NEWSLETTER - University of Kent · Anne Munday, Keynes ... download the booking form or ask Rooie...
4
NEWSLETTER April 2016 APRIL’S PRIDE AWARD WINNERS April’s Pride Award has been jointly won by Anne Munday, Keynes College Receptionist and Mike Sault, Hospitality Assistant, KBS Servery. Anne was nominated for producing a detailed ‘Knowledge of the College’ document drawing upon her years of service at Park Wood College. Mike was nominated for providing first class services to KBS staff, students and visitors, as well as excellent first aid skills, which have been put to the test on many occasions, most recently when a student fainted. The red Pride nomination boxes are located in all of Kent Hospitality’s catering outlets in both Canterbury and Medway, as well in campus reception areas. Nominations can be made using paper forms and red boxes, or downloading the form from Kent Hospitality website and email it to Rooie at [email protected]. Please make your nominations detailed, providing as much information as possible why the nominee is being put forward for the Award. The panel are looking for staff who achieve more than just what is expected in their role (i.e. hardworking, professional, positive and friendly attitude). The next nomination deadline is 1pm, Wednesday 28 September. STAFF NEWS A very warm welcome to the following new staff: Amy Dugdale, Day Cleaner, Turing College Adam Fryer, Day Cleaner, Turing College Alice Hunt, FT Bar/Bistro Supervisor, Dolche Vita Medani Limbu, Domestic Assistant, Turing College Jeanne McCarthy, Day Cleaner, Eliot College Antonio Ramos, Kitchen Porter, Rutherford Kitchen Leigh Scott, Kitchen Porter, Dolche Vita Tammy Wilkinson, Day Cleaner, Turing College Julie Williams, Domestic Assistant, Support Team Goodbye to Ray Grant, Day Cleaner at Rutherford College. Ray retires on 31 May 2016 after 17 years at the University of Kent. TOP RATED TURING COLLEGE Back in January Turing College was awarded by LateRooms.com as a ‘2016 Top Rated’ accommodation at the Simply the Guest awards. LateRooms.com’s ‘Top Rated’ showcases the best- loved hotels in the UK and have all had minimum review scores of 80%, taken from guest reviews over the past year. This recent award joins the other accolades and great guest reviews for Turing College accommodation, including being rated ‘Fabulous, 8.7/10’ on Booking.com. Well done to all the teams involved in providing an award-winning experience! Please send me any news items you would like to be included in the next newsletter: [email protected] The days are finally sunnier and feel longer, meaning we’ve been even busier at Kent Hospitality! Enjoy catching up on new arrivals, awards, competitions, charity donations successes as well as details on upcoming events and key news from across the University. Finally, for those of you who don’t know (or haven’t seen me getting a little rounder in the last few months), I’m off on maternity leave at the end of June, so you’ll be hearing from my maternity cover in the next edition. I’ll be asking for a copy to keep me up to date too! Thanks, Laura REAR OF THE MONTH WINNERS Well done to the monthly best kept rears and to the teams for keeping everything neat and tidy: • January: Woolf College • February: Eliot College • March: Darwin College
Transcript of NEWSLETTER - University of Kent · Anne Munday, Keynes ... download the booking form or ask Rooie...
NEWSLETTERApril 2016
APRIL’S PRIDE AWARD WINNERSApril’s Pride Award has been jointly won by Anne Munday, Keynes College Receptionist and Mike Sault, Hospitality Assistant, KBS Servery. Anne was nominated for producing a detailed ‘Knowledge of the College’ document drawing upon her years of service at Park Wood College. Mike was nominated for providing first class services to KBS staff, students and visitors, as well as excellent first aid skills, which have been put to the test on many occasions, most recently when a student fainted. The red Pride nomination boxes are located in all of Kent Hospitality’s catering outlets in both Canterbury and Medway, as well in campus reception areas. Nominations can be made using paper forms and red boxes, or downloading the form from Kent Hospitality website and email it to Rooie at [email protected]. Please make your nominations detailed, providing as much information as possible why the nominee is being put forward for the Award. The panel are looking for staff who achieve more than just what is expected in their role (i.e. hardworking, professional, positive and friendly attitude). The next nomination deadline is 1pm, Wednesday 28 September.
STAFF NEWSA very warm welcome to the following new staff:Amy Dugdale, Day Cleaner, Turing CollegeAdam Fryer, Day Cleaner, Turing CollegeAlice Hunt, FT Bar/Bistro Supervisor, Dolche VitaMedani Limbu, Domestic Assistant, Turing CollegeJeanne McCarthy, Day Cleaner, Eliot CollegeAntonio Ramos, Kitchen Porter, Rutherford KitchenLeigh Scott, Kitchen Porter, Dolche VitaTammy Wilkinson, Day Cleaner, Turing CollegeJulie Williams, Domestic Assistant, Support Team
Goodbye to Ray Grant, Day Cleaner at Rutherford College. Ray retires on 31 May 2016 after 17 years at the University of Kent.
