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Our service to you

Porters play a pivotal role in ensuring that the University's teaching and learning, administrative and commercial activities run smoothly. To do this, we perform a wide range of duties across the University that are funded by a central budget. We are also happy to offer a number of additional services, including evening and weekend work. You can request these additional services via the Help Desk or if you are a registered user, via the Estates Portal. Services offered in addition to our standard duties may incur a charge.

To find out more about the services we provide, please see the Service Level Agreement tables below. These have been broken down into our main areas of responsibility.

  • Building security
    Porters help to keep the University's buildings secure by locking and unlocking external doors and centrally bookable classrooms, and patrolling corridors.
  • Building support
    We help to ensure buildings across campus are kept presentable, clean and safe.
  • Mail services
    We support Postal Services in providing the University with timely collection and delivery of mail, as well as accepting delivery of parcels.
  • Support for centrally bookable classrooms
    Porters support teaching and learning across the University by providing stationary supplies and AV support to centrally bookable classrooms in Palmer, arranging furniture to requirements and performing some cleaning duties.
  • Conference activities
    Porters can be booked to provide efficient, high quality support prior to, during and after conferences held on University grounds.
  • Furniture/office moves
    We can assist with moving furniture within and between offices, as well as collecting and disposing of furniture that is no longer required.
  • Collection of redundant equipment
    Items that are surplus to requirement, such as IT equipment, electrical goods and other large waste can be collected by porters for environmentally friendly disposal.
  • Collection of confidential waste
    Porters are able to supply confidential waste sacks and collect them for secure disposal once they are full.

To find out more about our Service Level Agreement, please see Portering Services SLA 2022.

Availability

The standard office hours for Portering Services are 08.00 to 22.00 Monday-Friday, except for Bank Holidays and University closure days. Weekend working is via Wren request. If you need a porter outside of these times, please contact the Help Desk in advance. Please note that we may require up to 10 days' notice to fulfil your requirements.

Our commitment to you

In performing these duties, our porters will be professional, courteous and sensitive to your needs at all times. If you have any comments, suggestions or other feedback, please complete the online feedback form.

Costs

The recharge rates for services additional to the standard duties detailed below are as follows. These are subject to change periodically, so it is recommended that you check prices when requesting a service.

  • £20.51/hr basic rate
  • £30.16/hr after hours and on Saturdays
  • £40.22/hr on Sundays or other periods as agreed and notified in advance.

Building security

Services we provide Frequency of service Service level
Locking and unlocking external doors to buildings, unless a building has full access control Daily Standard
Locking and unlocking of centrally bookable classrooms Daily Standard
Patrolling buildings internally Daily, as time permits Standard
Closing windows at night in centrally bookable classrooms Daily Standard
Evening bookings As requested via WREN. Chargeable

Building support

Services we provide Frequency of service Service level
Maintaining notice and display boards Twice weekly Standard
Keeping building entrances and foyers presentable As required Standard
Clearing waste from containers in foyers and centrally bookable classrooms Daily Standard
Building fault reporting Daily Standard
Fire drills Weekly Standard

Mail services

Services we provide Frequency of service Service level
Sorting incoming mail for Departments Throughout the day Standard
Delivering mail to departmental offices Once per day Standard
Collection of internal and external mail from departmental offices Once per day Standard

Support for centrally bookable classrooms

Services we provide Frequency of service Service level
Ensure classrooms are set to default layout. Daily Standard
Re-arrange furniture to clients requirements As requested via WREN.
Please note: we require at least 48 hours' notice.
Bookable
Clean whiteboards Daily Standard
Deep clean whiteboards Monthly or as necessary Standard
Supply dry marker pens and erasers As required Standard
Carry out emergency cleaning As needed Standard

Conference activities

Services we provide Frequency of service Service level
Preparation for conferences and functions As requested via WREN.
Please note: we require 10 working days' notice for weekend working and 5 days for weekday working
Chargeable
Support to conference activities As requested via WREN.
Please note: we require 10 working days' notice for weekend working and 5 days for weekday working
Chargeable
Resetting rooms after conferences/functions As requested via WREN.
Please note: we require 10 working days' notice for weekend working and 5 days for weekday working
Chargeable

Furniture/office moves

Services we provide Frequency of service Service level
To undertake small office moves As requested via WREN.
Please note: we require a minimum of 10 working days' notice
Bookable/
Chargeable
Delivery of items claimed through warp-it Warp-it Please refer to Warp-it portal via this link Bookable/
Chargeable
To remove and dispose of redundant furniture Please complete the online Disposal Request Form. Please allow a minimum of 10 working days' notice. Bookable/
Chargeable

Collection of redundant equipment

Services we provide
Frequency of service Service level
Collection and disposal of all redundant IT and electrical and electronic equipment Please complete the online Disposal Request Form. Please allow a minimum of 10 working days' notice.
Bookable/
Chargeable

Collection of confidential waste

Services we provide Frequency of service Service level
Delivery of confidential waste sacks and subsequent collection
To request empty confidential waste bags to be delivered please send an email to waste@reading.ac.uk with details of how many, the delivery location, and any access requirements for the Porters. To request the collection of full confidential waste bags, please complete the online Disposal Request Form. Please allow a minimum of 10 working days' notice.
Bookable/
Chargeable
Please note...

while our porters will always try to be as helpful as possible, services outside of their standard duties must be requested via the Help Desk>>>

Things to do now
Contact us

General enquiries

  • Telephone:
    +44 (0)118 378 3479 

To request a job 8.00am - 4.30pm weekdays

  • Telephone:
    +44 (0)118 378 7000

or log in to the Helpdesk