Leeds University Union is a complex organisation. Whilst it primarily exists to provide representation for students at the University of Leeds, it does so much more than that. Here's just a few of the services run by the Union:

• An advice centre
• A whole host of shops
• A massive student activities programme with over 260 activity groups and over 8,800 members
• Bars
• Nightclubs

Much of this takes place in the Union building; therefore, this needs to be cleaned and maintained, and our trading services take money and that has to be counted. All of these activities need people.
At peak times, the Union employs over 500 staff at any one time. Some of the staff are students studying at the University and working part-time, others are people for whom this is their main job.

What do the staff at LUU do?

Given the eclectic nature of what the Union does, staff fulfil many roles within the Union. The staff chart below shows how the staff team is structured:

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Who are the staff at LUU?

The Union employs over 500 people and the staff team is constantly changing so it wouldn't be practical to list every member of staff here, but here we have listed the majority of full-time staff with their contact details. We have also asked our key managers to write a few words about what they do as well as their background. Click on the names that are highlighted for more information about that staff member.

Click on the links below to jump down to the relevant section.

• Directors
• Student Executive Officers
• Membership Services (Campaigns and Democracy Support, Joblink, Student Activities, Student Advice Centre)
• Commercial Services (Bars, Retail, Venues)
• Central Services Services (Reception, Facilities, Finance, HR and Admin, IT, Marketing)

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Directors

• Lesley Dixon - Chief Executive

Lesley Dixon - Chief Executive
Lesley is the Chief Executive of the Union; LUU's most senior member of staff. She joined LUU in September 2000. Prior to working for LUU, Lesley was General Manager at the University of London Union (ULU), London Metropolitan, and King's College London Students' Union.

Lesley's role is to lead the staff team in achieving LUU's vision, support the Board and to be the key advisor to the Student Executive.

Lesley is a member of acevo's (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations) Professional Standards Committee and is also a trustee of Our Celebration, a York based mental health charity. She was, until recently, a member of NUS' Governance Review Group, the group set up to look at governance issues within the National Union, and was also a trustee at YWCA, the leading charity dealing with the most disadvantaged young women in England and Wales.

Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 210
Email: l.dixon@luu.leeds.ac.uk



• Aidan Grills - Director of Membership Services and Development

Aidan Grills - Director of Membership Services and Development


Aidan joined LUU December 2001. His role is to provide leadership to the Membership Services Departments of Student Advice Centre, Campaigns and Democracy Support, Student Activities, Joblink, and the Reception Services. Aidan is responsible for the development of democratic aspects of the Union including training and support of Student Executive Officer and current projects of CSR, Community Strategy and Safety Strategy.

Aidan is a Board Director and Trustee of Unipol Student Homes and is a member of a number of university committees/working groups on behalf of LUU including the Culture Task Group, the Community and Housing Steering Group, Student Support Committee, and the Sports Strategy Board.

Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 408
Email: a.grills@luu.leeds.ac.uk



• Helen Nakhwal (formerly Helen Farrands) - Director of Resources

Helen Nakhwal - Director of Resources


Helen oversees key elements of LUU’s central and corporate services – Finance, HR, IT and Facilities. In addition to management of these areas, she has direct responsibilities for LUU’s strategic financial planning, internal financial control systems, and wider risk management.
Helen joined LUU in February 2008. For four years before that, Helen was the Finance Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre: a publicly funded arts organisation and registered charity. Prior to that, Helen worked for 20 years in the commercial sector mainly in property and retail companies.
Helen is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 213
Email: h.r.nakhwal@leeds.ac.uk



• Jackie Berry - Commercial Director

Jackie Berry - Commercial Director


Jackie joined LUU in February 2007 and is our Commercial Services Director and is responsible for the leadership of the Commercial Services team to deliver targeted profit to the Union through the strength of our customer service and leading ethical/business principles. Commercial Services comprises of three key departments: Bars, Retail and Venues which all contribute to the turnover and profitability of the overall department.

Jackie's background is in blue chip retail. Before joining LUU Jackie worked for Orange as the Regional Manager for the north, covering the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 435
Email: j.berry@luu.leeds.ac.uk

Student Executive Officers

Find out all about the Student Executive Officers at www.luuonline.com/theexec.

