Throughout the years leading up to Graduation Attire being awarded the privilege of
providing its graduation ceremony and robing services, the University had experienced
unsatisfactory performance of their previously incumbent supplier. This was namely as a
result of both student feedback and observations from the University’s Graduation Team.
Some of these issues concerned the general organisation of events in terms of how
smoothly they were perceived to
be running.
There were other issues that the University sought to address, the main one being the
overall presentation of gowns. These were previously stacked in cardboard boxes.
Frequently, the graduation team and the incumbent supplier would clash, due to boxes
blocking access, for example. In addition to this, the overall presentation of gowns was
lacking, due to them being folded and transported in the cardboard boxes, resulting in a
creased appearance.
Another area that the graduation team had noted was that gown
stock was used ubiquitously by the supplier for all events, since the only unique element to
student gowns was the hoods. This had resulted in lacklustre garments through overuse,
as well as the need to replace gowns sooner.
With regard to academic staff robing, the incumbent supplier had not previously provided
assistance for this as a service. Instead, staff would pick out a gown that had been laid out
previously on tables and fit it themselves. This was certainly an element that the University
had expressed a desire to improve on.
Crucial for the University was also that we would work well with other suppliers; for
example, photography providers or the graduation ball organisers. Issues previously
experienced were arguments over resources and access to facilities, such as elevators.
Queue management was another important area, with students experiencing long queue
times and, therefore, affecting feedback and meaning less time to celebrate the occasion
that graduation should be.
Finally, in terms of the booking website, the University ideally preferred their system to look
a little more bespoke than previously, which was not specifically customised to the
University’s needs.