As Director of Campus Services, Alison Shedlock plays a central role in shaping how hospitality, events and house services operate across The University of Manchester. Her leadership shows how catering and campus services can contribute far beyond daily operations, improving environmental performance, supporting students and strengthening the University’s links with the wider city. 

A key thread in Alison’s leadership is encouraging her team to think about the environmental impact of everyday decisions and to embed sustainability into routine practice. One initiative she is especially proud of is the Bee Cup scheme, a reusable cup system launched with Vytal in September 2024. Recognising the scale of disposable cup waste on campus, Alison worked closely with students to understand what type of system they would genuinely use. This led to a simple library style loan model that makes reuse easy and accessible. The scheme has since expanded, supported by Manchester City Council, and is now in place at four outlets across Manchester Metropolitan University, at Manchester Central Library and the Aquatics Centre. Alison hopes the Bee Cup will now role out across the whole city. A Bee Bowl has also been introduced to reduce the use of disposable containers for lunches. 

Beyond sustainability, Alison cares deeply about the health and wellbeing of the University and wider community. She highlights how the University Marketplace gives local traders a space to grow their businesses while offering students authentic food options that reflect the diversity of the campus, including dishes familiar to international students. She is also committed to helping students gain confidence in cooking for themselves. Alison has supported the development of Cooking at Manchester, which offers weekly demonstrations, some led by Marketplace traders, and regularly attracts large numbers of students. The programme focuses on practical skills such as food hygiene, budgeting and reducing food waste, helping students manage everyday life more confidently. This work is now being expanded through an online platform developed with Campus Life, which will provide short cooking films and guidance accessible to all students. 

Alison’s work extends beyond campus through her long involvement in the Manchester Christmas Dinner for care experienced young people. Introduced to the University more than a decade ago by former chancellor to the University Lemn Sissay, the initiative has grown into a major collective effort supported by staff, suppliers, volunteers and fundraising teams. It is an annual event that provides a safe and joyful Christmas Day for care leavers aged 18 to 25 who would otherwise be spending the day alone. In 2025 almost 50 young people attended the Manchester dinner, while 19 dinners took place nationally. Alison continues to help the movement grow and strengthen its reach. 

Through her role Alison has shown how hospitality and campus services can drive sustainability, build community and create a campus that works better for students, staff and the city beyond.