Category Archives: Education

Education, News

North Wales college ranked among the best places to work in the UK

COLEG CAMBRIA has been listed among the top companies to work for in the UK.

The north east Wales institution was ranked 19th in the Super Large Organisation category of the 2020 UK Best Workplaces.

Determined by the US-based Great Place to Work Institute, the college was recognised alongside some of the country’s top employers, including Deloitte, GAP, Admiral Group and Hilton Hotels.

Positions are decided based on staff feedback and practices that make up a “truly impactful workplace” both socially and culturally.

Chief Executive Yana Williams congratulated the human resources team and all departments at Cambria for their efforts.

“We are really pleased to be told we are among the top 20 in this category, it’s great achievement and one we are all very proud of,” she said.

“To be recognised for the standards of our working environment is heartening, though my goal and a top priority is for every individual at the college to feel valued, trusted and know they are appreciated by everyone here, rather than having an external body tell us this.

“We want staff to feel Coleg Cambria is a great place to work and that they are supported every day, because ultimately a happy and collaborative workforce makes for a much more positive experience for our students.”

Ms Williams added: “Thank you again to everyone who played a part in this as there was a great deal of work involved, and we will continue to strive for improvement for staff here at Cambria, the students and our community.”

The news comes after the college was last year ranked eighth in the Super-Large (1,000 or more employees) category of the Best Workplaces for Women list and lauded for its support of employees on maternity leave, commitment to closing the gender pay gap, training schemes, and the number of women in senior leadership positions – Cambria was the only further education institution among the 55 ranked organisations.

The global Great Place to Work Institution is celebrating 20 years, and as well as listing top employers revealed trends that have changed over the last two decades.

The number of Best Workplaces with female leaders has almost doubled from 17% in 2001 to 30% this year, and there has been a huge increase in the number of organisations offering paid paternity leave and work-based volunteering programmes.

A spokesperson for the Institute said: “During this unprecedented time, we believe it’s important to recognise organisations that have continued to cultivate their great workplace cultures.

“After 20 years of working with the best companies in the UK, we know certain things don’t change as time moves on: UK’s Best Workplaces keep their people at the heart of everything that they do – always.”

To see the full list, visit www.greatplacetowork.co.uk or follow the hashtag #ukbestworkplaces on social media.

Visit www.cambria.ac.uk for more on the wide range of courses and qualifications available at Coleg Cambria.

Business Research, Coronavirus, Education

Business School Resource gives forty insights into the realities of working during Covid-19

Researchers from the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow have created a new resource of stories recording working life during Covid-19.

’40@40’ marks the 40th day (1 May) of the UK’s lockdown through sharing 40 stories from the UK and across the world about people’s everyday working experiences during this time.

Drawing on the  voices of a variety of workers – including zookeepers, employees of L’Oreal, Innis and Gunn, Celtic Football Club and even Jermain Jackman from ‘The Voice’ – the project provides first-hand accounts of what current working life is like, including challenges faced. 

It also gives an insight into how quickly businesses have had to evolve to overcome restrictions put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the creative and innovative spirit that has enabled this to happen.

The project is underpinned by academic research  about working in times of rapid change, including a focus on moving to a digital work environment, teamworking, health and wellness, and issues of ethics and sustainability. 

The resource also explores how people think Covid-19  might influence workplaces of the future and reflects on how we might prepare for the ‘post-Covid-19 world’.  

40@40 emerged from a PRME (Principles of Responsible Management Education) initiative within the Business School called ‘DigiGallus’ that was created to prepare and support those Adam Smith Business School’s students entering the world of work for the first time during the pandemic.

Professor Kathleen  Riach,  Professor of Organisation Studies, who led the project said: “I think we are all in danger of being burnt out by the combination of constant information about Covid-19 while navigating work in a very different set of circumstances.

“As we live through this historic moment, it is inspiring to see how businesses, managers and employees across a range of industries, sectors and jobs have reacted so quickly to change, and are also very sensitive to the challenges faced now and in the future.

“We hope 40@40 helps people who are keen to  know how Covid-19  is  affecting – and will affect in the future - how we experience the world of work.

“In many ways it’s part of our effort as academics at the Adam Smith Business School to try and support people during this time by putting our research skills to good use to connect people. We’re sharing authentic stories and asking people to pause for a moment to connect with these, to remind ourselves that even though we might not be together, we are still in it together.”

The videos are available to view at https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/business/aboutus/digigallus/#teamworking

Education, News

Giving money to citizens will not fix economy, researchers find

Governments should hold off on giving their citizens money until after the lockdown is over, finds new insights by the University of Cologne.

