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Hattrick of apprenticeship awards

November 22, 2022

FX Plus Deputy Security Manager Lois Craze has become the first ever triple winner at the Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards 2022.

Lois completed her hattrick by winning the Management category, the Achiever of the Year, which was decided by public vote and the top, Cornwall Apprentice of the Year titles.

The awards, organised by Truro and Penwith College, celebrate exceptional achievement and highlight the positive impact apprenticeships are having on future skills as they equip learners and workplaces with the tools to succeed, move with future economic developments and boost businesses.

Lois began her apprenticeship in Leadership and Management (ILM Level 3) started in March 2020, two weeks before the first COVID-19 lockdown. Whilst working to support our campus community throughout the pandemic restrictions, she achieved a Distinction in October 2022.

Holly Day and Neil Caddy from Pirate FM presented the awards at a gala awards dinner on Friday 18 November, where Lois was described as, ‘invaluable and an absolute inspiration to her team,’ Lois not only recruited an effective team during a departmental restructure but implemented policies and procedures that have improved services. Lois works with the Police to benefit the safety of students at the university and launched the SafeZone app on campus which has vastly improved response times to emergency and first aid calls.

Lois said: “I am completely overwhelmed to have won so many awards and to be the first ever triple award winner. My apprenticeship was the hardest thing I have done, mainly due to the lock down and not being able to take part in face to face dicussions and lessons. 

“My apprenticeship was a mix of practical observations, knowledge assignments, exams and finally a two-hour interview from an End Point Assessor to get my final grade. With the amazing support of my managers and head of department at FX Plus and my college learning advisor I was able to achieve a distinction which I am super proud of.”

Paula Sanderson, FX Plus Managing Director, said: “This is an amazing achievement. Lois has shown what can be achieved with support and the will to succeed and is a great example to inspire us all at FX Plus.”

For more detail about Lois’ success and other award winners, please see the Truro and Penwith College news piece.

About FX Plus

Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus) delivers shared services for Falmouth University and the University of Exeter in Cornwall to ensure a top quality experience for students, staff and all users of Falmouth and Penryn campuses.

Our vision is to provide ‘Exceptional environments that enable talented and creative minds to thrive’.

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Green Flag Winner 2022

July 26, 2022

The gardens and grounds at Penryn Campus have been recognised by the international Green Flag Award Scheme as among the very best in the world, for the sixth year in a row.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity sKeep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Penryn Campus is shared by Falmouth University and the University of Exeter Cornwall and the historic grounds are open to the public.

Oliver Lane, FX Plus Director of Residences and Facilities, said: “We are delighted to have retained this award for a sixth year. It highlights the hard work of our teams and volunteers – both students and staff. Particular thanks should go to Toby Nenning, Grounds and Gardens manager, and Casey Thomas, Head of Facilities Management, and to their teams.

“Both Falmouth University and the University of Exeter are dedicated to sustainability under their Climate Emergency declarations and a key part of this involves supporting green spaces and the biodiversity on our beautiful campus.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Accreditation Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Penryn Campus worthy of a Green Flag Award. It is testament to all the hard work of staff who do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards demanded by the Award.”

Penryn Campus blends historic sub-tropical planting with newly created landscapes. and are a haven for a diverse range of plant and animal species. The gardens are open to everyone include a walled garden; herbaceous beds; sub-tropical planting; fruit producing orchard; Italian garden and terraces; an 18th Century lime avenue; parkland; a drive with Pinetum native woodlands and historic rare rhododendrons which were cultivated on the site in the Victorian era.

A six-person Grounds Team manages about 150 acres there as well as the smaller, equally beautiful Falmouth Campus.

About FX Plus

Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus) delivers shared services for Falmouth University and the University of Exeter in Cornwall to ensure a top quality experience for students, staff and all users of Falmouth and Penryn campuses.

Our vision is to provide ‘Exceptional environments that enable talented and creative minds to thrive’.

