Broadcast: News items

PS Essentials highlights the key priorities for Professional Services colleagues and recent news which you and your teams may find useful. Please take five minutes to read the full update below.

Following the PS Bigger Picture event in November you can visit our PS Events webpage to view the replay and presentation slides, and read responses to the questions that we did not have time to answer on the day.

If there is information you would like included in a future edition of PS Essentials, please email the Internal Comms team at: internalcomms@sussex.ac.uk. 

Quick links

About you

• Staff survey update and focus groups in January
• Share your feedback about the ADR process
• Celebrating the upcoming festive season
• Winter wellbeing and useful information

About Professional Services

• University confirmed as an apprenticeship provider to local business and industry
• Latest programme updates in our Transforming Sussex newsletter

Coming up

• Be part of our winter graduation events on 24 and 25 January 2024

A reminder

• Be cautious when asked to disclose personal data
• Final expenses and supplier payment dates for 2023

About you

Staff survey update and focus groups in January

Following the last survey in October 2022, we are introducing changes to improve the staff survey process. Our full staff survey will now take place every two years, with the next survey planned for autumn 2024, subject to confirmation by the People and Culture Board. We will also be making sure staff can share their views about working life at Sussex in between our surveys. You can be part of the conversation and help shape our future approach to listening at Sussex by taking part in one of our staff focus groups in January.

Share your feedback about the ADR process

With the 2023 Achievement and Development Review (ADR) cycle now complete, staff are encouraged to share their feedback on the revised ADR materials and resources via an online survey. This will help the HR team understand how the resources are supporting staff and how they can be refined to make sure the ADR process is as impactful as possible. Please take 10 minutes to complete the survey by Wednesday 13 December.

The upcoming festive season

As seasonal celebrations begin, the University’s annual festive e-card is now available for you to personalise and send to your contacts.

All staff have two additional minimum service days which are Thursday 21 December 2023 and Tuesday 2 January 2024. You are not required to add these to the MyView absence booking system, so if you have booked these days off please cancel the booking on MyView.

There are lots of festive events coming up including a Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony in Library Square at 4.30pm on Monday 11 December. The Christmas carol service will be held in the Meeting House, also on Monday 11 December, from 6.30pm-7.30pm. Refreshments are available from 5.30pm and  children are welcome. A pagan Yule and winter solstice ceremony will take place on Wednesday 13 December at the Meeting House from 1pm-1.45pm and refreshments will be available afterwards. All are welcome at all events.

Elsewhere on campus, a festive Library coffee morning is happening on Thursday 14 December from 10.30am-12noon. Festive dishes are on offer at Eat Central, and from 11 to 14 December you will be able to sample Cantonese honey glazed turkey. The Students' Union is providing festive feasts to eat in Falmer Bar or for delivery on campus until 20 December. Sussexsport is also running kids' camps with fully qualified instructors for basketball, netball, badminton, circus skills and squash from Monday 18 December to Thursday 21 December. All equipment is provided.

Winter wellbeing and useful information

The winter break is fast approaching, so we wanted to share a few reminders about ways to stay well and healthy over the festive period. There are a number of resources available, including our free Employee Assistance Programme, for staff who may need help and support. You can also view information about services and opening hours on campus over the winter break.

About Professional Services

University confirmed as an apprenticeship provider to local business and industry

Sussex has been confirmed as an apprenticeship provider to other employers, and our formal launch campaign and event will start in February 2024 to coincide with National Apprenticeships Week. Programmes begin in September 2024, when we will welcome our first cohort onto two Masters’ level degree apprenticeships - one in Advanced Mechanical Engineering and one in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. We will also be offering an undergraduate degree apprenticeship programme in Business Analytics and Digital Technology.

Latest programme updates in our Transforming Sussex newsletter

Our latest Transforming Sussex newsletter brings you updates on the projects and programmes happening across the University. This month we share news on more catering developments, outcomes from Curriculum Reimagined Open Meetings and further news on RAAC replacements. We also introduce Professor Claire Smith as part of our ‘Meet the Changemakers’ series.  

Please sign up to our mailing list to receive future issues of our newsletter directly to your inbox. Further information is available on the Transforming Sussex webpages.

Coming up

Be part of our winter graduation events on 24 and 25 January 2024

Winter graduation is an important moment in the University calendar and we encourage PS staff to volunteer to help make our events a success. The graduation ceremonies, which take place at the Brighton Centre, are truly celebratory, and for those new to Sussex they are also an opportunity to meet people from across the University and learn more about what we do for graduating students. You will receive a full briefing and tour of the venue beforehand and colleagues will be on hand to answer your questions. Please contact the Graduation team at graduation@sussex.ac.uk if you have any queries.   

A reminder

Be cautious when asked to disclose personal data

It is very important to be vigilant when being asked by third parties to disclose personal data held by the University. Personal data includes, for example, confirmation of whether an individual is currently - or was formerly - a student of the University. Make sure you view our comprehensive guidance including a definition of personal data, information about lawful bases for disclosure, and advice around different situations in which you may be asked to share personal data.

Please note that all requests for personal data from the police should be sent to the University’s Information Management team at dpo@sussex.ac.uk in the first instance as they manage the specific process for dealing with these types of requests. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the Information Management team.

Final expenses and supplier payment dates for 2023

As we approach the Christmas break, the last payment date for out-of-pocket expense claims will be Wednesday 20 December. This means that:

• expense claims need to be submitted and authorised by close of business on Friday 15 December to be settled this year. Funds should reach your bank account by Friday 22 December depending on your personal banking arrangements.
• staff with purchasing responsibility should note that they need to ‘goods receipt’ goods and services received by Wednesday 20 December to make sure that suppliers who have correctly invoiced the University will be paid before January. This is particularly important for our suppliers who are small businesses and who rely on timely payment, especially at this time of year.   

If you have any questions, please contact the Finance Service Desk.

The next edition of PS Essentials will be published in February 2024.

Enjoy the festive season – and please help us to be more sustainable by turning the lights off when you leave the office before the break!