In an attempt to counteract an economic crash, governments in Hong Kong and the US are giving their citizens equivalent to 1,200 euros to help stimulate their economies. However, Dr Michael Thoene, CEO of FiFo Institute for Public Economics at the University of Cologne, says that governments should not expect quick results from this.

“There is no point in passing money to consumers when they are not allowed to go shopping, or are very unlikely to book a holiday. People may be shopping online, but the idea of everything flowing into online shopping is not the point of an economic recovery,” says Dr Thoene.

He suggests that governments should wait until restrictions on everyday life and economies can be eased before implementing such measures.

Dr Thoene adds that in the meantime, governments are better off combating the supply shortage and channelling more money directly into industries, small freelancers and tradespeople who seriously need it.

“Governments need to think about the smaller companies in the most affected industries. For example, it’s not just the airlines that are struggling, but also the airport bakery and the shops. These companies can find themselves very quickly in existential distress and will need liquidity and relief to keep them afloat during this crisis,” says Dr Thoene.

Big companies may also be struggling, but they have employee compensation schemes, ability to borrow money and generally very good communication, whereas other smaller companies do not therefore are less likely to survive this crisis.#

These insights come from the discussion paper: The difficulty of investing sustainably in the future. And how it can be done. – featuring a postscript about investments in the future in times of the corona pandemic.

E-Learning, Education

University of Lincoln launches celebrity cast for virtual classroom

The University of Lincoln has assembled an amazing cast of celebrities, broadcasters and world-leading academics who are all giving their support to young people during these difficult times.

Big names including comedian and writer Stewart Lee, BBC Radio 1 presenter and influencer Clara Amfo and environmental campaigner, broadcaster and associate lecturer Chris Packham will share their experience and knowledge with students from all over the world, through the University of Lincoln’s Virtual Classroom.

In a further display of commitment and generosity; Clara Amfo has donated £1,000 to Lincoln County Hospital, adding to the University’s ongoing donations of equipment and support.

Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Lincoln, Professor Toby Wilkinson said: “University applicants would normally be attending a variety of events including open days and UCAS fairs, but the Covid-19 pandemic has made these face-to-face events impossible. The fact that the University has created the Virtual Classroom doesn’t just fill the gap, it shows incredible innovation and will make a real difference to young people considering their future.”

The University’s innovative approach includes a calendar of virtual events and activities that will engage, inspire and motivate young people to take their next steps.

Every Wednesday at 2pm a new ‘Lincoln Live’ talk will be hosted by an inspirational celebrity or a world-leading academic, giving a fully interactive talk on the issues they feel most passionate about.

Highlights include:

Chris Packham, 29th April; The broadcaster, environmental campaigner and University of Lincoln Associate Lecturer will address your questions about environmental issues and how we can all make a difference going forward.

Stewart Lee, 13th May; The multi award winning and critically acclaimed comedian and writer, will give his take on humour in times of struggle and what might be appropriate in the current climate. There will also be a chance to ask questions about his experience of higher education, life and career.

Clara Amfo, 20th May; The BBC Radio 1 presenter and social media influencer will take your questions and talk about how higher education helped her get to where she is now. Clara will also give her advice to young people thinking about making the step into university life.

Professor Nigel Allinson MBE, 15th April; Distinguished Chair of Image Engineering at the University of Lincoln and Director of Research, Professor Allinson will deliver his talk ‘Honest Science and Fake Science’ as well as answering questions about his research and the University of Lincoln.

Dr Patricia Jackman, 27th May; With research projects involving the optimal experience in sport and exercise as well as psychological wellbeing, Dr Patricia Jackman will discuss sport and exercise psychology, her research and her career.

Dr Craig Marsh, 3rd June; Pro Vice Chancellor and Director of Lincoln International Business School, Dr Craig Marsh will discuss management and leadership, as well as answering questions about what it is like to study in the University of Lincoln’s business school.

Director of Communications and Development, Elly Sample said: “This is an incredible opportunity for young people to be part of something that could genuinely help them make huge decisions about their future.

“It’s amazing to see such an esteemed array of people giving the Lincoln Live talks, people with genuine gravitas, giving their time so young people can make the most of theirs.

“These are extraordinary times and our experts and celebrities are volunteering in the best ways they know how. By giving them a captive audience and indeed the University giving young people a chance to be in that audience for free, makes this very much part of bigger national effort, to do the right thing and keep the country moving forward.”

