The people who kept our campus running during lockdown

23 Jul 2020

Celebrating the dedication of our frontline staff

Since 18 March work as we know it has changed dramatically for thousands of colleagues based at our University due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yet while yet while many of us have been working from home, our frontline workers have continued to work on campus all the way through lockdown to keep essential services running.

As the phased reopening of our campus continues, Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer Patrick Hackett visited two of the teams providing essential services on campus for our researchers, academics, colleagues and students.

Patrick said: “When you walk around our campus it still feels extremely quiet. At this time of year on a sunny day Brunswick Park would normally be full of people. Yet while our campus may currently still look empty, behind the scenes our frontline workers have been on site every day of lockdown.

“Our key worker colleagues really have gone above and beyond during this extraordinary period of our University’s history, and I’d like to pay credit to their hard work and dedication. They truly have lived the values of our institution during this time.”

Patrick met Kevin, Mike and Gary, members of our University security team who have worked throughout lockdown to keep our campus safe 24 hours a day.

This included providing support for the 1,200 students who remained in our halls of residences, along with colleagues including doctors and nurses who also stayed in our residences to be near to the hospitals.

Paul Greenlees, Deputy Head of Security, said: “From 17 March when campus closed we’ve continued to provide 24/7 security cover across campus. They all worked right the way through, adapting to the new smaller crew patterns which were introduced in light of COVID-19. They did a great job, and continue to do so.”

During his visit Patrick also met members of the Biological Services Facility who worked on site throughout lockdown, adapting the size of their usual teams and ensuring that the facility remained COVID-secure.

Mike Simonsen Jackson, Deputy Director of the BSF, added: “They really have been tremendous and have gone above and beyond the call of duty.”