Lancaster Environment Centre

Below is a useful selection of information which we hope will address your initial questions. If you can't find your answer here, then please contact your relationship manager.

Accident and Emergency

If the emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) are required, please dial 999, preferably using a landline. Calls to 999 from University landlines are intecepted by central security who can ensure that the emergency services are met on arrival at the University's main entrance and escorted to LEC.

Access to the building

You will have 24/7 access to the building. You will be provided with keys for your office and key fobs to access the building, on your first day of residency. If you require additional keys they are available (with 5 working days notice) from your Relationship Manager.

• Replacement keys are £5.
• Replacement passes are £10.

'Associate Company' Status

Being accorded ‘Associate Company of Lancaster Environment Centre’ status recognises those established (at least 12 months residency) and expanding companies resident within the Lancaster Environment Centre undertaking significant collaborative work with us.

Access to expertise

A Relationship Manager is assigned to each resident company. It is their responsibility to work with company colleagues to develop a programme of collaborative work with the Lancaster Environment Centre. This programme will be developed in response to the specific needs of the company and be as varied as working to develop initial funding for a new venture to the development of new collaborative research centres with corporate partners.

Bicycle storage

A large number of cycle racks are available on Farrer Avenue, next to LEC, lockers and showers are provided in LEC on all floors.

Broadband Connection

There is one speed of broadband available. You will be provided with a specified number of Global IP Addresses. If you have faults with your broadband connection please contact Vanessa Reigl-Parr on 01524 5-10409.

Cafe

There are numerous cafes and coffee shops across the campus, for a full range please visit the Lancaster University Catering Website.

Catering

If you wish to order drinks or any other form of catering then the university Hospitality Division offers a wide range of services. Arrangements for LEC can be discussed with catering staff by telephoning 5-93827 or by emailing cateringbookings@lancaster.ac.uk.

Menu: http://www.lancaster-catering.co.uk/pdf/Hospitality-menu.pdf

Alternatively, Quite Simply Food are a private catering company based in Lancaster offering a range of freshly prepared foods with a regularly changing menu, their website is www.quitesimplyfood.co.uk and their contact number is 01524 34916.

Charges

There are six itemised charges that are invoiced and payable monthly: (1) Knowledge Transfer Fee; (2) Business Rates (3) Service Charge; (4) Furniture; (5) Telephones; (6) Broadband Connection.

Cleaning

The offices are cleaned once a month, during 0730-1130, Monday to Friday. While bins are not placed in each office, central reycling units can be found on each floor.

Deposit

A deposit is required to reserve an office - it is retained during your residency until the time when you vacate your office.

Environmental Policy

The University's environmental policy and it's implementation are managed by our Estates Management Division.

The Gordon Manley building within LEC, has recieved the pre-construction BREEAM assessment of 'excellent' .

Faults with office

Please report all office faults to Vanessa Riegl-Parr v.riegal-parr@lancaster.ac.uk or 01524 5-10409.

Furniture

There is a vast range of new furniture to choose from, including: Rectangular/left-handed/right-handed workstations, pedestal units, operators chairs, circular meeting tables, printer tables, visitor chairs, filing cabinets, 3 sizes of bookcase, 3 sizes of tambour unit, whiteboards, coat stands and waste bins. Your room will be furnished according to your choice. Furniture is charged at cost over a 36 month period - ie. an instalment of 1/36 per month.

If you require additional furniture at any time please contact Vanessa Riegl-Parr v.riegal-parr@lancaster.ac.uk or 01524 5-10409.

Health and Safety

The building operates only one safety alarm system. On hearing the alarm, please leave the building immediately, using the nearest emergency exit which are clearly marked. You should not re-enter the building until told to do so after an alarm has sounded. Your relationship manager will show you the location of the nearest exit to your office, the assembly point for staff, location of the break-glass to raise an alarm, fire fighting equipment and fire safety information on your first day of residency. The alarms are tested every week between 0800-1000 on Wednesdays.

Each company is responsible for the health and safety of all members of staff employed.

The health and safety of university members of staff and students within LEC is managed by area safety officers.

While first aid boxes are located in the kitchens on each floor of the building, companies should be advised to make their own arrangements for provision of first aid supplies.

Health services

The university health services page contains a range of information including details of the medical practice and pharmacy. There is also an on-site private dental practice. http://www.lancs.ac.uk/lancuni/health

Hotels

The nearest hotel is on campus. The Lancaster House Hotel is a 4-star English Lakes Hotel offering all the usual services of a 4-star hotel. The university has a preferential daily rate with the hotel of £82, which should also be available to resident companies.

Identity

Your address will be: Your company name, The Gordon Manley Building, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ. Your company name will appear on a ground-floor directory sign. This will not include your office number.

Insurance

The University insures the building, the individual company is responsible for the insurance of the Contents within its office and also Public Liability insurance cover with a minimum indemnity of £2,000,000 is required for all resident companies.