E-Learning, Education

£35,000 Bursary Set Up For Retraining To Help Those With Job Losses

In light of the ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic, the world of work has never seemed so uncertain. However, determined to help educate, retrain, and upskill those who find themselves at a loose end, distance learning provider Oxbridge is supporting learners, with the launch of a fund that gives new students 20% off course fees across the board.

Believing that education should never be restricted, Oxbridge has been turning any room into a classroom since it launched. To help ease the financial stress for those that are facing new careers, Oxbridge has launched a fund of £35,000, which will provide relief and give students 20% off their course fees. Not only does this offer some respite to those who need it, but it also provides enhanced accessibility to education at a time where many people won’t be able to necessarily afford it.

Founder and Managing Director of Oxbridge, Matt Jones, says:

“These are once-in-a-lifetime circumstances we find ourselves in and we want to play our part in helping. Therefore, on behalf of Oxbridge, I have made available a £35,000 bursary fund to assist those who are in need at this time. We hope this goes some way to supporting those that find themselves in difficult situations and need to retrain.

“Oxbridge will remain open throughout this challenging period. Many of our teams work remotely as part of their normal working, and we are well-rehearsed in this way of providing our service.”

Oxbridge offers a wealth of courses from bookkeeping to beauty therapy to counselling, event management and more, giving a window of opportunity into new career paths or simply a chance for learners to further enhance their skillset. And as well as being distance learning courses, giving pupils the chance to study from home, the college’s curriculums are also available on a part and full-time basis, meaning that they can be adapted to schedules as needed.

“As always, our fantastic team will continue to deliver an exceptional, informative and safe course provision for our students and now, more than ever, I am overwhelmingly proud of the dedicated team behind who make our organisation so special by maintaining our “student first” approach to everything we do.

“We will never take this special relationship for granted, and know that we’re always here to help and support you in any way that we can. Stay safe, be kind and let’s do what we can to help each other,” concluded Matt.

To claim 20% off, new students just need to enter FUND20 at checkout. For more information on Oxbridge and the courses on offer, head to: https://oxbridgehomelearning.uk.

Awards, Education, Marketing, PR and SEO, North of England

Risky pitch from Northumbria Marketing Students wins Seventh Greggs Challenge

Business students at Northumbria University have succeeded in winning this year’s Greggs Marketing Challenge thanks to a “naked bake” campaign.

The Greggs Challenge, now in it’s seventh year, is one of the region’s most prestigious marketing student competitions, with the team from Northumbria’s Newcastle Business School competing against other post-graduate students from Newcastle, Teesside, and Sunderland Universities.

This year’s challenge saw students invited to design a campaign entitled “Greggs by Night: Keeping the Brand Contemporary in the Evening”, with the goal of increasing Greggs business between the hours of 5pm and 9pm.

Team Northumbria students, Jordan Strachan, Harry Ash, Natalie Drinkwater, Emily Hardwick, Emily McKee and Jordan Seddon, came up with a “naked bake campaign”, spearheaded by the cheeky caption #getnaked. Based on their own extensive market and consumer research, the team recommended removing pastry from favourites such as steak bakes, and instead serving them in a box with a healthy choice of rice, beans or salad. They were able to demonstrate to the judges that this offering was more substantial, more evening marketing friendly and would appeal to more health-conscious customers.

Natalie Drinkwater explained:

“We opened our pitch to the judges by saying Greggs should get naked. It was quite a risk, but I think because were able to deliver a presentation based on our research and as a focused and unified team with a clear message, it worked.

“We didn’t reinvent the wheel; we took something traditional to Greggs but offered a healthy alternative – the company’s biggest growing area – and created a product that was more suitable for the Evening Market. We utilised Greggs’ current channels and digital strategy and applied them to be evening market appropriate. Some of the feedback from the Judges was that it was so cost effective by keeping it simple, incorporating current strategies and not trying to implement massive changes.”

Each student team in the Greggs Marketing Challenge had to deliver a 15-minute presentation in front of the judging panel, which included senior directors. There were also around 170 guests in attendance. Announcing the award, the judging panel identified Team Northumbria as the unanimous victors, hailing their customer insights, campaign ideas, execution and professionalism.

Professor John Wilson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Business and Law at Northumbria, added:

“The Greggs Marketing Challenge is one of the region’s top student business competitions, and we are extremely proud of our students’ achievement. Winning emphasises the quality and talent of the students we have here at Newcastle Business School, and the value they clearly offer to future employers. The team demonstrated creative thinking with their slightly cheeky and eye-catching campaign, and they backed this up by putting theory into practice delivering a presentation of a standard any professional agency would be proud.”

