Google Workspace guide

Google first

At NIHR we use Google Workspace as our primary IT platform.  Google Workspace includes; Gmail, Chat, Spaces, Calendar, Meet and Drive, as well as Google Docs, which includes Sheets, Slides and Forms.

Google Workspaces is where we do the majority of our work. You should use Gmail to send and receive all NIHR emails and Drive to save and share files. 

Getting the most out of your Google applications

There are a lot of really helpful online guides about how to get the best out of Google. We suggest you start there. If you've got a specific question or need more help, then please get in touch with your local Google Champion. If you need further IT help or support, use our IT support portal (https://support.nihr.ac.uk).  

Google help centre and help button

The Google help centre gives you access to all of the information you need to make the most of Google Workspace. You can also access the help centre by [description]

Gmail

Best for: Formal communication or communication requiring a paper trail, such as requesting approvals.

Top tip: When sending important messages containing sensitive information, consider using confidentiality mode for Gmail. 

Spaces

Best for: Communicating with large groups of people, such as posting updates or discussions for your coordinating centre. 

Top tip: Spaces is an open platform and anyone is welcome to create a new community. Further Spaces support is available on Google’s website.  

Chat

Best for: Quick communication that doesn’t require a meeting. 

Top tip: You can create a chat room, a central place for a group to share files, allocate tasks and have threaded conversations? Further Chat support is available on Google’s website. 

Drive

Best for: Saving and sharing files

Top tip: Utilise Shared Drives within your team for easier collaboration  and data sharing

Meet

Best for:  Holding conversations between groups of people.

Top tip: You can present to Google Meet directly from a Doc, Sheet or Slide file? Simply click the present button next to the share button at the top right of the screen. 

Calendar

Best for: Scheduling meetings.

Top tip: Use speedy meetings to prevent meetings overrunning. This will end 30 minute meetings 5 minutes early and 60 minute meetings will end 10 minutes early. 

Google Champions / Personal Trainers

Google Champions are colleagues who can provide support to help you make the most of  the NIHR Hub and Google Workspace helping provide you with top tips and training of the Google Applications. They can also advise you on any future updates coming to Google Workspace and how to best utilise these new features.

To get in contact with the team, please email nihr-hub-personal-trainers@nihr.ac.uk

In addition you can request support from our IT support team through our support portal (https://support.nihr.ac.uk) or by emailing us (support@nihr.ac.uk), or giving us a call on 02073 335 060 8am - 6pm Mon-Fri (excluding bank holidays).  The support team are able to help with any issues regarding your @nihr account