IT Services Junior Developer, Natasha Bigford, attended Avalanche Summit in Barcelona from 22 to 28 March this year. Here’s her wrap-up of the event: What was this event? Avalanche Summit is four day conference, ending with a two day hackathon contest. Over the four days I attended talks and seminars with industry professionals on new … Continue reading “Avalanche Summit March 2022”
Unlocking the potential of automation
Poppy Aston, Graduate Management Trainee, provides us with her insights into the Automation project she was involved with during her 4-month placement with IT Services – taking the reins from Kitt Holohan, our previous Graduate Trainee. Poppy was quick to get up to speed with the technology and displayed an impressive tenacity in progressing the project. Best of … Continue reading “Unlocking the potential of automation”
International Non-Binary People’s Day
Written by Rai Furniss-Greasley, Equality and Diversity Champion On Wednesday 14 July, we celebrated International Non-Binary People’s Day. But what does it mean to be non-binary? And how can we support non-binary people? What does non-binary mean? The term non-binary has been defined by academics as “an umbrella term for anyone who doesn’t currently identify with the binary notion … Continue reading “International Non-Binary People’s Day”
Top tips: IT staff recommendations
Staff from across IT Services share their top tips to help increase productivity and look after your wellbeing. Have you got a top tip that could make colleagues’ lives a bit easier? We’d love to hear it! Drop Lucy Turner a line in Teams – or email its-communications@contacts.bham.ac.uk. Add public holidays to your calendar – … Continue reading “Top tips: IT staff recommendations”
Pride Month 2021: Queer reading recommendations
28 June is Pride Day – marking the date of the Stonewall Riots, which occurred on 28 June 1969 and sparked a series of protests and parades across the world, campaigning for LGBTQ+ rights. The whole month of June is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community – but also a chance to shine a light … Continue reading “Pride Month 2021: Queer reading recommendations”
Secretly selfish reasons to become a mentor
The advantages of having a mentor supporting you are well documented. However, there are lots of positive aspects to being a mentor as well. In this article, Tara Lamplough, Head of Business Partnering, shares her insights into the benefits of being a mentor. What is a mentor? A mentor shares information about their career path, as well as providing guidance, motivation, emotional support and role modelling to their mentee(s). A mentor may help … Continue reading “Secretly selfish reasons to become a mentor”
Finding and prioritising opportunities for automation
Kitt Holohan, Graduate Management Trainee, shares a summary of her 4-month placement with IT Services, in which she showed endless enthusiasm and appetite to help move automation forward at the University. Best of luck in your new placement Kitt, we’ll miss you! As a first year Graduate Management Trainee on the University’s 2-year rotational Graduate … Continue reading “Finding and prioritising opportunities for automation”
Eid Mubarak!
As we approach the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, Muslims all around the world will be celebrating the Eid-ul-Fitr festival. Shuja Ahmed, Equality Diversity and Inclusion group, explains what Eid is all about and how Muslims celebrate. In the UK, Eid-ul–Fitr will fall on 13 or 14 May (subject to moon sighting) and will … Continue reading “Eid Mubarak!”
Stephen Lawrence Day 2021
22 April marks Stephen Lawrence Day – an awareness day in honour of Stephen Lawrence. It’s about the part we all play in creating an inclusive society where everyone can flourish. Who is Stephen? Stephen Lawrence was born and grew up in south-east London, where he lived with his parents Neville and Doreen, his brother … Continue reading “Stephen Lawrence Day 2021”
Ramadan Mubarak! Mythbusting on the month of Ramadan
This year, Monday 12 April (subject to moon sighting) marks the beginning of the Islamic month of Ramadan – and with it, fasting throughout the month. But what is Ramadan exactly? And how can we support our Muslim colleagues during this holy month? Shuja Ahmad, Data Architect, gives us an overview and answers the awkward … Continue reading “Ramadan Mubarak! Mythbusting on the month of Ramadan”