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Team º£½ÇÖ±²¥ security trio recognised for outstanding service over 25 years

Three Team º£½ÇÖ±²¥ colleagues have been recognised for their outstanding commitment to ensuring the safety and security of everyone at º£½ÇÖ±²¥ over the past quarter of a century.

Nigel Houston, John Pryde, and Lee Blackburn, from the Safety and Security team in Campus Services, joined the University in 1997, and have clocked up a combined seventy-five years of service between them. The dedicated trio received long service awards from Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Paul Croney, OBE at a special ceremony in May.

They were among a select group of 27 colleagues from across all schools and departments who joined º£½ÇÖ±²¥ more than 25 years ago and were honoured for their remarkable achievements.

Professor Croney praised the contribution of all our long-serving members of staff, and noted the success of our University reflects the hard work, loyalty, and professionalism of colleagues across the institution.

Deputy Team Leader Nigel Houston said: ‘It means a lot to have been recognised for my length of service by the University, but I can’t believe it’s been 25 years. There are not many places where people work for that long these days.

‘º£½ÇÖ±²¥â€™s a good place to work and I still enjoy what I do every day. The job’s all about helping people and it’s satisfying to know that we’re keeping everyone safe on campus.’

º£½ÇÖ±²¥, and the higher education sector as a whole, has changed significantly since Nigel and his Safety and Security team colleagues joined the University.

Reflecting on some of the changes, Nigel said: ‘Middlesbrough Campus has changed beyond all recognition since I started. It’s much bigger for one thing, but also the new buildings are top-class, and our infrastructure is so much better.’

Perhaps the biggest change for the Safety and Security team has been in the Control Room. A host of new systems and improved safety surveillance capabilities have been introduced over the years. The University had just 26 closed-circuit cameras in 1997, but now there are more than 800 dotted around Middlesbrough and Darlington campuses, and at the new Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC).

Patrolling from MIMA to Parkside halls of residence, and Woodlands Halls to Linthorpe Road, Nigel and his colleagues regularly clock up more than 20,000 steps per day, which equates to around nine-to-ten miles on average.

Nigel said: ‘A lot of what we do is about being visible around campus and providing reassurance to people. For example, we’re always happy to escort students and colleagues to their vehicles if they ever feel unsafe for any reason, and people really appreciate our help.

‘It can be tiring to be on my feet all day, but it keeps me fit, and I’m glad the University provides us with comfortable safety shoes!’

Another important development has been the introduction of SafeZone, a free app that quickly connects users to the Safety and Security team if they need help or first aid. Team leader Lee Blackburn is responsible for managing and promoting SafeZone to colleagues and students, and it plays a key part in ensuring people feel safe at all times.

John Pryde has been a Safety and Security team leader for the past five years and has stepped up as Security Manager on several occasions. He is now looking forward to a well-deserved retirement, having decided to leave the University at the end of August 2023.