Additional closure day and funding for festive celebrations

05 Nov 2024

Message from Ele Morrissey, Executive Director of People

Dear colleagues,  

I’m pleased to share with you two important updates about an additional closure day and funding for festive celebrations. 

Additional closure day 

To thank you for your hard work and ongoing support, and to mark our bicentennial year, Monday, 23 December will be an additional closure day over the festive period.  

The University will therefore close at the end of Friday, 20 December and re-open on Thursday, 2 January. 

This additional day will be treated as a “University closure day” so will be in addition to your annual leave entitlement. If you are required to work on this day, then please speak to your line manager about time off in lieu at a later stage. 

Festive celebration contribution 

As we embark on November, teams across the University will be starting to plan festive celebrations for the coming months. 

Please do remember that the University contributes £20 per person for seasonal events to thank you for your valuable contribution.  

Each School/Faculty/Directorate/Department will be responsible for making their own arrangements and for funding from local budgets. For more information on funding for festive celebrations, please refer to the Non-Business Employee Entertaining Policy. 

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I encourage you all to take time to catch-up with colleagues and reflect on the achievements of the past year – for which there are many!  

Best wishes, 

Ele Morrissey 

Executive Director of People