In a year of uncertainty, repeated national lockdowns and amid an often surreal silence on campus, staff from essential services at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) have gone above and beyond to keep the campus functioning throughout the year.
Staff from departments like Security, Maintenance, Campus Services and Projects have been working extensively throughout the pandemic to provide support, guidance, and physical measures in line with government guidance, which has formed a significant part of the university’s mitigation against the risks of Covid-19.
Without those staff present on campus, the university would not have been ready for the safe return of students in September 2020, or able to support students and staff through the year.
Several cleaning staff have worked on campus throughout and thanks to the work from the Estates team, said they had always felt safe. Sarah Lindsay, Assistant Cleaning Manger said: “Because of all the fabulous enhanced sanitised cleaning that the cleaning team have done I feel safe and happy to be at work on campus.”
Cleaning Supervisor, Kelli Burns also said she felt the same. She said: “With the track and trace centre plus all the safety measures implemented including hand sanitisers, wearing of face coverings and social distance markers I feel safe on campus.”
At the height of the pandemic, cleaning staff were seconded to help the NHS, while security staff worked round the clock to keep campus and the remaining students safe during lockdown.
Estates responded rapidly to ever-changing Government guidance, fitting the university with all the safety measures needed and catering providing meals for those isolating.
All of this work and the guidance and measures put in place have helped reduce the risk of staff and students contracting Covid-19 and helped to mitigate the spread of the disease by asymptomatic people.
During the year, the Estates team installed more than 28,000 Covid signs, 414 hand sanitiser points, delivered nearly 58,000 face masks to staff and students, installed one-way and two-way systems across 35 academic buildings and halls, enhanced cleaning measures and placed thousands of QR codes across the university, all in a short space of time.
This has only been possible thanks to essential services, who have pulled together to make any situation work and ensure the safety of staff and students.
Ellie Ward, Assistant Conference and Catering Manager said: “We have taken the opportunities and small wins to move forward with a sense of purpose.”
Similarly, Louise Claypole, Executive PA to the Director of Estates and Facilities said: “I feel proud to be a part of the Estates and Facilities team, who have helped to facilitate the safe return of staff and students to the university and who continue to ensure the campus is a safe environment for all during these difficult times.”
In additional testament to the work of the Estates team, Louise Dybell, Conference and Catering Manager said: “Due to the uncertainties and rapid changes during the pandemic all Estates staff have stepped up and been flexible and adaptable.”
Security has also been a fundamental key, not only keeping staff, students, and the campus safe but also in offering emergency welfare support, organising visits to campus, helping staff claim personal items from offices right through to most recently facilitating the opening of the test centre at the Watershed.
Kevin Burrows Head of Security said: “We have done our best to try and accommodate all staff and students this year. We have tried to meet the universities needs in every way possible.
“My team has done an excellent job throughout, with some working 12-hour shifts ensuring the safety of the university. They have all helped keep the university functioning, I am immensely proud of the way my staff have supported the university.”
He continued: “Working alongside, maintenance catering and accommodation, it has been a big team effort to make sure we get it right, everyone has just got on with it with a smile and carried on.
“We have had multiple members of staff writing to us to say thank you, even if it has just been facilitating a member of staff to collect an office chair to work from home. It’s great to see everyone pull together and support each other.”
Posted on Friday 18 December 2020