• Jessica Parker - Activities Officer
• Laura Macfarlane-Shopes - Communications and Internal Affairs Officer
• Rob Damiao - Community Officer
• Danny Adilypour - Education Officer
• Maryam Ahmad - Equality and Diversity Officer
• Suzy Tobias - Welfare Officer

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Membership Services

Campaigns and Democracy Support Team (CDS)

• James Robertson - Campaigns and Democracy Support Manager

James Robertson - Campaigns and Democracy Support Manager


James organises and facilitates all aspects of representation and campaigning in and around student life; ensuring elections and referenda are reliable and legitimate methods of student democracy. The role aims to ensure increased and effective membership engagement in the Union's democracy.




Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 459
Email: j.d.robertson@leeds.ac.uk



• Clare Hartley - Democracy Co-ordinator, Tel: 0113 3801 460
• Carys Jones - Representation Co-ordinator, Tel: 0113 3801 461

Joblink

• Gail Hardwick - Joblink and Reception Manager

Gail Hardwick - Joblink and Reception Manager


Gail oversees the running of LUU's student job centre, recruitment agency and reception area. Her focus is income generation through Jobink and ensuring that the service meets the needs of members and employers. She is currently working to develop our reception area.
Gail joined LUU in July 2002 as Joblink Manager. Her role expanded to include the reception service in role July 2007.

Gail is involved in a number of cross organisational groups within the Union. These include the Steering Group for Corporate Social Responsibility and the Community Strategy Working Group. Gail is also a Bright Beginnings Parent Representative; she has a young daughter in the nursery. Beyond LUU Gail is the Vice Chair of the National Association of Student Employment Services, a Trustee of Getawaygirls - a charity in Harehills, Leeds and is an Advanced Member of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.




Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 447
Email: g.l.hardwick@leeds.ac.uk



• Louise Proctor - Business Development Assistant, Tel: 0113 3801 444

Student Activities

• Andy Winter - Student Activities Manager

Andy Winter - Student Activities Manager


Andy Winter is the Student Activities Manager at LUU. He manages a team of ten staff to deliver support and development opportunities to students running sports clubs, societies, and volunteering groups. This means that all students of the University of Leeds get high quality leisure time activities to enhance their experience!

Andy joined LUU in the summer of 2004 and since then the department as expanded massively. Previous to working at Leeds, he was the Volunteer Development and Training Officer at Loughborough Students Union for two years. Before that, he worked at Durham University managing their Student Volunteering group (SCA Durham), which was a Millennium Volunteers project.
Andy has recently been elected to the co-ordinating committee of AMSU (Association of Managers in Students' Unions) as a non-portfolio officer.




Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 414
Email: a.winter@leeds.ac.uk



• Geoff Banks - Student Activities Safety Co-ordinator, Tel: 0113 3801 412
• Wendy Voo - Sports Development Co-ordinator, Tel: 0113 3801 415
• Kay Morrison - Development Co-ordinator, Tel: 0113 3801 421
• Helen Mackay - Development Co-ordinator, Tel: 0113 3801 418
• Isabel Swift - Volunteer Development Co-ordinator, Tel: 0113 3801 326
• Esther Flannery - Student Activities Finance Administrator, Tel: 0113 3801 420
• David Marks - Volunteering Assistant, Tel: 0113 3801 326
• Dan Hudson - LSR Station Manager (Leeds Student Radio), Tel: 0113 3801 280
• Laurie Whitwell - Leeds Student Editor, Tel: 0113 3801 450
• Ben Monypenny - Rag Co-ordinator, Tel: 0113 3801 327

Student Advice Center

• Diane Pedder - Advice Manager

Diane Pedder - Advice Manager


Diane leads a team of professional and friendly advice workers to provide help with any problems our members may have during their studies. Diane's role primarily consists of ensuring that LUU keep up to date with legislation and procedures, that the Union's systems are fit for purpose, being a role model for the team, and seeking out new opportunities and ideas that will enable LUU to be bigger and better as each year goes by. Diane is also LUU's Diversity Champion.

