Sign for Art statue in winter time

January 2026 – winter weather warning

Met Office yellow and amber warnings for snow are in place across Leeds and Yorkshire from Thursday 8 January until Friday 9 January. 

Storm Goretti is likely to bring heavy snow leading to disruption and difficult travelling conditions later Thursday and into Friday

In the event of overnight snowfall, campus is expected to remain open. If you are required to work on campus, you should make every reasonable effort to travel to work, without putting your personal safety or the safety of others at risk.

Before attempting to travel to work, you should use your own judgement to assess whether it is safe and reasonable to do so.

You should take into account weather conditions and forecasts, official weather/travel advice and health and safety issues. Everyone will be affected differently at this time, and therefore, your decision should be based on your individual circumstances.

If you do travel to work, make sure you’re wrapped up warm and take extra care.

If you are unable to get safely to work or arrive on time, where practicable and safe to do so, you should advise your line manager or report to your area by the usual means before your normal start time.

It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the University ‘Procedure for working arrangements during adverse weather and/or travel disruption’. The document sets out the University approach to working arrangements.

If normal carer arrangements are disrupted, or schools/nurseries are closed without warning, or at short notice, the University Policy on leave for carers/time off for domestic incidents may be useful to you.

If you have a query regarding any of the above, the procedure document and/or require guidance and support, please speak to your manager and/or local HR.

Clearing snow and ice on campus 

The University’s Grounds & Gardens team, plus external contractors where necessary, keep the campus gritted and snow cleared, and are on standby ahead of any overnight snowfall. They focus on areas that affect the most people first and which are critical for access.

They understand that there may be problems that affect people in areas and buildings not on the core routes and will do their best to deal with these. They ask for your patience and understanding, particularly in periods of very disruptive weather.

Please email the Facilities Management Service Desk on [email protected] or phone them on 0113 343 5555 to report any issues.

Information and updates

Updates from our Estates team will appear regularly in the Estates website news section, the Facilities Directorate Staff Intranet news area and on the Disruptions page.

 

cleaning a sink

Another clean sweep for Cleaning Services

Cleaning Services achieve national training accreditation for the second-year running.
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Head of cleaning with award winners at cleaning awards ceremony

Cleaning Services celebrate their staff

Cleaning Services hosted their annual festive party celebrate another successful year and recognise staff
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New LC Miall teaching lab opens to students

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University strikes gold in Yorkshire In Bloom

The University of Leeds has once again triumphed at the annual Yorkshire in Bloom awards.

It has scooped Gold and is the winner in the Universities, Colleges and Further Establishments category at the Yorkshire in Bloom awards for the fourth year running.

Judges’ comments

On a tour of the campus with members of the Grounds & Gardens and Sustainability teams, the judges noted:

  • The landscape features and the architectural variety of buildings making the campus an attractive place to live, learn and work.
  • Areas for wildlife to prosper that had been introduced,  particularly noting the new wildflower area on the Western Campus Green, the hedge laying site at Cromer Street and the wildflower area at the Charles Morris Hall.
  • The campus tree trail.
  • The Public Art Trail.
  • Seasonal interest all year round.

Student participation & biodiversity

There are lots of opportunities on campus for students and others to get involved, including in volunteer work at the North Hill Well Wood Project site.

This encourages participation in the promotion of habitat creation and the importance of biodiversity, which the judges noted in already practiced on campus.

Grounds & Gardens colleagues

Eleanor Wilson from the Grounds and Gardens team said:

“It’s great to see positive feedback towards our work on biodiversity, learning to lay the hedge on Cromer Street being a particular highlight!

“We look forward to making more positive changes to biodiversity in the future.”

 

Michael Howroyd, sustainability Programme Officer said:

“Through joint efforts, the Sustainability Service, Grounds and Gardens, and Residences are creating a campus that supports our biodiversity goals and strengthens our climate resilience.”

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Chemistry Lounge refurbishment

Chemistry student lounge transformed

The Chaston Chapman Lounge in the Chemistry Building has been completed as part of the Campus Improvement Programme.

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