October 2021 monthly report

Report Date

October 2021

Work completed

• A business case for additional resources for digital technologies to support hybrid working (meeting rooms, shared desk booking system and telephony) was submitted to the Capital Planning Group on 26th October as part of a series of Digital Transformation business cases. 

• The hybrid meetings pages on the hybrid working framework have been updated with information about the kit available and how to use it in the 12 pilot hybrid meeting rooms

• A meeting with the Project Sponsor, Business Lead and HR was held to discuss the process and timelines for policy development for hybrid working

• The feasibility study teams have been contributing to a review of the current hybrid working guidance

• The number of Project Management days to complete the project has been reduced to 0.5WTE Jan-Mar and 0.2WTE Apr-May 2022, reducing the total number to complete the project to 72 (was 160)

Issues

• Many teams are returning to campus very gradually due to the ongoing pandemic, so opportunities to fully engage with and try hybrid working may be limited in some areas. This is important given the work to review the hybrid working guidance and consider what policy changes are needed has started.
• A request has been raised for communications support to ensure we can continue to deliver our communications plan. Lorraine Spalding is leaving mid-December, so this is now high priority. Karen Beggs' contract ends on 17th December and internal resource has been requested but not yet identified to continue the work. 

Next

• The Research Insights workstream will continue with College/Group analysis then School/Department analysis
• The Research Insights team will continue planning the 2022 home and hybrid working survey
• Continue to gather feedback from the feasibility study teams, specifically around hybrid meetings and booking systems for shared desks
• Continue engagement across the institution around hybrid working