Diane joined LUU in May 1989 initially working as an Advice worker, going on to work as a Project worker and subsequently as Deputy Manager of Welfare Services, which included managing some aspects of the nursery, before she was promoted to Advice Manager in 2001.

Diane is also a Trustee and Board Member of adviceUK, a national charity that supports organisations who provide advice in some of the most disadvantaged areas in the UK as well as Students' Union advice services.

Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 292
Email: d.m.pedder@leeds.ac.uk



• Andrea Kerslake - Housing Advice Manager, Tel: 0113 3801 296
• Alexandra Randall - Academic Advice Manager, Tel: 0113 3801 297
• Ann Sargent - Guidance Worker, Tel: 0113 3801 298
• Katie Hughes - Guidance Worker, Tel: 0113 3801 295
• Natalie Wells - Guidance Worker, Tel: 0113 3801 294
• Vicki Kirby - Guidance Worker, Tel: 0113 3801 293
• Christian Bodden - Guidance Worker, Tel: 0113 3801 293
• Timothy Knighton - Information Co-ordinator, Tel: 0113 3801 290

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Commercial Services

Bars

• Darren Buntin - Operations Manager

Darren Buntin - Operations Manager


Darren's role at LUU is to oversee the day to day operations of the bars inside the Union building. He offers support and guidance to the bars team and bar managers in their mission to become the leading provider of bars and catering in Leeds and within student unions across the UK.

Darren also works closely with Leeds City Licensing Association and Best Bar None scheme.

Darren joined LUU in August 2007.

Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 322
Email: d.buntin@leeds.ac.uk



• Paul Thomas - Mine Manager (and Juice Bar), Tel: 0113 3801 306
• Steve Jones - Terrace Manager, Tel: 0113 3801 311
• Rachel Winfield - Old Bar Manager, Tel: 0113 3801 316

Retail

• Graham Fowler - Convenience Manager (Essentials and Extras), Tel: 0113 3801 260
• Diane Harvey - Manager (for Cats, Hiccup, Gear), Tel: 0113 3801 373
• Emma Manning - Sales Contact, Cats, Tel: 0113 3801 373
• Naheed Arshad - Sales Contact, Hiccup, Tel: 0113 3801 312
• Dawn Stephenson - Sales Contact, Gear, Tel: 0113 3801 375
• Anne Doherty - Union Books Manager, Tel: 0113 3801 349

Venues

• Steve Keeble - Venues Manager

Steve Keeble - Venues Manager


Steve joined LUU in August 2001 and has overseen a significant growth in the provision of night time entertainment. Steve is responsible for aspects of our nightime venues. This includes the Events department, Stylus, Pulse, and Refectory bar operations and Security. Steve is also responsible for delivering all aspects of the Summer Ball, the largest student only event in the UK.

Prior to working for LUU Steve worked as Events manager for ULU (the University of London Union) and Greenwich University Students' Union.

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Central Services

Reception

• Helen Kay - Reception Supervisor, Tel: 0113 3801 400

Facilities

• Alan Hill - Facilities Manager

Alan Hill - Facilities Manager


Alan joined LUU in March 1994 as Deputy House Manager and in 1995 was promoted to House Manager and since 1998 he has been Facilities Manager.

Alan's department has responsibility for the upkeep and cleaning of the building, including repairs, maintenance and refurbishments; intruder access; CCTV and telephone systems; and the staff in cleaning and building services sections. Alan also manages Health and Safety, environmental issues, recycling, and energy consumption.

Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 440
Email: a.hill@luu.leeds.ac.uk



• Mark Pantling - Deputy Manager, Tel: 0113 3801 441

Finance

• Richard Simpson - Manager

Richard Simpson - Manager


Richard is responsible for the overall running of the Finance Department, covering creditors, debtors, cash book, nominal ledgers and the weekly payroll. He also produces monthly trading results for the commercial activities and the nominal reconciliations/schedules for the year end accounts.

Richard joined LUU on a temporary basis - maternity cover - in December 2004. He was successful in his application for the position, as a permanent member of staff, in September 2005 and this became effective from October 2005.

Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 215
Email: r.simpson@luu.leeds.ac.uk



• Helen Parkinson - Management Accountant, Tel: 0113 3801 226
• Charlotte Wilson - Purchase Ledger, Tel: 0113 3801 221
• Ann Bailey - Sales Ledger, Tel: 0113 3801 216
• Susan Taylor - Weekly Payroll Clerk, Tel: 0113 3801 223
• Janice Marshall - Cash Book Clerk, Tel: 0113 3801 224

HR and Admin

• Antonia Frezza - Hr and Admin Manager

Antonia Frezza - Hr and Admin Manager


Antonia joined LUU in November 2000. She develops and implements LUU's HR strategy, manages the HR and Admin function and the IT staff and works alongside the managers to help and support them in managing their staff.

Antonia is a full member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the professional body for Human Resource staff. She has previously been involved in the AMSU HR Committee which aims to provide networking opportunities and share best practice amongst HR staff in students' unions.

Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 201
Email: a.frezza@leeds.ac.uk



• Alison Dumphy - Executive Assistant, Tel: 0113 3801 204
• Helen Stewart - HR Assistant, Tel: 0113 3801 203

IT

• Ian Whitehead - IT Support Officer, Tel: 0113 3801 218
• Peter Russell - Web Developer, Tel: 0113 3801 271

Marketing

• Julie Gough - Marketing Manager

Julie Gough - Marketing Manager


Julie's main role is to effectively market the services of the Union, with a view to maximising usage of its services and ensuring the Union meets the wants and needs of the membership. Julie's work mainly concentrates on managing the overall marketing plan; conducting and analyzing research; disseminating research results to managers and supporting departments with their marketing needs through individual meetings and training.

Julie manages a team of six full-time and four part-time staff. They cover the disciplines of graphic design, marketing communication, advertising sales, website development, PR and conferencing. Julie is also a member of the corporate management team.

Julie joined LUU in September 2007 from Keighley College where she was employed as Marketing Manager. Julie is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Contact Details
Tel: 0113 3801 390
Email: j.gough@leeds.ac.uk



• Kal lad - Marketing and PR Co-ordinator, Tel: 0113 3801 396
• Ged Savva - Communications (Commercial Services), Tel: 0113 3801 386
• Rose Mountague - Communications (Membership Services), Tel: 0113 3801 389
• Becky Edlin - Graphic Designer, Tel: 0113 3801 376
• Emily Marsden - Website Content Editor, Tel: 0113 3801 379
• Kristina Tomes - Advertising Assistant (Leeds Student), Tel: 0113 3801 388

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More Contact Information

If you can't find who you are looking for, or need more contact information, go to www.luuonline.com/contactus.

What kind of employer are we?

The Union works really hard to be a good employer as we believe that if our staff are enjoying what they do then that will mean that our members receive an even better service. In a recent staff survey we asked staff whether they enjoyed their job and 94% either agreed or strongly agreed with that statement. We also asked whether they would recommend LUU as a good place to work and 93% either agreed or strongly agreed.

The Union is an Investors in People. This means that we recognise the important part that our people play in our success. We were also short listed for the Best Employer award in the Third Sector Excellence Awards in 2007.

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How diverse is our staff team?

Each year we compare the make up of our staff team with the local population of Leeds as well as the student population at the University. The good news is that our staff team is generally reflective of both of the communities from where we draw our staff. However there is work to do in some areas. Therefore we have set ourselves targets to have at least 5% of the staff team to consider themselves to be disabled and 8% to come from an ethnic minority. Our goal is to achieve these targets by 2009. Although the overall staff team is predominantly female, women are less well represented within the management structures (although 75% of our most senior managers are women!) Therefore we've set ourselves a target of having 50% (+/-5%) women managers by 2009.

Recognising good performance

If you feel that the performance of a staff member has not met your expectations we'd like to hear about it as we're striving to improve our levels of service all the time. Equally if you've been impressed we want to know about that too as we recognise good performance through our "Shining Stars" scheme. Either way you can let us know what you think through "Your Comments."
Go to www.luuonline.com/yourcomments.