Infrastructure Services

Responsibilities

The department is responsible for development, maintenance and provision of services in support of the built estate and its operation. The department has a number of divisions, social enterprises and joint ventures that make up these services.Infrastructure Services are divided into five divisions, each with their individual responsibilities:

Director's Office and Shared Services

The Director's office and Shared Services Team look after the strategic direction of the department developing estates operational strategies and oversees the operation of our social enterprises and joint ventures. The finance and admin infrastructure team provide support to all other teams developing budgets, tracking expenditure and procurement activity, providing administrative support including maintaining departmental web information, completing statutory and other reports and providing press and PR information as required about the work of the department. This team also looks after the Landlord function and all property related legal matters.

Infrastructure Development

The Infrastructure Development Team is responsible for developing, delivering and monitoring all projects relating to the estate on behalf of the University, including space planning and allocation. As well as the project group this team has a sustainability team who are responsible for the Carbon Management Plan looking after waste, energy, transport, biodiversity and sustainable procurement for the department.

Facilities Management Services

The Facilities Management Services Team is responsible for all of the operational services supporting the estate and the University. Firstly, it operates a team of Service Delivery Managers, Service Co-ordinators and Receptionists who together with our help desk facility are the first point of contact for our clients. Many of the team are embedded with their clients and provide support in co-ordinating any work or support service required by the client. This team operates both University Main and School Receptions, monitor H&S in full, inspect the premises and ensure the service we provide reach the agreed standards and take action where required to remedy problems. This team also look after the postal system and the switchboards within the University.

Secondly, the Facilities Team oversees a wholly owned subsidiary of the University, 1st Degree Facilities, which is responsible for delivering a Total Facilities Management service to the University and its other clients. The services include Housekeeping, Portering, Caretaking, Security, Car Park management, Planned and Reactive maintenance, Grounds maintenance, Stores and archiving functions, Waste Removal/Recycling and some transportation. 1st Degree Facilities is a Social Enterprise which has a Social Mission to reduce youth unemployment in the 16-25 year age group by running a number of work experience, modern apprenticeship and graduate training programmes. Formed in 2012 this is a completely new venture for the University which we hope has a very bright future as a commercial provider of services outside of the University. The company would also be able to offer other services from our other divisions.

In addition to 1st Degree Facilities, the University has a Joint Venture with the University of Hertfordshire, as majority share holder, running the University bus services under the Uno Northampton Limited brand. The venture also runs as a Social Enterprise, providing services for the local community as well as University students and staff.

Catering and Retail

The Catering and Retail Team look after many of the catering and retail outlets on our campuses including a main restaurant and hospitality service on each campus. The team also oversees the external retail outlets on the site including convenience store (SPAR), bank (Santander), pop-up bookshops (Blackwell's), Coffee outlets (AMT and Newton Café) and fresh food (GREGGS). During the summer break this team also operates a commercial summer conference programme for third party clients.

Health and Safety

The Health and Safety Team are responsible for advising the wider University and ensures the University meets its legal obligations in regard to health and safety. They develop appropriate policies and procedures, deliver training relevant to the needs of the University, conduct audit programmes, manage the provision and training of first aiders and will provide advice on health and safety issues across the University. The team also works with others in the department and across the University on wellbeing initiatives. This team is also responsible for analysing accident/incident data and investigation, the development of the University's Business Continuity Plan and its safety culture.