Northumbria is a research-rich, business-focused, professional university with a global reputation for academic excellence. Find out more about us at www.northumbria.ac.uk

Charity & CSR, Construction, Education

RGB choose Exeter school as its latest Community Fund recipient

Exeter’s Ladysmith Junior School has been voted as the latest winner of RGB Building Supplies’ Well Built Community Fund and now has £1,000 to spend on tools and building materials at RGB Exeter.

The school received the most votes following a public poll where it was up against Sidmouth Amateur Radio Society and the UK Wild Otter Trust in Umberleigh.

Ladysmith Junior School has been gifted a Plymouth City Bus, which it’s planning to transform into a useable area for children to sit and have quite reading time during breaks, and for teachers to use with smaller groups outside of the traditional classroom setting.

Mark Wilkinson, Headteacher at Ladysmith Junior School, commented:

“Our talented Site Manager Andy Hawkins will be taking on the majority of the work, so we’ll be using the money to purchase new tools, in particular a belt sander and table saw, for him to use, and also some materials needed for the project. It’s an amazing opportunity for us to create something unique for our pupils, and I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for us. Thank you also to RGB for the generous donation.”

Paul West, Branch Manager at RGB Exeter, visited the school to see the bus and meet some of the pupils who will be using it. He added:

“Well done to Ladysmith Junior School; I was delighted to visit and learn more about how the donation will be used. I wish them every success with the reading bus project and look forward to returning to see the transformation.”

Education

The Female Figures Who Shaped British Education

The British education system is revered all over the world, with the standard of teaching and breadth of curriculum earning global admiration.

Four of the country’s universities currently reside in the top ten in the world rankings and it is female students in particular who are making the most of this respected higher education structure – they are more than a third more likely to go to university than boys.

In line with International Women’s Day on the 8th March, home education provider, Oxford Home Schooling is celebrating women in education by compiling a list of the top four female figures from recent history who have influenced the British system.

Millicent Garrett Fawcett

While Millicent Fawcett will deservedly go down in history as an instrumental figure in the fight for women’s suffrage, she also campaigned for women’s educational rights. Fawcett worked tirelessly to promote higher education for women and was one of the founders of Newnham College, the women’s college at the heart of the University of Cambridge.

Dame Bridget Horatia Plowden

Lady Plowden chaired the Central Advisory Council for Education which reviewed the primary school system in England. The 1967 ‘Children and their Primary Schools’ report, unofficially known as the Plowden Report, emphasised that children should be at the heart of any educational process. Recommendations included the reduction of primary school class sizes and the recruitment of more male teachers.

Baroness Mary Warnock

In 1978, Baroness Warnock was tasked with reviewing how special needs children were treated in the education system. The resulting ‘Warnock Report’ strongly argued for the inclusion of special needs students in mainstream schools and helped parents gain both educational support and new rights for their children. The report was so influential that it largely shaped the 1981 Education Act.

Grace Campbell and Jane Cosans

The government’s ban on corporal punishment in 1986 was largely influenced by the actions of two Scottish mothers. Grace Campbell and Jane Cosans voiced their opinions to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that the whipping and caning of their children at school was both degrading and inhumane. Their view was upheld and prompted legislative changes to British education, outlawing the archaic punishments.

To read more about women in education, and in particular Millicent Garrett Fawcett, please visit: https://www.oxfordhomeschooling.co.uk/blog/millicent-garrett-fawcett-campaign-womens-suffrage/

Education, News, North of England

Durham University announces new Wilson Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship as part of record alumni donation

Durham University have announced today that they have received a transformative donation from alumnus Charles Wilson and his partner Dr Rowena Olegario, to launch a new Wilson Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship at Durham University Business School.

The Wilson Institute will provide entrepreneurs and leaders, especially in small and family businesses, with insightful and practical support to develop those businesses to full potential. The Institute will have a specific focus on servicing business leaders and business ideas in the local region at every stage of development: supporting ‘start-up, scale-up, and smart-up’ activities.

Professor Stuart Corbridge, Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University, says,
“This is an extraordinary and hugely welcome demonstration of support for the University’s mission from two very distinguished friends. Philanthropy is changing the game for students at Durham and this record donation will leave an indelible and enabling legacy for the benefit of generations to come.”

Charles Wilson says,
“Rowena and I are delighted to be supporting Durham University and the Durham Inspired campaign. Durham is making an incredible difference to the North East, the UK, and within the wider world; we are pleased that our support will assist the University’s objectives in each of these areas.”

Professor Susan Hart, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business, Durham University, says,
“In establishing the Wilson Institute, we are seizing a unique opportunity to enrich the forward-thinking enterprise ecology in the region, stimulating business creation, scale-up activity, and beneficial economic development across the North East and beyond.”

