Sussex Estates and Facilities – the new partnership between support-services and construction company Interserve and the University of Sussex – took up its responsibility for facilities services at Sussex on 1 January.
Sussex Estates and Facilities (SEF) is responsible for providing all facilities services on campus: including cleaning, commissioning and managing minor and major works, fire safety services, grounds maintenance, health and safety advisory and auditing services, laundrette, laundry, mailroom, maintenance, management of carbon reduction, portering, security, print and reprographics, transport, utilities management, and waste disposal and recycling.
After the announcement in October of the new partnership between the University and Interserve, the two organisations have been working together with staff and teams who are transferring, and preparing for transfer.
Mark Stimpson, Partnership Manager at SEF, said: “Although there will be some service improvements from January around the role of the new SEF service centre, the initial emphasis will be on a smooth transition. Our teams will be putting in place improved processes, systems and technology, which should enhance the way in which teams run and operate.
“More extensive development and improvements will take place as new systems and specific investments are made over time.”
The main initial change from 1 January relates to the important and enhanced role played by the helpdesk – which will become the Service Centre for SEF, as the first point of contact for access to services, and will extend its core hours of service, from 8am-6pm, with 24-hour support from the York House team.
Mark Stimpson said: “The Service Centre will play a more active role co-ordinating facilities management on campus. The aim is to make campus operations smoother and facilities services easier for everyone on campus. It will also serves as the communication hub for facilities and the first line of contact for any maintenance-related emergencies and escalations.”
