The University of Derby Magazine (issue 6)

Inspire, Innovate, Impact – The University of Derby Magazine

Issue 6 • Summer 2017

INSIDE: Nigel Olsson, Elton John’s long-serving bandmate, Derby-established charity Enthusiasm, and Hollie Webb MBE, Olympic gold medallist

www.derby.ac.uk

4 INNOVATE

We explore how driverless cars are set to transform the way we travel

22 THE GREAT DEBATE

With education in the city classed as ‘distinctly second division’, why are schools in this position and what can be done to turn things around?

7 OPINION

Ian Harrison, Director of Exports for the Midlands, Department for International Trade

Editorial:

26 MY VIEW

Craig Keegan, former assistant coach of the GB Olympic gold medal winning women’s hockey team, on finding a way to win

8 OUR HONORANDS

Olympic gold medallist, Hollie Webb MBE

Rosie Marshalsay, Jeremy Swan, Kelly Tyler, Adam Mallaby, Jenny McNicholas, Holly Smith and Laura Ratcliffe

27 5 MINUTES WITH…

Kavita Oberoi OBE, one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs

Photography:

28 FEATURE

Richard Richards and Jen Miles

With a Government focus on apprenticeships we explore the benefits they bring to business

Design:

Matt Cartwright

We’re always on the lookout for interesting people to interview for future issues, so if you’ve got a good story to tell please get in touch – editor@derby.ac.uk

12 OVER TO YOU

Professor Judith Lamie, University of Derby Pro Vice-Chancellor, External Affairs

contents

16 INSPIRE

Joseph and Heather Russo, founders of Enthusiasm, a charity that’s helped 50,000 disadvantaged young people since it was established in Derby 25 years ago

32 FEATURE

Hari Punchihewa, University of Derby Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director, on Derby’s regeneration

20 SPOTLIGHT ON…

Nigel Olsson, Elton John’s longserving drummer

36 COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS 38 GRADUATE PROFILE 40 STUDENT SUCCESS 42 LOCAL LINK UP 44 OUT & ABOUT 45 SAVE THE DATE 46 LAST WORD

The University of Derby Magazine

It’s been heartening to discover a collective optimism and ‘bring it on’ mentality from many of our contributors for whatever the future may bring.

T

here’s no doubt, 2017 has been a political rollercoaster which is set to have long lasting implications for us and future generations.

Trump is POTUS, Trudeau a ‘hero’, Brexit is a go and Theresa may (or may not) be our Prime Minster come June 8.

Whether or not you’re politically interested, it’s hard to miss what’s been happening closer to home and across the globe. And whilst there are questions around what this really means for us, it’s been heartening to discover, through working on this issue, a collective optimism and ‘bring it on’ mentality from many of our contributors for whatever the future may bring.

In this issue Professor Judith Lamie, Pro ViceChancellor, External Affairs, sets out the University’s international ambitions and the benefits that thinking globally can bring to Derby. The Department for International Trade’s Ian Harrison gives us the lowdown on the region’s export opportunities, and the founders of Enthusiasm, a Derby-established charity set up to turn young people’s lives around, show that in the face of adversity and challenge, great things can be achieved.

We also have an insight into life on the road with Elton John, by his long-serving drummer Nigel Olsson, business tips from entrepreneur and philanthropist

Kavita Oberoi OBE, and Olympic gold medallist Hollie Webb’s perspective on what it takes to become an Olympic athlete.

Finally, our Last Word comes from Professor Philip Plowden, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, who is leaving during the summer to take up the helm at Birmingham City University as its new Vice-Chancellor. Professor Plowden has made a huge impact since he joined Derby in 2011 and we all wish him the very best.

If the year so far is anything to go by we’re in for an exciting second half, but for now take some time out, grab a drink, relax and enjoy the read.

Rosie Feedback competition We’d love to hear your thoughts about our magazine, so we can improve future issues.

For a chance to win a luxury Fortnum & Mason hamper* please visit www.derby.ac.uk/magazine and complete our questionnaire.

Deadline for entries: 23 June 2017. *University of Derby staff are not eligible to enter the competition.

Editor’s letter 43

I N N O VAT E

BUCKLE UP

Writer: Adam Mallaby

F

rom the Jurassic Park Explorer, limited to a track and controlled remotely, to the artificially intelligent Audi that Will Smith cruises around in I Robot, self-driving cars were once the creation of science fiction.

