Ways of Working: Working Together Award

Recognising communication, collaboration and shared learning

The teams for the Ways of Working: Working Together Award have been nominated for their approach to communication, collaboration and shared learning.

The winner and finalists of this award have created supportive networks to share best practice, swiftly and safely shut down labs, enable the online delivery of thousands of exams, and collaborate to share our expertise and knowledge around the pandemic with the wider public.

Winner: Asymptomatic Testing Project Team

Office of the Chief Operating Officer

The ATPT was set up in November in response to a Government request to support students returning home at the end of term through testing.

The group had 3 weeks to deliver the project: set up a test site; establish a booking system; create comms; recruit/train 100 staff; and establish management and working practices.

The ATPT was brought together from UCL PS. Given tight timescales, the team worked collaboratively to develop and implement its work; established clear responsibilities and accountabilities; regularly update SMT; and work based on challenge, honesty and trust. UCL has one of largest test centres in London. This is an incredible effort from the team, and they should be praised for their hard work at this difficult time.

Winner: The UCL Ventura CPAP Communications Team

Media Relations

This team worked collaboratively, creatively and at rapid pace to secure high-profile coverage and real-life impact for the UCL Ventura CPAP including over 2,000 global news articles. This directly led to the UK Government placing 10,000 orders and UCL being mentioned 3 times in No.10 briefings. Further impact included appearances in government reports and campaigns for 'Great Inspirations' 'the FCDO' and international embassies. Global and digital communications have led to blueprints being downloaded over 1,900 in 105 countries. In 15 of these, the Ventura is now saving patient’s lives in hospitals.

Under narrow timeframes, the teams worked closely with each other and key stakeholders establishing trust and empowering each individual to focus on their own tasks.

Winner: Learning and Development Team

Organisation Development Department, Human Resources

The ways the L&D team has worked together to produce great work during the immediate COVID-19 crisis and throughout the pandemic has been hugely impressive. The crisis struck when the team had very recently had a new Head start in role, and other members of the team were also very new to UCL. This freshly formed team had to very quickly pivot from an entirely face-to-face learning portfolio to an online delivery model when the crisis struck. This was despite often difficult personal circumstances as the pandemic unfolded. Where many peer higher education institutions cancelled or postponed development work, this team’s efforts meant continuous service was delivered with key additional development around remote working and wellbeing.