Arthur tackles global issues
05 Nov 2013
Investing in Success is a £1 million initiative to boost staff development that has resulted in a fascinating array of projects which show just how passionate our people are about their work here at the University.
How resilient is our University in this changing world when it comes to environmental issues and sustainability?
The man who knows the answer is Arthur Nicholas, Estates Officer in the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences and Life Sciences.
With the aid of his Investing in Success award, Arthur has successfully completed a three-month secondment to Arup, the international engineering company.
He spent his time observing and interviewing key Arup people in their Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and London offices. He also talked to Registrars and Vice-Chancellors at a number of universities.
Although a biochemical research scientist by trade, Arthur was persuaded to apply his talent to estates matters by the now retired Professor Maynard Case, and he now chairs the University’s Laboratory Sustainability Group.
This group brings together Estates and Facilities, Health and Safety, and other parties, to make sure that our laboratories operate more efficiently, reducing fuel consumption and waste. The labs account for 40% of our energy bill.
Arthur has worked here since 1975 and this project has enabled him to get out into the commercial world to see how they deal with these issues.
“It was a great experience,” he says. “I discovered that the people at Arup were a committed team, determined to deliver quality service and professional support.”
Happily, is he in a key position to apply his expertise to important issues on the ground here.
Share your story
Did you receive funding from the Investing in Success initiative? If so, share your story with us by emailing uninews@manchester.ac.uk.