Now the technology is accelerating at pace; you can buy a Tesla electric car with an advanced autopilot mode, hail a driverless Uber taxi in the US or, if you’re lucky enough to be chosen as one of the 100 Brits for the GATEway Project, travel in a prototype shuttle bus on a route in Greenwich, London. But how does it work?

4

The University of Derby Magazine

Inside a Toyota Concept-i

“Autonomous vehicles use a range of sensors, including camera, laser and radar, to collect data about the environment in which they operate,” says Dr Nick Reed, Academy Director at the Transport Research Laboratory.

“They then use sophisticated software to localise themselves within that environment – determining how to proceed to follow their desired path, respond to current or emerging hazards, and reconciling that with pre-learned information, such as digital maps or incident control centres.”

“Accidents caused by driver error, huge car parks and traffic jams could be things of the past,” says Tim Wilmshurst, Lead in Innovative Academic Practice in the College of Engineering and Technology at the University of Derby. “Driverless cars will provide true benefit when we change the culture of car ownership and autonomous vehicles allow for this.”

“Accidents caused by driver error, huge car parks and traffic jams could be things of the past.”

There is no sign of slowing down and, even locally, the automotive giants are strapping themselves in for the ride.

Rolls-Royce unveiled Vision Next 100 – their driverless concept vehicle complete with silk ‘throne’ for the passenger to sit and watch the world go by – while Toyota’s friendly, people-focused approach to future mobility was revealed through their Concept-i.

So is there really a need for autonomous vehicles?

Statistics from the Department for Transport reveal that more than 1,800 people die on the roads every year in the UK, with the number rising around 2% each year.

In the US, this figure rises to more than 300,000 each year, and to 1.25 million globally.

For Andrew Lee, Head of Market Intelligence and Analysis at Octo Telematics, the need was less practical.

“Today, after heavy investments have been made, there is a need to make self-driving vehicles a reality as part of the convergence with other trends like electric vehicles and shared mobility.”

There are also many potential advantages to autonomous vehicles, and for the driver this is time.

“Automation of the driving task will enable drivers to divert their attention towards productive tasks, social engagement or relaxation. Journey times also become much more reliable and congestion reduces,” says Dr Reed. While time saved is a plus for the individual, the key benefit is safety.

A report by US firm McKinsey & Co. highlighted that, by taking human emotions and errors out of the equation, autonomous vehicles could eliminate the human error that causes 90 percent of crashes. They could also make more people more mobile, reduce emissions, and boost the economy.

A GATEway driverless shuttle

45

Dr Reed agrees that safety is a key benefit: “While automation will not remove all human error from transport operations, it does directly address the issue and potentially tackles some of the key risk factors on our roads including fatigue, impairment and inattention.”

University of Southampton, who has been conducting research into vehicle automation for the past 20 years.

“Even the most observant human driver’s attention will begin to wane. This is particularly true if they are engaging in other activities such as reading, watching movies or surfing the internet.

With safety comes great responsibility. The successful advances in artificial intelligence and robotics led to an inquiry by the Lords Science and Technology Committee, which highlighted the need for serious, ongoing consideration, particularly around decisionmaking and liability. How will the vehicle make a decision and will the driver still take responsibility?

“When faced with an emerging incident, up to a third of drivers of automated vehicles did not recover the situation in our simulator studies at the University, whereas almost all drivers of manual vehicles recover in the same situation.”

“Decision making is widely discussed. It is early days but the expectation should be that the vehicle is never put in such a situation in the first place. If a decision needed to be made, then either the vehicle or the driver would make this,” says Andrew Lee. Dr Reed takes this further, adding that “if an incident occurs, the data collected by the automated vehicle will enable objective analysis of why the incident occurred, who should accept responsibility, and whether we would expect the vehicle to behave any differently if similar circumstances were encountered in the future.”

Another challenge facing the automotive sector is gaining acceptance and the question still stands; can we really trust the technology?

Dr Reed says we already do. “We place our faith in technology every day, whether we’re relying on our alarm clock to wake us up or Rolls-Royce’s engines to power an Airbus A380, because it provides us with benefits to our livelihood and regulations have deemed it safe. Drivers will very rapidly learn to trust automated vehicles and in fact, will be more likely to over-trust the system and take advantage of the time released by not having to drive. This may mean they are unprepared to take over at short notice.

It’s no secret that self-driving cars could transform the panorama of urban mobility, but what does the future look like and will vehicles ever be completely driverless?

