You now need to access Staff SDS using the following link – https://sds-staff.kent.ac.uk.

By splitting the staff and student sections of SDS, we are improving the security of the sensitive data that SDS holds.  If you use SDS on the web from off campus, you will need to use the VPN (Virtual Private Network) service to establish a connection to the Kent network each time you want to access SDS from off campus.

Further information and instructions on how to setup VPN can be accessed by clicking on the following link: http://blogs.kent.ac.uk/isnews/staff-access-to-sds-has-changed/

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) team would like to invite colleagues to join us for our first Equalities Networks Event, which will be held at the Medway campus on Wednesday 20 May.

The event will provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about EDI at the University, liaise with key figures involved in running staff networks, find out about their work and key projects and discover how to become involved in supporting EDI development at Kent.

There will be representatives from the: LGBT Staff Network, Women’s Network, Disability Staff Network, Chaplaincy service and the EDI Network.

There will be an opportunity to hear from each group, in a brief round table format as well as lots of opportunities to ask questions and to exchange ideas.

The event will take place 2-4pm in Rochester Board Room. Refreshments will be provided.

All staff are welcome to attend, please do feel free to drop in and join us

Enterprise and Impact Training will run on Wednesday 29th April and Wednesday 6th May, and there is still time to register.

By attending this programme you will gain the knowledge, confidence and practical tools necessary to engage successfully in enterprise activities such as consultancy and collaborative funding streams.

You will also increase your potential to apply your expertise within industry, public sector and third sector organisations, and will learn about how enterprise and knowledge exchange activities can benefit your career.

The training, run by Kent Innovation & Enterprise (KIE) is recommended for academics and researchers, at any stage of their career, who would like to develop skills for enterprise activity and optimise their interactions with external organisations. It is also suitable for members of support staff that work at the interface between academia and external partners.

To sign up, please complete the booking form using the link below, bearing in mind that attendance at both modules is required.

http://www.kent.ac.uk/hr-learninganddevelopment/bookings/courses/index.html

If you have any questions or would like more information about the training please see visit the KIE website (https://www.kent.ac.uk/enterprise/university-staff/enterprise-training.html) or contact Miguel Alcalde, Faculty Liaison Officer on extension 4574 or email m.alcalde@kent.ac.uk.

The Head of Procurement, Don Bowman, has been working with the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce over the last year to improve the chances of local business securing work with the Public Sector, including the University itself. The focus has largely been on small and medium sized businesses (SME’s), two workshops have already been held, including presentations on how to win Public Sector business from Don Bowman.

On the 28th April, there will be an event, where over 100 SME’s will be in attendance, held at Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce in Ashford, with the aim of giving SME’s the opportunity to meet buyers from across the Public Sector in Kent. They will also be assisted in registering on portals to access Public Procurement opportunities. The University’s Procurement Team, the Head of Trading within Kent Hospitality and the Estates Maintenance Manager will be amongst those attending for the University, along with colleagues from other Kent based Public Sector organisations. The aim is to improve the opportunities open to Kent companies, it goes beyond helping them to win business just at the University, but also increases their understanding of Public Procurement rules and the opportunities that are out there if they know where to look and how to apply.

For further details please visit http://www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk/business-advice/business-support-in-medway/event-registration/?ee=134

The University has been selected, against eight rival bids from within the sector, to host the Conference on University Purchasing (COUP2015), which is held at a different UK HEI every two years.

The bid to host the event was put together by Kent Hospitality with support from Don Bowman, the Head of Procurement and the organisers have praised the dedicated and professional bid and the hard work Kent Hospitality have been putting in since the award.

COUP2015 is expected to attract over 80 suppliers for an exhibition and up to 500 delegates and supplier representatives, from 8-11 September 2015. All attendees will be catered for by Kent Hospitality and will be staying in University accommodation in Keynes and Turing Colleges.

The Conference will have a wide range of educational seminars on best practice in Procurement, as well as the large supplier exhibition and these will be open to University of Kent staff to attend free of charge. Kent Hospitality have also been ins trumental in putting together an extensive programme of social events for the evenings.

For further information, please contact Don Bowman the Head of procurement, or visit the website at www.coup2015.ac.uk