Core & Support Staff

Management & Director’s Office

The Acting Institute Director is Simon Cook who leads the Institute and reports directly to the Board of Trustees. Operation of the Institute is led by Simon Jones, Director of Finance & Operations, who directly oversees many of the non-scientific functions of the Institute, including many of those featured on this page. The Director’s Office organises and supports the Director’s activities.
 

Business Systems

The Institute’s Business Systems team includes the Assistant Director of Operations & CIO, Robert Pyke, who also has management responsibility for the Computing team. The team are responsible for managing and maintaining key procedures and systems within the Institute. These include the telephone systems, contacts database, grant management system, HR systems, Finance systems and oversight of the Intranet. The team is also includes payroll functions. The Business systems team handles subscriptions to scientific journal and it has responsibility for ensuring compliance with data protection laws such as GDPR.

Computing

The Computing team oversees the Institute’s computer infrastructure, software and online systems as well as supporting several other organisations on Campus. They ensure the security of the Institute’s IT systems and provide support, guidance and advice on IT issues. The Head of IT is Cass Flowers.

Engineering

Adrian Bath leads the Babraham Campus Engineering team (BCE). The team is made up of qualified staff covering all aspects of mechanical and electrical engineering as well as building and civil engineering. They operate a standard working week with out of hours cover to maintain business critical systems. The team manage all planned preventative and reactive maintenance at the Institute as well as managing large capital projects. BCE also manage the utility infrastructure including water abstraction, effluent treatment, procurement of energy and onsite energy generation.

Equality

The Institute supports and invests in promoting equality and diversity in all aspects of our community. Work in this area is co-ordinated by the equality4success Manager, Elizabeth Wynn, in partnership with the equality4success team who represent the Institute as a whole and work towards helping everyone feel valued and included at the Institute. Find out more on the equality4success pages or by visiting our equality blog.
 

Finance

Andy Hunt is the Institute’s Head of Finance. The team includes qualified and experienced staff together with those studying finance. They manage all financial transactions at the Institute including raising sales invoices, processing supplier invoices and paying suppliers, together with monitoring and claiming grant income and paying expenses. The management accounting team also produce the Institute’s annual budgets for board approval, monthly and yearly accounts and monitor the Institute’s cash flow. 

Grants

The Grants Team supports the Institute’s researchers in identifying, preparing and applying for grants-based funding from research funding organisations both in the UK and abroad. Particularly for overseas grants, the team also provides ongoing support through the lifetime of a grant and can aid in evaluation and reporting of grant progress. Grant applications are subject to rigorous internal reviews by the Institute’s senior researchers before being submitted to the funder.

Health, Safety & Quality Assurance of Research (QAR)

Scientific research and its support activities include a variety of hazards not typically encountered in other work environments. The Institute’s Health & Safety team employs a pragmatic approach to ensuring everyone is well protected from hazards, whilst supporting efficient research progress. By proactively providing information, advice and training on all relevant hazards, risk assessment and the use of appropriate precautions, the team help to keep the Institute safe.

The team also manages policies, a code of practice and auditing processes in line with quality assurance of research. The procedure covers factors such as sample management and record keeping. By following QAR practices, we can be confident that research at the Institute is performed to a high standard of quality and consistency. The H&S/QAR team is led by Trevor Smith.
 

Housekeeping

The Housekeeping team aid in the maintenance and management of the Institute’s on-site accommodation. In addition, they provide housekeeping services for Babraham Hall, including cleaning and providing meeting room refreshments. They help to ensure that the Institute is a clean, pleasant and hygienic place to work, socialise and have fun.

Human Resources

Andrea Last leads the Human Resources team, which supports the proper employment and ongoing welfare of Institute staff and students. The team manage the recruiting process for vacancies, support the induction of new employees and provide a key point of contact for everyone during their time with the Institute. The Human Resources team are also equipped to support staff that need help or encounter challenges during their time at the Institute.

Impact

The Institute’s Impact team works with our researchers to maximise the reach and impacts of their science. They provide expertise and opportunities to share our knowledge, skills and latest discoveries with politicians, clinicians, companies, the press, media, schools, the public and many others. The team incorporates Communications, Knowledge Exchange & Commercialisation and Public Engagement. Find out more about our research impacts and the activities the team supports on the Impact pages.

Nursery

Alison Bishop manages the Institute’s on-site Nursery, which provides childcare for Campus staff and families in the local area. The Nursery accepts children from six weeks and up and has been consistently rated Outstanding by Ofsted. It also operates the Babraham Primary School after school club and the fun-pack holiday club. Full details of the nursery and its services can be found on the Babraham Nursery website.

Science Building Services

The Science Building Services team provide operational support for the Institute’s researchers. Their roles include the upkeep and maintenance of technical equipment, the provision, cleaning and sterilisation of glassware and other lab materials as well as the provision of administrative support and event planning assistance for the researchers.

Stores

The Institute’s Stores & Purchasing team is led by Michael Norden. The team facilitate the purchasing and distribution of equipment and consumables for use across all aspects of the Institute. The Stores & Purchasing team ensure that our researchers, staff and students have access to everything they need to do their jobs and carry out their research. They also maintain relationships with the Institute’s suppliers to make sure we get the best deals on the resources we need to keep doing world-class science.