“There’s still so much to explore. Governments, manufacturers and individuals all have different aims, but trials must continue and the necessary legislation needs to be put in place to allow pilot adoption,” says Tim Wilmshurst.

For Andrew Lee, the aim is clear but still has its own challenges. “The ultimate goal is to provide a new, viable transport solution with increased comfort, convenience and safety. While technology has so far been well proven, the biggest challenge comes in finding viable business models and the reliance on new infrastructure like dedicated zones or lanes.”

The future looks bright for driverless cars but there are still more questions than answers. Do driverless cars have the potential to transform the way we travel? How will other sectors adopt the technology and, can we really live in a truly connected world?

“We’ve seen examples in the aviation sector where crashes have occurred due to pilot error suspected to have been due to over-reliance on autopilot systems.

For drivers, the vehicle will need to be monitoring driver alertness and managing the level of automation accordingly.”

This is worrying, says Professor Neville Stanton at the Toyota Concept-i

6

The University of Derby Magazine

Opinion Ian Harrison

Director of Exports for the Midlands, Department for International Trade (DIT)

I

n my role as Director of Exports, I help promote British trade across the world and ensure that local businesses take advantage of the huge opportunities open to us.

So far, the signs are encouraging in the East Midlands – exports increased by 2.7% in 2016 to £15.7 billion, while the number of exporters rose by 2.6% over the same period. But there’s more the region can do to fulfil its economic potential and we’re working to support this in several ways.

Firstly, the DIT is championing the East Midlands via the Government’s Midlands Engine strategy, which aims to invest in trade and investment, skills, connectivity and local growth. A key deliverable of this overarching strategy was the recent Midlands Engine Trade Summit that attracted over 500 delegates and at which International Trade Minister Mark Garnier announced the Export Champions programme.

Secondly, in November last year, we launched great.gov.uk as a single digital platform for trade and investment information as part of our Exporting is GREAT campaign. Whether you’re new or an experienced exporter, we can provide step-by-step support and help find new sales opportunities in almost every sector. Our website brings together UK businesses with international buyers and investors in a truly innovative way.

Finally, we organise overseas trade missions to showcase what the East Midlands has to offer, including missions to the USA, China, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Prague and India last year, helping businesses secure £1.3 million and a further £7.5 million is expected over the next twelve months. We have also worked with Local Enterprise Partnerships to represent the region for the first time at MIPIM in Cannes, as the Midlands UK, where we launched a new portfolio of investment opportunities worth over £7 billion.

So I think the prospects for the East Midlands are good.

There’s underlying growth and exports are steady, and I think there’s still a big opportunity to join forces across the Midlands to harness our collective strength to maximum effect. This kind of partnership working is essential if we are to achieve the ambition of the Government’s Midlands Engine strategy.

We want to ensure that by 2020 we greatly increase, not only the number of exporters, but also the overall value of goods exported.

If you’re looking to expand your business and trade overseas then the DIT East Midlands team is here to help you succeed. The demand is out there. You should be too.

Export enquiries? Get in touch E: info@tradeEM.co.uk T: 0345 052 4001 W: www.great.gov.uk

47

OURHONORANDS

Hollie Webb

8

The University of Derby Magazine

S

he took the British women’s hockey team to victory at the 2016 Rio Olympics and now Hollie Webb MBE has her eyes set on Tokyo 2020. Kelly Tyler speaks to the Derbyshire-born golden girl to find out what it takes to be an Olympic athlete.

athletics, the youngster spent all of her time after school and during the summer holidays playing different sports.

The first time Hollie Webb watched the Olympic Games on TV, the young sports player was mesmerised.

“From the moment I started playing hockey, I loved it and very quickly it became my favourite sport,” says Hollie. “I loved the team environment and I really wanted to do well at it. I was naturally very competitive because of playing so many sports and I was always on the lookout for the next big opportunity.”

At just nine years old, Hollie knew, for certain, she wanted to play at the infamous Games.

What she didn’t realise back then was that 16 years later she would be at the Olympic Games in Rio with Team GB’s women’s hockey squad and would score the winning penalty against the Netherlands – earning the team their firstever Olympic gold.

“When I was at primary school we did a project about the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games,” Hollie vividly recalls.

“It was the first time I had ever watched the Olympics and I was glued to the TV. That was the moment I knew I definitely wanted to take part. It gave me goose bumps; I wanted to go to the Olympics and I was going to do everything I could to get there.”