TOP RATED TURING COLLEGEBack in January Turing College was awarded by LateRooms.com as a ‘2016 Top Rated’ accommodation at the Simply the Guest awards. LateRooms.com’s ‘Top Rated’ showcases the best-loved hotels in the UK and have all had minimum review scores of 80%, taken from guest reviews over the past year. This recent award joins the other accolades and great guest reviews for Turing College accommodation, including being rated ‘Fabulous, 8.7/10’ on Booking.com. Well done to all the teams involved in providing an award-winning experience!
Please send me any news items you would like to be included in the next newsletter: [email protected]
The days are finally sunnier and feel longer, meaning we’ve been even busier at Kent Hospitality! Enjoy catching up on new arrivals, awards, competitions, charity donations successes as well as details on upcoming events and key news from across the University. Finally, for those of you who don’t know (or haven’t seen me getting a little rounder in the last few months), I’m off on maternity leave at the end of June, so you’ll be hearing from my maternity cover in the next edition. I’ll be asking for a copy to keep me up to date too! Thanks, Laura
REAR OF THE MONTH WINNERSWell done to the monthly best kept rears and to the teams for keeping everything neat and tidy:
• January: Woolf College• February: Eliot College• March: Darwin College
Kent Hospitality News – April 2016
Please send me any news items you would like to be included in the next newsletter: [email protected]
CAMPUS SAFETY APPIn case you hadn’t already seen the news through central communications, the University has launched a free app service to help give round-the-clock safety reassurance to staff (and students).SafeZone is a simple-to-use application that’s free to download. It’s designed to help summon security or safety assistance via your mobile phone. During an initial launch phase from 4 April, you can volunteer to sign-up and access three main features using SafeZone – emergency, first aid and enquiries. Emergency and first aid options will bring security or first aid officers to the location of the call, while the enquiries button connects directly to the University switchboard during the day and Campus Security out-of-hours. The app currently works within designated zones covering the Canterbury and Medway campuses (including Historic Dockyard, Chatham) as well as Liberty Quays student accommodation. From September, the app will also help the University send targeted notification messages to staff and students in the event of an on-campus incident and help locate and mobilise first aid trained staff and fire marshals.
Find out more information at www.kent.ac.uk/safezone
CAPTION COMPETITIONThe picture below was kindly sent in from catering! If you’ve got a suggestion for a witty caption, send it to me by 31 May. A small prize will be awarded for the best entry.
RACE FOR LIFE SUPPORTTanglewood ladies Lyn, Alana, Charlotte, Catherine, Rooie, and some of their children, will be running in the Race for Life in Folkestone on 12 June to raise money for Cancer Research. If you would like to sponsor the team ‘Under Pressure’ helping to raise money for this worthy cause, you can either do so online at: www.justgiving.com/teams/under-pressure or there is a sponsorship form in the Tanglewood Finance Office. Good luck to you all!
BABY GIRLCongratulations to Mel Baker, the ‘Roaming’ Receptionist who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Evelyn River Baker, on Friday 1 April.
A TASTY KENTISH EVENINGIn March Keith, Diba, Philippa and Kevin attended Produced in Kent annual awards ‘Taste of Kent Awards’ which aims to celebrate and showcase Kent’s finest food and drink products in a number of different categories including producers, retailers, restaurants, dining pubs and farmers’ markets. Using locally sourced, fresh produce in Kent Hospitality catering outlets is key for Keith and his team and as a member of Produced in Kent, fully support the cause. This year the team sponsored ‘Kent fishmonger of the Year’ award which Keith presented to the winner, Hudson’s Fish at Herne Bay.
YES WE ARE!While out and about on the Canterbury campus, you may have spotted Alana Whitcombe from finance (and Rob Pegg - previously at Gulbenkian) on a large poster or two to promote how proud the University is of our staff. Alana and Rob featured in the campaign for being awarded the 2015 CECS (Consistent Excellence in Customer Service) Award. This reflects how proud Kent Hospitality is of our staff - so well done once again to Alana and we look forward to seeing who will be up next year!
Kent Hospitality News – April 2016
Please send me any news items you would like to be included in the next newsletter: [email protected]
PAWS FOR THOUGHTWell done to Alex Jarnell in Rutherford for raising £61 for Canterbury Dogs Trust by asking staff in Rutherford to donate money instead of sending Christmas cards, saving trees in the process.
SUMMER QUIZ 2016 – BOOK YOUR TABLE NOWFollowing an email from Rooie Thomas (or via your manager/supervisor), please note Kent Hospitality are holding a Summer Quiz on Wednesday 22 June at 6pm in the Darwin Conference Suite with supper and drinks served during the evening. The quiz is open for all University of Kent staff and students. Tables are limited and bookings are being taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Please either download the booking form or ask Rooie for a copy to fill in with your team name and participants and return to Rooie as soon as possible, no later than 25 May. www.kent.ac.uk/hospitality/documents/Summer_Quiz_2016_booking_form.doc
HR UPDATE – NATIONAL PAY PROCESS AND UCU BALLOTNegotiations for the 2016 pay award are underway between Universities and College Employers Association (UCEA) and the Unions. The initial offer from UCEA is 1%. The backdrop to the negotiations is one of exceptional financial challenge and uncertainty. In particular the University’s budget will be adversely affected by: • Increases to National Insurance costs as a result of the end of “contracting” out for occupational pension
schemes, costing approximately 2% of the pay bill;• Increases of 2% and 3% respectively in the employer’s contribution to the USS and SAUL pension
schemes;• The introduction of the national Apprenticeship Levy which will add a further 0.5% to our pay costs.Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) claim is for a 5% increase. They are stating that unless their demand is met in full a trade dispute would exist. There are further meetings scheduled in April and May. We will keep you updated as appropriate.
SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED AND SCRUMPTIOUS STREET FOOD AT TUCOLast month Dan Weale and Scott Tulloch, Cargo at Medway, and Chinonso (Kenny) Onuigwe, Dolche Vita, went to ‘TUCO Competitions 2016’ at the University of Warwick. The team competed in separate categories – Barista Skills, Bar Skills and Street Food Challenge. Each showcased their expertise and flare against other university catering outlets across the UK. Scott created a trio of delicious cocktails, including ‘Strawberry Surprise’, which he trialled in Cargo for a few weeks before the event and proved to be very popular with customers. Dan competed against 30 other baristas to make perfect espressos, cappuccinos and a signature coffee. Dan’s Banoffee coffee combined desert and coffee courses together in one drink – his creation got a special mention from TUCO. Kenny created a three item menu in the Street Food Challenge which included jerk chicken, savoury sweet potato cakes and teriyaki shrimp – mmm I’m hungry just typing this! Although the guys weren’t placed in the finals, they thoroughly enjoyed the experience and are already thinking up some delicious food and drink creations for next year’s TUCO competition – taste testing volunteers anyone?!
NVQ SUCCESSCongratulations to Ling Ling Haung, Park Wood, for completing her NVQ Level 1 in Housekeeping.
Kent Hospitality News – April 2016
Please send me any news items you would like to be included in the next newsletter: [email protected]
IN THE TANGLEWOOD GARDEN – SPRING UPDATEAfter the ravages of Storm Katie and the Tanglewood rampaging rabbits, it is very encouraging to see signs of new life emerging in the garden. A few of the many daffodil and tulips bulbs that I planted in the autumn have survived to bloom and the herbs are beginning to sprout again. The cherry tree is blossoming and displaying its beautiful red foliage, and a pair of blue tits are making the most of a hidden crevice to make their nest. My fellow “twitcher”, Julia, has observed much activity from a tiny wren who has also made the Tanglewood garden the perfect place to raise its young! The fruit trees are budding and hopefully there will be an increased harvest of apples and pears this year. If anyone has a surplus of plants that they would like to donate to the garden, please let me know. Thank you, Rooie
START ‘EM YOUNG!Karen Friend, Hospitality Supervisor at Dolche Vita, wanted to say a big thank you to staff that supported her Grandson Jack on his Sport Relief run. Well done Jack!
Jason Shinn, Park Wood Assistant Housekeeping Manager, wanted to congratulate his son Samuel on passing his karate brown belt exam - only one belt to go to black belt aged eight. Well done Samuel!
JUNE COMMERCIAL SERVICES MEETINGSFollowing an email from Rooie Thomas (or via your manager/supervisor), please note the dates for the June Commercial Services staff meetings – if you can’t make the designated slot, please attend another:
Department / team Venue Date and time
Housekeeping teams: Darwin, Rutherford and Tyler Court Keynes Lecture Theatre 6 (KLT6)
Monday 27.06.16 10.00am - 11.00am
Conference Office, Receptions and Tanglewood Eliot Lecture Theatre 2 (ELT2)
Monday 27.06.16 12.30pm - 1.30pm
Medway staff R2-09, Rochester Building
Monday 27.06.16 3.00pm - 4.00pm
Housekeeping teams: Eliot, Keynes and Turing Grimond Lecture Theatre 1 (GLT1)
Tuesday 28.06.16 10.00am - 11.00am
Park Wood Housekeeping and Kent Sport Cafe Bar, Sports Pavilion
Tuesday 28.06.16 11.30am - 12.30pm
Catering teams: Darwin, Eliot, Keynes, Rutherford and Turing Grimond Lecture Theatre 1 (GLT1)
Tuesday 28.06.16 2.45pm - 3.45pm
Gulbenkian staff Gulbenkian cinema Tuesday 28.06.16 4.00pm - 5.00pm
TURING COLLEGE COFFEE MORNINGAs part of the Housekeeping Respect Campaign, the team at Turing College hosted a coffee morning at Hut8 with staff across Kent Hospitality attending, to not only offer their baking delights, but to offer the opportunity to meet and chat with new staff. Congrats to Linda Watson who guessed the weight of the cake competition and to Sally at Tanglewood for creating a banana cake that everyone raved about. The morning was felt to be a real success with £233.58 collected for Marie Currie charity from cake sales and donations from knitted friendship bracelets, kindly created by Heather Dyer from Keynes. A big thanks to all of those who participated and donated.