In the event of loss or damage attributable to a company employee while working on campus, the university will seek to reclaim the full cost of such loss or damage from the company.

I.T. Support

Support for computer faults within your office is not available from the university; companies must supply their own IT support. If you have any faults with computers and equipment in the Board Room or Training suites on the ground floor please contact Paul Bland in room A52 or telephone 5-10177 If you have faults with your broadband connection or your telephone connection please contact Vanessa Reigl-Parr on 5-10409

Kitchens

Each floor of the building has a small kitchen, with instant boiling and chilled water, a small refrigerator, microwave and sink. You are free to use this facility (shared with other companies and University members of staff) using your own provisions.

Laboratory and research facilities

Laboratory access is available to resident companies for people possessing previous laboratory experience. For your safety, this experience must be equivalent to a first degree or higher in a laboratory based science subject. Use of facilities is charged on the following basis excluding VAT: Please use these costs as an approximate guide; costs will be negotiated on an individual basis.

• An initial one-off set-up charge of £458.
• £90 per full working day (8 hours) of lab access.
• Support from an experienced person for half a day to approve your COSHH forms and introduce you to our procedures at £100 to £300 depending on who is most appropriate. If further technical support is needed to supplement your skills, e.g. to use specialist equipment this can be arranged subject to availability.
• Additional charges apply at an internal departmental rate for the use of specialist facilities (e.g. environmentally controlled glasshouses £4.85 m-2 week-1 or growth rooms up to £32 m-2 week-1 etc) or equipment (GC, HPLC etc). Please discuss your precise needs with your Relationship Manager so accurate costs can be provided.
• Establishment on an in-credit account for purchasing consumables.

The exact terms of laboratory use are governed by our standard Laboratory Access Agreement and a general risk assessment covering the scope of work you wish to undertake to be approved by our Head of Department. Individual COSHH assessments will then need to be approved by your nominated supervisor.

The position we seek, is one where you are no different to any other researcher within LEC, such that you are integrated in to our safety procedures and able to book and be charged for facilities or equipment like anyone else.

As part of this process we will agree with you who is able to undertake laboratory work, appoint these people as honorary members of staff and allocate you some laboratory space. If you will be an occasional laboratory user, please note, it will be necessary check with the manager of the laboratory in which you are placed a few days in advance, that space is available on a particular day.

Please contact your Relationship Manager for a copy of our Laboratory Access Agreement and to discuss your needs.

Library membership

Individuals within resident companies can become members of the university library. Please contact Tracy Quilliam on 5-10081 should you wish to do this.

Licence Agreement

The document which is the agreement between the resident company and Lancaster University is a Licence Agreement; it states the responsibilities of both parties and lays out what the resident company is provided with in terms of services, how to terminate the agreement and so on.

Meeting Rooms

You may use the boardroom, training suites and first and second floor meeting rooms. You have 4 hours free use per month for all rooms); this allowance can be 'rolled over' months within a quarter. Set room charges apply for use beyond your free monthly allowance. All rooms must be booked in advance with Amanda Faulconbridge (contact details above).

If you also wish to purchase catering for your event / meeting email cateringbookings@lancaster.ac.uk - the university's hospitality division and preferred supplier.

Alternatively, Quite Simply Food are a private catering company based in Lancaster offering a range of freshly prepared foods with a regularly changing menu, their website is www.quitesimplyfood.co.uk and their contact number is 01524 34916.

The central atrium in LEC and covered courtyard are also bookable for larger events, such as evening dinners for 30+ people, conferences etc. Please contact Amanda Faulconbridge for more information and to book (contact details above).

The person wishing to use the room is responsible for setting up the layout of the room and ensuring the room is left tidy following use. Ceiling mounted projectors are available in both training suites and the boardroom (A floor).

Video conferencing equipment (VoIP unit) is available but must be booked in advance with Paul Bland on 5-10177.

If you need IT support when using these rooms please contact Paul Bland (in advance) on 5-10177 to arrange training or assistance with equipment set up.

Parking

You may purchase a Lancaster University parking permit (permits can be used by more than one vehicle, but not at the same time). The fees are on an annual basis per academic year.

Visitor Parking is available on a pay-and-display basis on Farrer Avenue. If there are no visitor parking spaces available, visitors can park using their pay-and-display sticker in 'outer zone' areas. You can also purchase scratch-card parking vouchers for use in visitor parking spaces, which you can send in the post to visitors.

You are eligible to purchase a Lancaster University parking permit. Permits can be used by more than one vehicle, but not at the same time. Additional vehicles must be registered with the parking office. The fees are payable on an annual basis per academic year.

The form for the parking permit is available in your welcome pack, if you need additional forms or supporting letters please contact Tracy Quilliam on 5-10081.

More information on parking is available at http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/security/carparking.htm

Visitor parking is available on a pay-and-display basis on Farrer Avenue, Gillow Avenue, South East Drive and George Fox Avenue. Visitors must only park in designated visitor parking areas. You can also purchase scratch-card parking vouchers for use in visitor parking spaces, which you can send in the post to visitors.

