Hello everyone, welcome back. I trust that you all had a restful time over the Christmas and New Year period and you are re-invigorated and looking forward to 2018. I would also like to take this opportunity to say a special hello to new starters to the team. Welcome! I do hope you enjoy your time working for the Finance and Planning Directorate.

As we have a New Year upon us, you might be interested to know about some of the things which the Finance and Planning Leadership Team has in the pipeline for 2018 and what we will be prioritising over the next few months, so I have asked Linda, Emma and Simon to give us an update on their priorities and what their teams will be working on in the first quarter of 2018.

Personally, one of my biggest priorities is the ‘Financing the Masterplan Phase 1’ work. This already involves colleagues from across Finance and Planning working together and with Estates to identify the costs, impacts, benefits (financial and other) of the proposed first Phase of the masterplan, assessing affordability, and how it fits into our plans and forecasts. If it is approved, then the next stage will be to raise some external finance, which will keep me busy! I’m also leading on the establishment of the University’s Health Innovation Park at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, which involves working with the Council and Hospitals, so gets me out of the office occasionally. I’m splitting my time between the Oneleven Building and an office in the VC’s suite in the Howard Building, depending on where meetings are – Gill will always know how and where to get hold of me.

I look forward to a busy and successful 2018 working with you all.

Deborah