Get to know a new colleague over coffee

A scheme that invites staff to take time out of their working day and see the University in a different light is open to new applications.

Coffee with a Colleague offers colleagues across the institution an easy way to connect with others outside of their immediate area of work. The scheme has been running since 2022, enabling 215 connections between over 400 colleagues.

Taking part is easy. Participants can register their interest online, including details of your area of work and meeting preferences, and you will be matched with a colleague from another part of the University.  

Matches are made once a month, and colleagues can sign up at any time. Colleagues can also sign up for an optional monthly email reminder to match with another colleague in another round. 

Jeff Anderson, Careers Consultant, recently took part in Coffee with a Colleague. He said: “Having joined the University last year, the scheme was an excellent way for me to learn about other teams across the University.

“I also discovered new places on campus depending upon whether we walked and talked, or chose to meet at a new coffee point than my initial default.

"I've met colleagues with very long tenure as well as other newer staff members. The random colleague selector seems to work great, so definitely recommend to get involved, whether you have or haven't done it for a while!”

Currently this scheme is available to colleagues and PhD students at our UK campuses: Whiteknights, Greenlands and London Road. If successful, the scheme may be widened to include our worldwide campuses. 

For more information, or to ask any questions, please email coffeecolleague@reading.ac.uk.  

Help get the word out

A poster designed with the help of two Typography students at the University is available to download. Colleagues can print a copy to display on a noticeboard where staff and PhD students can see it and encourage even more people to take part.