The role of a buddy

A buddy is an individual who will support the new joiner in feeling welcomed, supported and is able to answer basic questions and help explain what life is like at the Clinical School.

The role of a buddy is more informal than with that of the line manager and enables the new joiner to ask questions that they may feel hesitant asking their manager such as how to connect to a printer or where the toilets are.

They tend to be a peer or just above them in grade and someone who works in the same department who has been at the Clinical School for more than a year and is a positive role model.

The role of the buddy starts before day one and they will keep in touch with the new joiner in the days and weeks before they arrive to answer questions and meet with them on their first day as a familiar contact.

Examples of what a buddy may do include:

• Check in regularly with the new joiner during the first few weeks
• Show them around the office and Biomedical Campus
• Introduce to key people
• Help with day to day queries
• Be a resource of information on the Clinical School/Department/University
• Be positive and supportive
• Avoid being judgemental