Raising awareness of adaptation with Residential Business Services at the University of St Andrews

Case Study On-going
Date added: 01/06/2017

The Residential and Business Services department at the University of St Andrews have undertaken a climate impact assessment to identify the threats and opportunities of a changing climate to their operations.

The Residential and Business Services (RBS) department at the University of St Andrews manage the student accommodation and catering at the University. RBS operates throughout the year, serving students in term time and operating as a hotel in the busy summer period. During this time RBS run and provide catering for conferences, events, accommodation and weddings. This involves working with contractors to construct marquees and temporary structures, receiving deliveries from food suppliers and managing the Porters and Housekeeping staff, amongst other things.

As part of a Climate Impact Assessment carried out by RBS, raising awareness of the impacts of current and future climate change amongst staff was identified as an adaptation measure they could easily take to manage their climate-related threats and to identify any opportunities presented. RBS are now taking steps to include the potential climate impacts on their business and the adaptation measures required in their staff training.