Looking back over her childhood, Hollie, now 26, was undoubtedly destined for a career in sport.

From netball and football, to tennis, gymnastics, swimming, cross country and

“It gave me goose bumps; I wanted to go to the Olympics and I was going to do everything I could to get there.”

But it wasn’t until the age of eight, when she joined Belper Hockey Club after spotting an advert in her primary school, that she truly found her field.

The youngster excelled at her local hockey club and was soon playing for England – progressing through the under 16s, 18s and 21s squad, and training at Bisham Abbey, in Berkshire.

But hockey wasn’t the only thing Hollie was good at.

Academically bright, the talented teenager also had her sights on a career as an accountant.

“Before 2009, it had never been an option for hockey to be a full-time career due to funding,” Hollie explains.

“Even though I had always wanted to play hockey for a living, I knew it may never happen. I was determined academically as well and had always planned on going to university.”

It was during her third-year at the University of Sheffield while she was studying for a degree in Economics, that Hollie was offered a trial to play for the Team GB hockey squad.

“I was obviously really happy but I wasn’t expecting anything from it. I got asked to play full-time on the programme in my last year of University and that was amazing but, while I was really pleased, I was just taking it one step at a time and not thinking too far ahead.”

It was in 2013 when Hollie made the step up to the GB and England Women’s Senior Squad.

“When I first joined in the January, some of the girls who had played the London 2012 Olympics were still on their break. It wasn’t until they came back in the April that it really hit me that I was playing on the same pitch as Olympic hockey players.”

The next three years were spent training for the 2016 Rio Olympics and, with only 16 places on the Great Britain team, and 31 hockey players on the women’s programme, competition was fierce.

Photo Credit: Bob Thomas/Popperfoto

49

“It’s weird because you are constantly competing against your friends, but at the same time you want them to play better because that means the team is going to play better,” says Hollie.

“Going up to take the penalty I wasn’t nervous at all,” says Hollie. “I focused on what it was rather than the significance of it. I was the happiest and most excited I have ever been when the ball went in.

“There were times, and there still are, when you wake up and every muscle in your body hurts. Some of our training sessions are so hard, you are literally pulling each other along but that’s what makes us so successful. It was constantly in our minds that the athletes who go to Rio are in the best possible shape.

“Seeing all my teammates running towards me is, without a doubt, my favourite moment from the Games. Some of the girls cried instantly, some couldn’t say anything. It was just the most incredible feeling.

“The most amazing thing though has been how many people have come up to me and talked about hockey since the Olympics. Hockey is now talked about and in the public eye.”

“Ultimately, you are fighting for your place and position every single day.”

But despite being an incredibly talented hockey player, Hollie never thought she would be selected for Rio. “When I got the email, it was so surreal I had to get someone to read it to me and check my name was on the list,” she recalls.

“I don’t think it really sunk in until we were on the plane to Rio because you always had in the back of your mind that if you get injured between now and the Olympics, that will be the end of it.”

But despite the Olympic Games being the biggest moment in her career, Hollie said it was “business as usual”.

“There’s so much magic, mystery and excitement around the Olympics when you watch it from the outside, but when you’re in it it’s completely different,” Hollie explains.

“Obviously it’s amazing, but when you’re in the moment, it’s just hockey, it’s just another game, you are with your team doing the same thing you do every day. Thinking like this was good for me, mentally, and helped me handle the nerves.”

After defeating New Zealand 3-0 in the semi-final, Hollie’s team beat the Netherlands on penalties, with Hollie scoring the vital final penalty.

10

Now, Hollie’s sights are set firmly on qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Hollie, who is currently on a graduate finance scheme, is also working to become a fully trained accountant and, later this year, will marry her fiancé Tom. And what after 2020?

“At the moment I definitely want to play hockey. I’m doing what I love every single day, why would I not want to do it for as long as I can?”

Who is your biggest inspiration?

My parents, even though they aren’t sporty. I grew up being told that I could achieve whatever I wanted to.

What’s the best piece you’ve ever been given?

You can only do your best, then you have no regrets after that. Nothing is off limits. If you really want something and you are prepared to work hard and make certain sacrifices then you can achieve it.

What tips would you give to budding sports players?

Believe in yourself. Be prepared to work really hard and enjoy it.

