Online and Digital Events Service

Please note that the University's centrally supported Zoom service will be retired on 4 May 2026.

Introducing the Smarter Meetings Hub, linked below:

Smarter Meetings Hub (SharePoint)

The Smarter Meetings Hub brings together the information you need to plan, run, and participate in effective online meetings using Microsoft Teams, Town Halls, and Webinars. It includes:

• Short 2–4 minute video guides
• Step-by-step instructions
• Feature comparisons and explanations
• FAQ responses based on the most common questions raised
• Best practice meeting tips, from quick catch-ups to large-scale events

Whether you are hosting tutorials, delivering presentations, running committee meetings, managing breakout discussions, or producing large events, the Hub provides clear, practical support for a wide range of scenarios across the University.

Upcoming Live Training Events

Over the coming weeks, we will also introduce a selection of live 1-hour training sessions, delivered in partnership with 365Tribe, our Microsoft 365 adoption specialists. These sessions will give colleagues the opportunity to learn hands-on with an expert, ask questions, and explore advanced features.  Upcoming topics will include:

• Smarter Meetings with Teams
• Before, During & After: Running a Complete End-to-end Teams Meeting
• Presenting in Teams Meetings
• Moving and Sharing Your Meeting Files
• Troubleshooting Teams: Common concerns and how to overcome them
• Feature Deep Dive: PowerPoint Live, Whiteboards & Loop
• Breakout Rooms – setup, management, and best practices
• Discover Town Halls for Large-scale Events
• Teams Webinars: Planning, Presenting, and Producing

Dates and booking information will be shared shortly in the Hub.

We are also in the process of providing targeted sessions for specific user groups, including colleagues with more complex meeting or accessibility needs, and we will continue to work closely with our BSL community to ensure appropriate support and solutions are in place.

What You Can Do Now

As we continue preparing for the retirement of Zoom on 4 May, we encourage colleagues to:

• Begin scheduling all new meetings in Microsoft Teams
• Reschedule any existing Zoom bookings taking place from 4 May onward
• Review any Zoom recordings or stored content that may need to be moved to a University-supported location (guidance will follow)
• Explore the Smarter Meetings Hub to get familiar with the tools, features, and resources available

We are Here to Support You

We appreciate that this transition represents a significant change for many colleagues, particularly those who have relied heavily on Zoom for teaching, events, and collaboration. Your feedback so far has been invaluable, and it will continue to shape the support we provide.

The Smarter Meetings Hub will evolve throughout the project, with new content and guidance added regularly based on the needs and questions you raise.

Thank you once again for your engagement, cooperation, and openness as we work together to unify our collaboration tools and ensure best value for the University.