Anyone parking incorrectly or in a disabled space will be clamped, the release rate is currently £75 per day.

Please direct complaints regarding car parking to Philip Longton on 01524 594413 or email p.longton@lancaster.ac.uk.

Post and parcels

Each company has it's own pigeon hole, located on A floor of the building. Internal and Royal Mail post is delivered and collected at 12 noon, Mon-Fri. Post carrying the correct postage can be left for collection at the pigeon holes for delivery via Royal Mail. To avoid delay of urgent items - take directly to the post office on campus.

The University also operates an internal mail system, using internal mail envelopes collectable from this location.

Collections for other couriers should be arranged by companies and left at the LEC reception for collection, which is open 0800-1630 Monday to Friday. Reception will also receive courier deliveries during this time.

Members of the Enterprise & Business Partnerships team will be happy to sign for deliveries to companies, however if your delivery is urgent, fragile or requires checking on delivery you should arrange to have the delivery sent and received directly to your office (making this instruction on any delivery instruction).

Printing, faxes and photocopying

While we anticipate companies to make their own arrangements for printing and faxing your relationship manager should be able to help if you have any urgent requirements.

There is a photocopier on A floor (A15). To access this service please see Tracy Quilliam on extension 5-10081 who can issue you with a PIN for use of the photocopier on receipt of an annual fee of £25. This will permit unlimited copying within reasonable use (which will be monitored).

For specialist printing and design you may wish to contact the University's in-house service FOLIO - which offers a complete graphic design, printing and photographic service. Contact Manager Steve Thomas on 01524 5-92532 or via email s.thomas@lancaster.ac.uk

Quotations

Quotations and informal cost indications can be provided by Martin Gilmore 01524 5-10229 or via email m.gilmore@lancaster.ac.uk

Residency Period

Agreement is initially issued for a period of 12 months, with the possibility of extending it by a further 12 months by agreement.

Security

Security is a priority for all building users, key fobs enable users to access pre-designated areas only. We respect your company's needs of privacy and security, therefore only the cleaners will access your room in your absence (unless you choose otherwise).

People needing to access your room(s) for maintenance purposes are required to be issued with a key and fob access by a member of the Enterprise & Business Partnerships team which will only be given on production of a valid permit to work (issued by the university's estates management division).

You will be issued with your key fob on your first day of residency. B and C floors are only accessible using these key fobs. A floor is open access 0800-1800 Mon-Fri as are all external entrances to the building. On leaving the building please insure all windows and doors are closed and locked. If you require a member of University security, please telephone extention 444.

Size of Offices

The 21 offices (over the first and second floors) vary in size, from a 2 person office of 20 square metres through to a very large office of 50 square metres which could easily hold 10 or more people. Offices are subject to availability. We also offer hot-desks, enabling short-term or less frequent use of the faciilties in a shared office environment.

Showers and lockers

There are showers and lockers within the A and B floor disabled toilets and a separate shower on C floor for use by staff and companies.

If you encounter any faults with showers please contact Vanessa Reigl-Parr on 01524 5-10409

Smoking

It is illegal to smoke in this building in accordance with English & Welsh law.

Shops and Banks

Information on shops and banks (including the on-campus pharmacy, travel agency and post office).

Sports centre membership

As a member of staff in a resident company, you are eligible to receive the sport centre membership rates levied on University staff. For more information on membership and charges visit the Sport Centre's website.

To prove that you qualify as a member of university staff you will require a letter from the department. Please contact Tracy Quilliam in A11to request this letter on 01524 5-10081.

Telephone

Your office will be equipped with VOIP telephones according to your requirements. Our telephones allow direct-dialling to your office and support Caller ID, call history, call divert, voicemail and group pick-up.

To access an outside line, dial 8, then the number required.

While VOIP 'phones provide a telephone list of all VOIP users in the University, a hard-copy internal telephone directory is also available on request from your relationship manager.

Tours for companies and clients

If you would like a tour of our facilities or the university more widely or wish to arrange this for your clients then please contact your Relationship Manager.

Travel and directions

Directions by air, train, bus, car and bicycle to the university campus can be found on the university's travel pages.

Campus location of the Lancaster Environment Centre and your offices, the nearest pay-and-display car park and pedestrian entrance to the Lancaster Environment Centre can be found on our contacts page.

University Logo

The university logo must not be used on branding materials by any of the resident companies without express permission.

Visitors

Please notify Dawn Clay in reception (01524 595800) (dman@ceh.ac.uk) in advance of any anticipated visitors. On arrival you will be telephoned by reception and asked to collect your visitor(s). Visitors do not need to sign into the building.

If additional visitor passes are needed, then please see your Relationship Manager in advance, who will make the necessary arrangements.

There is a phone in the ground floor stairwell, adjacent to the lift, together with a directory of resident company telephone numbers to also allow visitors to contact you if entering the building from the perimeter road entrance.