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Celebrating Silver

January 28, 2022

Penryn and Falmouth campuses have progressed from a bronze to a silver award from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) Hedgehog Friendly Campus programme.

The Hedgehog Friendly Campus project is a UK-wide initiative which aims to turn university campuses into places where hedgehogs can thrive.

Oliver Milliner is Head of Sustainability for Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus), the organisation that looks after services shared between Falmouth University and the University of Exeter at Falmouth and Penryn campuses.

He said: “We’re really pleased to have achieved this silver award and will be aiming for gold next year. Big thanks to all the teams who work together to keep our beautiful grounds full of biodiversity and, of course, hedgehog friendly. I’d also like to thank our Sustainability Intern Amber Brett who put this silver bid together.

“Staff and students have an opportunity to play an active role in what we do in the future so if any of you want to help us get to gold please contact me at sustainability@fxplus.ac.uk

To earn the silver award, the FX Plus Sustainability and Grounds teams worked together to complete a series of tasks that help to protect and support hedgehog life on campus. These included:

  • Involving the Students’ Union in hedgehog friendly activities.
  • Start working towards pesticide free grounds management.
  • Organising campus litter picks.
  • Increasing the number of hedgehog friendly plants and trees.
  • Creating log piles which are a good hibernation habitat for hedgehogs.

To achieve Gold, FX Plus will need to focus on actions that leave a long-lasting legacy for hedgehogs on campus, such as:

  • Meeting the pesticide reduction targets set at silver.
  • Installation of a hedgehog crossing sign.
  • Setting up hedgehog feeding stations.
  • Establishing a hedgehog society which can run surveys and workshops.
  • Running hedgehog surveys in the local community.

Some facts about hedgehogs:

Since 2020, hedgehogs are listed as ‘Vulnerable to Extinction’ on Britain’s Red List.

They have declined by 50% in rural areas & 30% in urban areas since the year 2000.

Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and shouldn’t eat bread – meaty pet food and fresh water is best if you want to feed wild hedgehogs.

Baby hedgehogs are called hoglets.

Strimmers and mowers can harm hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs hibernate in winter, from around November to March/April.

If you are worried about a hedgehog, contact the British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890801.

About FX Plus

Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus) delivers shared services for Falmouth University and the University of Exeter in Cornwall to ensure a top quality experience for students, staff and all users of Falmouth and Penryn campuses.

Our vision is to provide ‘Exceptional environments that enable talented and creative minds to thrive’.

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Management apprenticeship award

November 26, 2021

Congratulations to Emily Stanbury, winner of the Management category in this year’s Truro and Penwith College Apprenticeship Awards.

IT Project Manager Emily, who has been working for Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus) for nearly seven years, said: “I was very surprised to win as the other candidates had clearly achieved a lot on their courses and I won it in 2019 so I didn’t expect it again. It was nice to be shortlisted and be able to go to an event after so long.”

Stuart Gaslonde, FX Plus Director of IT and Digital Services, said: “This award is well deserved – Emily has worked really hard over the years and we are delighted that we have been able to support her with the appropriate training to expand her skills. At FX Plus we are very keen on supporting apprenticeships and other training opportunities.”

Emily started with FX Plus as a Service Desk Support Technician and moved on to Print Services Manager, which is when she started the apprenticeship to support that role. During the apprenticeship she got a secondment to Project Management which was recently made into a permanent position.

She said: “The course I did was a combination of a diploma and apprenticeship and was called Level 3 Team Leader Supervisor. I had to spend one day a week working on the apprenticeship as part of my role. This could be a day in college, writing assignments or taking on extra responsibilities in my role. I also had to complete work in my own time due to the amount of work there was to complete as part of the diploma.

“I did the apprenticeship to support me in the promotion to Print Services Manager. I wanted to improve my skills and confidence in my abilities but also to look into other areas of management I would be interested in. This turned out to be project management!”

Emily, who was also a highly commended runner up for Apprentice of the Year, has more plans to progress. She said: “Next, I have been selected to take part in a programme called Aurora which encourages and develops female leaders in Higher Education. It begins in January so I am looking forward to starting that.”

