Dolche Vita) on the birth of his daughter, Olivia, on 17 September.

Although they werent very impressed with their accommodation for the event in Glasgow, Housekeeping staff Lynne Ross, Chris Scrutton, Becky Verlin and Karen Keen were delighted to receive the runners-up award for Customer Service at the BACHE (British Association for Cleaning in Higher Education) 2014 Conference. The award was won by Birmingham University.

Customer service award

Well done to the Housekeeping teams, who have been judged to have the best kept rear areas for the following months:May - Eliot; June - Darwin; July - Rutherford; August - Darwin; September - Rutherford; October - Tyler Court

How we did in this years V-Cs Cup

These pictures were taken at the School Sports Day event and give you a flavour of the fun had by all who took part in the competition for this years V-Cs Cup. Although the head is chopped off in the first photo, Im sure you can work out who those legs belong to!

While we didnt end up quite so high on the leader board this year, finishing at 11th overall, staff from our department took part in every event. Team captain, Tim Warren, is hoping for even more participants in next years event, so get in touch with him if you want to be involved (ext 7434, ). T.S.Warren@kent.ac.uk

Liz Brown (Assistant Housekeeping Manager, Park Wood) recently had her head shaved to raise money for a friend, Luke Williams, who was battling cancer. The money raised was to help Luke complete his bucket list and to go to cancer charities.

Liz loses her hair for charity

Sadly Luke died in early October but before this he was able to tick off everything on his list, including marrying his girlfriend and presenting a donation of 20,000 to the Pilgrims Hospice at Margate. For the whole story, see

.http://www.williams-weekender.co.uk/

Thanks from Judith

Having had to retire unexpectedly for personal reasons, Judith Hope decided to leave quietly without a leaving do.

After receiving the card and voucher we sent her, Judith wanted to pass on her thanks to everyone and said I

thoroughly enjoyed my time in Hospitality and feel very lucky to have had the opportunity of working alongside such a fantastic group of people.

For future queries about KentOne cards for staff, please contact Alana Whitcombe (pictured above) on the usual email address