POSTGRADUATE STUDY AT DERBY FULL-TIME | PART-TIME | ONLINE BOOK YOUR OPEN MORNING Saturday 1 July, 10am-1pm derby.ac.uk/pg

Judith Lamie

12

The University of Derby Magazine

S

ince joining the University of Derby as Pro ViceChancellor, External Affairs last summer, Professor Judith Lamie has made international partnerships one of her top priorities. Jeremy Swan speaks to her to find out more about Derby’s international ambitions and the benefits of thinking globally.

"You can learn so much from the people who you study with and international students – and indeed staff – bring a great cultural enrichment to the institution."

“Many of the challenges we face today, from food security to climate change, are issues that affect all people. As far as I am concerned, the only way we can overcome these challenges is to work together globally.”

Her firm belief in the benefits of thinking globally stems from her own experiences of engaging with other cultures – an opportunity that she would like to bring to more students in Derby.

“Early on in my career I went out to teach in Japan and this experience really opened up my mind. I came from a strong working class background and was the first person in my family to go to university. I hadn’t even been outside the UK before, so this was a fantastic opportunity for me. I learned as much about myself as I did about the country itself. I still get that same experience whenever I visit new cities or countries today.

“Having that exposure to other cultures helps broaden people’s minds and so we’re looking to grow the number of international students at the University of Derby. You can learn so much from the people who you study with and international students – and indeed staff – bring a great cultural enrichment to the institution.”

There’s no doubt that international students bring significant benefits. In fact the majority of British people don’t regard them as immigrants, believing they should be entitled to work for a fixed period of time after graduation.1 This is a view shared by Judith.

“International students shouldn’t be included in the migration statistics because they are hugely important, not just to the Higher Education sector, but to the country as a whole. In economic terms, Derby’s international students and their families contribute over £14 million to the local economy every year.

“This benefit could be increased if the Government were to follow the example of countries like Australia and reinstate post study work for international students. Not only will international students contribute more to the UK economy over the duration of their stay, but they will develop an even stronger and deeper connection to Derby. If they work in a local company for, let’s say, a year before going home, then there’s an increased chance they will do business with Derby in the future because they have links to the business community.”

Universities UK (2017), ‘The Economic Impact of International Students’ and ‘What the British public really think about international students’, available at www.universitiesuk.ac.uk.

1

13 4

"International partnerships will be key to Britain’s long-term prosperity and as a country, we need to make it very clear that we are not turning our back on the world."

One big challenge facing the country in the wake of the Brexit vote is convincing the world that Britain is open for business. Judith believes there are lots of opportunities that Derby could benefit from if we can get this message across.

Making connections with organisations and universities around the world is a fundamental part of the University of Derby’s ambitious international strategy.

“We have some really strong partnerships with some world-renowned global players. One of these is with CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in which our data science, cloud computing and electronic engineering experts have an associate membership of ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment). We’re also partnered with the University of Jiangsu and Tongji University in China, and we’re exchanging students and staff, as well as collaborating on major research projects. Partnerships like these are hugely beneficial and our ambition is to extend our academic and industrial connections worldwide.

“Internationalisation of the student experience is also an important aim of our International Strategy. An internationalised curriculum and the development of opportunities for international placements will provide an intellectually stimulating environment and enhance the student experience. We therefore want our students to have as many opportunities as possible to study, volunteer or work abroad, and some of this can be achieved through the increased development of exchange programmes.

These kind of experiences will open up more opportunities for them to secure excellent jobs in the future and that’s something that we’re passionate about. Crucially, you can only do things like that if you establish mutually beneficial arrangements with overseas partners.”

14

“It’s very interesting that whenever I go overseas, whether it’s China, Botswana or Switzerland, one of the first topics of conversation is Brexit. It’s become a global concern and one of the issues is around the level of uncertainty.

We simply don’t know what is going to happen. If we take education as an example, there’s a recognition on both sides of the channel that the UK education system is still very much connected to Europe. We don’t yet know what that future relationship will look like but it’s vitally important for us to continue to collaborate closely on exchange programmes and research projects with our European partners.

“International partnerships will be key to Britain’s long-term prosperity and as a country, we need to make it very clear that we are not turning our back on the world. I recently joined a Derbyshire delegation to Anhui province in China.

Anhui is a huge province – about the size of the UK – and there are numerous opportunities for us to collaborate with them on areas such as trade, education, culture, tourism, skills and investment projects. Derby has so much to offer the world and I’m delighted that Derbyshire officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding with their Chinese counterparts, which I’m sure will mark the beginning of a fruitful partnership.

