LHVA Awards Medieval The Edge Extends Facilities Conference Feast Exciting Office nets new facilities Medievalists prize converge on the Page 7 Page 4 University Page 3 August 2014 News & Views from the Facilities Directorate at the University of Leeds. fdCAMPUS SUPPORTmatters SERVICES RESIDENTIAL SERVICES ESTATES COMMERCIAL SERVICES SUSTAINABILITY before the 5th of July. We also had a great the work we have done over the last year, response to the lecture series we hosted, with some of the heroes of the University’s nearly 200 people attending a wide range of cycling community were rewarded for topics from French culture and journalism the incredible work they do to enhance Au revoir Le Tour! to the planning and legacy of the Tour. A cycling for staff and students by leading University of Leeds cycling jersey is being the riders to the Arena as part of a group fter months of waiting, the Grand weekend almost a distant memory already produced and once it arrives, it will be worn of community cyclists. It was great to Depart has been and gone as quickly it is time to look back over a very successful proudly by over 100 staff, students and alumni be able to show our gratitude for the Aas Chris Froome’s chances of retaining year. In a great partnership with Leeds City who pre ordered. An incredible 10 months amazing work they do on a regular basis. his title. Over the last 10 months we have Council, students from the School of Mechanical was topped off with all the riders of the Tour So that’s it, I’m sure you will agree, a busy been celebrating the Tour de France coming Engineering produced the official countdown de France meeting on campus for their team and successful end to an incredible year, to Leeds with an inspirational programme, clock that was displayed in Trinity shopping briefing before cycling to the Leeds Arena for and hopefully the start of an even greater to a great response. With the Grand Depart centre and admired by thousands in the 50 days the Opening Ceremony. As well as showcasing cycling community here at the University. “I’m sure you will agree, a busy and successful end to an incredible year, and hopefully the start of an even greater cycling community here at “ the University. by Ed McAlone nless you have been holidaying somewhere de France 2014 Opening Ceremony and Team on the third moon of Saturn, you could Presentation at the Leeds Arena. Police LA SÉCURITÉ MAGNIFIQUE Unot have failed to notice ‘Le Tour estimates put the crowd lining the street from Yorkshire’, and the Grand Depart of the Tour de The Edge to Leeds Arena at 12,000 and the France 2014 from Leeds. What you might not atmosphere was electric. It was a fitting finale to have noticed however was the fact that the Security Services involvement with what is University of Leeds Security Services were undoubtedly one of the greatest shows on earth. providing the security for teams Belkin, Bretagne- Seche, Garmin-Sharp and Giant-Shimano. Police estimates put the crowd During the week prior to the Tour de France 2014 “ teams Belkin, Bretagne-Seche, Garmin-Sharp and lining the street from The Edge Giant-Shimano all stayed at the Weetwood Hall to Leeds Arena at 12,000 and Conference Centre and Hotel, where University of the atmosphere was electric. It Leeds Security Services provided security during was a fitting finale to Security numerous press conferences and training rides. This was however merely a taste of what was to Services involvement with what come. On the evening of 3rd July all one hundred is undoubtedly one of the greatest “ and ninety-eight riders made their way on 22 shows on earth. coaches to The Edge sports centre, which was the start point for the cyclists procession to the Tour Facilities Directorate fdmatters Facilities Directorate newsletter hope you took the opportunity to provide summer break, the next intake of students feedback, if you felt this was appropriate. If arrives – and I’m pleased to say that the signs you still have any questions or comments are good for student numbers for 2014-15. LISTENING FOR SUCCESS about the plan, please do send them to me directly and I will respond as soon as I can. Those students will arrive at a high quality university where we continue to invest in the The Facilities Directorate has always played kind of facilities they need. Take sport, for a crucial part in supporting the strategy and example. Having listened to staff, the Union, as part of our planning for the future we societies and others, we now have a strategy are developing our own Estates & Facilities for Sport and Physical Activity, owned by strategy for the next 10 years 2015-25. I both the University and Leeds University am personally very keen to make sure you Union, which will move us ahead even have the opportunity to contribute to the further. We’re already ranked as a top 10 UK development of the strategy itself – and we university for sporting experience, but we’ll be will be in touch over the coming weeks with doing even more to enable students to reach details of how you can express your views and their sporting potential, improve health and suggestions. wellbeing and improve their skills. The first noticeable signs of this commitment will be an expansion of The Edge’s gym “It’s by listening to our staff, facilities, replacement of some football and students and others that we will rugby grass pitches with all-weather pitches, and, subject to approval, a new facility at achieve the best possible results – so Weetwood including a remodelled pavilion please do give your views. Together and identifying a location for a cycling circuit. we can help make the University “ These are all exciting developments – and of more successful than ever! course sport is only one aspect of our offer to students. Accommodation will be improved ernard M Baruch isn’t exactly one of That set me thinking. If listening can make with the third phase of the Central Village the most famous of historical characters people more successful, maybe the same development, which will see 475 beds to be B– I confess I hadn’t heard of him principle applies to organisations too. Although the detail of the strategy will need built, ready for September 2016. until recently – but something he said has to be worked through, we can be confident implications for the way we work. Baruch You may be aware that the University is that it will include a focus on the student It’s by listening to our staff, students and was an economic adviser in the US during preparing a new strategic plan which sets experience. Over the last few weeks, staff others that we will achieve the best possible both world wars, who served and advised no out the proposed priorities for the future, throughout the Directorate have been results – so please do give your views. fewer than six presidents. He observed, “Most and all members of staff should have had the supporting graduation, and helping to give of the successful people I have known are the opportunity to comment on it. Although the students and their families a day to remember Together we can help make the University ones who do more listening than talking” deadline for comments has now passed, I do for the rest of their lives. Then after the more successful than ever! n partnership with the University of event was also the largest and most ambitious next year. The University of Leeds provided Leeds, Leeds Metropolitan University teacher training event in the UK, welcoming the event with various elements such as the and Leeds and Partners, education over 3,000 delegates, including Teach First catering, venue space, bedrooms and our I This year’s residential event was charity Teach First brought its largest 2013 and 2014 participants, university tutors, “ dedicated team of event organisers. training event to the city this July and school leaders and union leaders. attended by over 2700 delegates; August. It is the first time the two Leeds universities set to rise to 4000 when they “ This year’s residential event took place from have collaborated so closely on an event, As well as being the charity’s 12th Summer Saturday 19 July to Friday 1 August and was return to the city again next year. and it is hoped that this will provide a Institute, it was the largest and the first since attended by over 2700 delegates; set to rise to model for attracting further large-scale moving from Warwick University. The 4000 when they return to the city again events to Leeds in the future. SUMMER INSTITUTE 2014 2 Facilities Directorate newsletter fdmatters International Medieval Congress 2014 his July marked the 21st annual planning, delegates still manage to stretch the International Medieval Congress, when supply to the limits each year. Ttwo thousand of the world’s most knowledgeable medievalists, including well- Marc Mottershead, Head Chef at University known historian and TV broadcaster Michael House, said the experience had been Wood, descended on the University of Leeds, fascinating: “It’s not every day you get asked for what is Europe’s largest annual gathering to recreate an authentic medieval feast.” in humanities. He added: “Instead of dull, uninspiring Around 2,000 delegates from 57 countries dishes, the recipes called for cloves and spices were attended to by the Conference Office, and really unusual combinations which are in an event which ran from July 7 to July close to modern Middle Eastern cuisines.