James Ramsbotham CBE, DL, Chief Executive of the North East England Chamber of Commerce, says,
“Businesses in the region will welcome news of this development at Durham with open arms. I am positive that the Wilson Institute will provide the world with yet another window into the North East economy and provide North East business with a wide-open front door into this leading Business School on our doorstep.”

The Institute is part of a record £7.5M donation from Charles Wilson and partner Dr Rowena Olegario which will also launch the Durham Inspired – North East Scholarships programme which will support students coming from low-income backgrounds from the region, and endowment for the University’s Institute of Hazard Risk and Resilience (IHRR) – a research Institute co-founded by Wilson in 2004 which supports research and practice in areas related to global natural disasters.

An endowment of £2M, including matching donations to the programme, will be used to inspire and support exceptional young minds from across the region to reach their full potential at Durham University, regardless of financial means. The Scholarships programme will support 20 students each year from low-income backgrounds from the North East, empowering and enabling local students to study for foundation, undergraduate, and/or masters level qualifications, whilst also pursuing vital leadership and development experiences offered at Durham.

The donation towards the IHRR will increase the Institute’s ability to produce leading, front-line research which helps professionals around the world to protect, save, and recover thousands of vulnerable lives and communities every year. The donation will enable Durham University to promote, share, and network new research and best practices with industry leaders, policy makers, and practitioners working in areas related to natural hazards.

The overall donation will have a transformative impact on the future of a vast number of low-income students who will now have additional financial support to attend the University, the research that the Institute for Hazard, Risk and Resilience is able to conduct and disseminate, and a huge impact on entrepreneurs and small businesses by launching the Wilson Institute.

The University are also delighted to recognise the contribution this gift will make towards its wider Durham Inspired campaign, chaired by former Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Worldwide, Rob Senior, which seeks to support the next generation of inspiration and leadership through Durham University.

Rob Senior, Chair of the Durham Inspired campaign, says
“The Durham environment allows exceptional students and researchers to test drive their full potential in so many ways, but some need a little extra support to reach that potential. As one student put it recently: “we often have all of the fire, but not enough fuel”. This landmark donation is an inspiring response to those underlying needs and will help Durham to remain a truly world class institution.”

News of the donation was formally announced at a major Durham Inspired campaign event at Durham Castle on 20 Feb 2020 by contemporary Durham University graduates of Charles Wilson, William and Hilary Russell – the current Lord and Lady Mayor of London.

Education, International News

Over the course of two days, students from ESCP Business School will take on the different roles that exist in the European Parliament

For the 11th edition of the Designing Europe seminar, the 1000 students of the Master in Management (MiM), from all campuses in Europe, will meet in Brussels at the European Parliament on 26 and 27 February to work on the European Green Pact and the future of Europe.

Over the course of two days, students will take on the different roles that exist in the European Parliament and participate in the legislative process. Whether they are MEPs, members of the Commission or the Council, students can get to know the European institutions while working on a topical issue on the European parliamentary agenda: the European Green Pact.

Michel Barnier, Chief Negotiator of the working group for the preparation and conduct of negotiations with the United Kingdom and graduate of the School (MiM Class of 1972), will speak alongside parliamentarians and professionals from the European institutions. Yves Bertoncini, consultant and professor in European affairs and expert ESCP professors will coordinate the seminar activities..

The Dean and Executive president of the School, Prof. Frank Bournois, states:

“It is part of the school’s mission to accompany our students on this theme and to encourage them to develop several points of reflection: economic, institutional, legal and political. Giving them the tools to learn how to make the right choices is all the more important at a time of major change, that they will continue to experience throughout their careers as decision-makers”.

Anais Ravet, Director of the MiM says:

“We want to bring the European experience to our students who represent over 50 nationalities. By immersing them in the reality of European parliamentarians through meetings and negotiation simulations, they experience the major challenges of Europe today and in the coming years, which will be at the heart of their challenges as future leaders.

Pr. Cécile Kharoubi, Academic Director of the Master in Management adds:

“As part of the 2019-2020 academic year, ESCP innovated by creating a mandatory seminar for all first-year students on climate issues and the transformations in which companies are engaged. We show here, with this mandatory seminar in the second year, that we take these issues seriously”.

Professor Aurélien Acquier, Head of sustainability transition notes

“Over the last ten years or so, we have seen a rise in concerns related to the consideration of social responsibility, societal innovation and sustainable development. The new generation that we are teaching is pushing us to link performance and meaning by taking into account these issues. I am delighted that they are today at the heart of ESCP’s emblematic educational event”.

It all starts here.