Truro and Penwith College Apprenticeship Awards celebrates exceptional achievements. After a break because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s gala awards dinner (on Friday 19 November) was presented by Holly Day and Neil Caddy from Pirate FM.

About FX Plus

Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus) delivers shared services for Falmouth University and the University of Exeter in Cornwall to ensure a top quality experience for students, staff and all users of Falmouth and Penryn campuses.

Our vision is to provide ‘Exceptional environments that enable talented and creative minds to thrive’.

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Excellence Awards

November 23, 2021

Falmouth Exeter Plus has scooped five of the ten in this year’s Falmouth University Staff Excellence Awards.

Paula Sanderson, Falmouth Exeter Plus Managing Director, said: “Congratulations to all Falmouth and Falmouth Exeter Plus winners. These awards are a testament to the continued hard work everyone is putting in to ensure students and other campus users receive a top quality service even during a global pandemic. It’s great that so many individuals and teams from Falmouth Exeter Plus have been recognised for their part in this.”

The Falmouth Exeter Plus winners are:

Collaborative Working:

ATS Cleaning Team

  • Lauren Bowers – Casual General Assistant: Cleaning
  • Melissa Hall – Cleaner
  • Liam Jarvis – Cleaner

When the Asymptomatic Testing Site centre was established at Penryn campus, Lauren, Melissa and Liam took on the challenge of ensuring an efficient and effective cleaning operation. This meant changing shifts, undertaking additional training and putting the health and wellbeing of others before their own. For six months, the team worked hard to ensure that students and staff could be tested safely.

Raising Service Standards:

IT Services Customer Service Excellence Team

  • Chris Accleton-Pennell – Software Development Engineer
  • Natasha Davey – Service Desk Technician
  • Gary Egan – Operations Manager (Launchpad)
  • Gemma Prisk – Service Excellence Manager
  • Mark Rosevear – Platform Engineer
  • Emily Stanbury – IT Project Manager
  • Lewis Williams – Network Engineer
  • Azhlee Wonnacott – Estates Helpdesk Assets & Data Co-ordinator

The IT Services Customer Service Excellence Team was established to embed service excellence across the department, and in May 2021, it was officially accredited as meeting the Cabinet Office backed ‘Customer Service Excellence’ standard. The team has raised the bar on service standards and taken a leap forward in the way it engages customers, helping to create a culture of continual service improvement.

Business Improvement:

Cornwall Plus Team

  • Marc Chadburn – Events Officer
  • Debbie Lilly – Sales & Marketing Manager
  • Roschen Pharo – Halls Officer (Reception)
  • Lorna Sullivan – Head of Operations (Events, Conferences & Summer Accommodation)
  • Sam Woods – Senior Operations Manager (Maternity Cover)

Following the implementation of a revised strategy, the Cornwall Plus Team had a record-breaking year in terms of sales – smashing targets to exceed £1m in income over the summer. Improved customer management helped the team to win gold in the Cornwall Tourism Awards’ ‘International’ category, and efficiency savings across the service resulted in a significant increase in the profit margin per room.

Supporting staff and student mental health & wellbeing:

Staff Wellbeing Drop-in Sessions Team (a mix of organisations including our own Becky Nesbitt).

  • Tom Ingate – Senior Lecturer: BA Press & Editorial Photography
  • Clare Manser – Partnership Wellbeing Programme Lead
  • Rebecca Nesbitt – Coordinating Chaplain

A collaboration with the mental health of staff at its heart, the staff wellbeing drop-in sessions were introduced to give staff a safe and friendly place to talk and be part of a community at a time when the pandemic had taken away the possibility of meeting in person. The team organising the sessions responded flexibly to meet the needs of those joining and made attendees feel heard and connected.

Going the Extra Mile:

Security & Night Services Team 

  • Misbah Abrahamjee – Security Team Supervisor
  • Cameron Brown – Night Services Officer
  • Nick Brown – Night Services Officer
  • Lois Craze – Customer Services Supervisor
  • Max Davidson – Night Services Officer
  • Richard Eddy – Post Room Officer
  • Liam Fairley – Casual Security Officer
  • Jess Goulding – Customer Services Manager
  • Ellie Grey – Night Services Manager
  • Daniel Hawkey – Security Operations Manager
  • Eddy Heffer – Campus Patrol Officer – Dedicated Days
  • Zoe Jenkins – Deputy Night Services Manager
  • Dean Jennison – Night Services Officer
  • Kyren Kennedy – Night Services Officer
  • Paddy Layland – Security Support Officer
  • Stewart Ledbury – Campus Patrol Officer
  • James Lowe – Deputy Night Services Manager
  • Lee Mitchell – Night Services Officer
  • Stephen Newton – Night Services Officer
  • Helen Olver – Night Services Officer
  • Tom Pascoe – Campus Patrol Officer
  • Claudio Pavan – Security Support Officer
  • Graham Phillips – Night Services Officer
  • Ryan Pill – Campus Patrol Officer
  • Nick Richards – Night Services Officer
  • Stephen Templeton – Campus Patrol Officer – Dedicated Days
  • Carl White – Night Services Officer​​​​​

The Security & Night Services Teams continued to support the campus operation during the pandemic and worked together under challenging circumstances to ensure the safety and security of campus users in line with Government guidelines. The teams also took on a range of additional duties to ensure that everything ran smoothly, including assisting the Estates team and delivering post and IT equipment to staff who were working from home.

About FX Plus

Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus) delivers shared services for Falmouth University and the University of Exeter in Cornwall to ensure a top quality experience for students, staff and all users of Falmouth and Penryn campuses.

Our vision is to provide ‘Exceptional environments that enable talented and creative minds to thrive’.

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Cornwall Plus crowned Gold at Cornwall Tourism Awards 2020-21

February 23, 2021

Cornwall Plus has been honoured with a Gold award, for the International category at the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2020-21.

The Cornwall Tourism Awards a hallmark of quality in the Cornish tourism and hospitality industry, held the annual ceremony online on 25 February, supported by headline sponsor Quality in Tourism. Entrants were judged on their entry submission, digital presence, reviews and external evidence.

Director of Commercial Operations, FX Plus, Lee Hallam said: “Thank you to the Cornwall Tourism Awards Event organisers for this recognition, and to all FX Plus teams for their involvement, hard work and commitment in delivering summer accommodation for groups and holiday-makers. This accolade will help our summer business grow and we are very proud to achieve this award.”

Awards organiser Robin Barker of Services for Tourism said: “It would have been very easy to cancel the Awards this year – we did think long and hard about it, but the level of early entries we received in spite of everything, and the creativity and determination shown by entrants inspired us to find a way to make this happen – and your responses and feedback ever since have completely blown us away. The reactions from today’s winners including words such as ‘overwhelmed’, ‘heartwarming’ and ‘moments of sparkle’ have made it all worthwhile.”

The Cornwall Plus team has gone from strength to strength. Last year Cornwall Plus gained the ‘We’re Good to Go’ Industry Standard by VisitEngland and achieved a Silver award in the Green Tourism Accreditation Scheme, which acknowledges their commitment to being responsible, ethical and sustainable. The team also won Gold with Academic Venue Solutions for ‘Best Accommodation 2019/20’ and a Silver for ‘Best Accommodation’ with the British Youth Travel Association 2019/20.

For further information about summer group bookings for our university rooms, please contact our Business Development Manager, Debbie Lilly – booking@fxplus.ac.uk Online room bookings for couples and individual travellers will be open on the Cornwall Plus website shortly.

About FX Plus

Falmouth Exeter Plus (FX Plus) delivers shared services for Falmouth University and the University of Exeter in Cornwall to ensure a top quality experience for students, staff and all users of Falmouth and Penryn campuses.

Our vision is to provide ‘Exceptional environments that enable talented and creative minds to thrive’.