“We want Derby to flourish and local people to benefit from good employment opportunities. We therefore need to increase our economic output and partnership working offers a way to achieve this.

“It’s no longer about what you can achieve individually.

You can achieve so much more by working with others who share your ambitions.”

BOOST PRODUCTIVITY EMPLOY AN APPRENTICE

A Degree Apprenticeship from the University of Derby offers an excellent way to attract and retain the best people for your business Degree Apprenticeships are available in: • Aerospace Engineer: BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering • Civil Engineering Site Management: Bsc (Hons) Civil Engineering Apprentice • Civil Engineering Design: BEng (Hons) Civil and Infrastructure Engineering

• Cyber Security Analyst: BSc (Hons) Digital and Technology Solutions Cyber Security Analyst - Integrated Degree • Chartered Manager: BA (Hons) Leadership & Business Management • Nursing: BSc (Hons) Nursing

Find out more about how your business could benefit.

Contact us on: 0800 0015500 or email apprenticeships@derby.ac.uk

derby.ac.uk/apprenticeships

INS

PIR

E

” We h youth ad the b and p club in t iggest an d bes he ci eople t y t took note of Derby of it.“ In 2016, Enthusiasm helped 6,500 young people across the country from disadvantaged communities and who are most at risk of offending and social exclusion. Kelly Tyler speaks to Joseph and Heather Russo, founders of the Derby-established charity, to find out what it takes to launch such an organisation and why, 25 years on, their support is needed more than ever.

It was after spotting a group of young people stealing lead from the roof of a factory in Osmaston, Derby, that Joseph Russo realised he needed to do something urgently to help his community.

Born to Italian immigrant parents and raised in Manchester, Joseph moved to Derby in 1992 to start his career as a self-employed carpenter.

Severely dyslexic and unable to read and write, Joseph was more than aware of the difficulties young people

16

face but, thankfully for him, his parents were extremely supportive.

“I grew up thinking everyone had family around them to support them but when I moved to Derby I realised that wasn’t necessarily the case,” recalls Joseph.

“As a good citizen, I decided to go out to some kids I’d seen stealing lead and address their anti-social behaviour. They told me they were bored and wanted some money.

“I looked at this one kid and asked him what his Dad would say if he caught him stealing. He turned to me and said his Dad wouldn’t say anything because he would be in jail for the next 10 years of his life.

“At that moment, I realised these kids didn’t have any support and that’s where the inspiration for Enthusiasm came from.”

The University of Derby Magazine

” Our b that iggest a yearswe are s chieveme peop and still till here a nt is f le's li ves“ changing ter 25 youn g

“We took risks and that’s what made it a success.

The kid we let run our tuck shop had a history of theft and burglary but we let him take control. We gave the children lots of opportunities and it paid off.

“We had the biggest and best youth club in the city of Derby and people took note of it.”

In 1994, Heather, who was training to be a nurse in Derby, got on board with the youth clubs and in 1995, she and Joseph got married.

The pair began campaigning for the area of Osmaston and Allenton and, after securing a large amount of funding, in July 2001, Enthusiasm became a registered charity.

That summer, Joseph, along with a team of volunteers, started a youth club at Saint Martin’s Church, in Allenton.

Luckily, the church had the facilities to host a youth club but had never previously been able to sustain a weekly group because every time they set one up, it had to be shut down due to bad behaviour.

But Joseph’s youth club was different – it was a huge success and, shortly after launching, had more than 100 children coming through the doors every Friday night.

“The youth club was incredibly popular. I was running my carpentry business at the time and was pulling on contacts I had made at the nearby secondary school, Derby Homes – the main social landlords in the area – as well as the local beat bobby.

“I was doing my nurse training, Joseph was running his carpentry business, we were mentoring young people and running the organisation from our front room – all the while we were desperately trying to get the charity registered,” explains Heather.

“When the first pot of money came through it was such a relief that someone recognised what we were trying to achieve and had faith we could do it.”

Fast forward 25 years and the charity has expanded its Derby branch to Nottingham and Manchester, and is far more than just a youth club.

In 2016, the charity supported 6,500 young people and, over the last 25 years it is estimated the team has come into contact with 50,000 children – 2,500 of those were mentored on a one-to-one basis.

17 4

Working with 10-25 year-olds, the charity aims to see young people fulfil their true potential in life by diverting them from crime, raising aspirations, building self-esteem and equipping others to aspire to excellence.

From going into schools to deliver workshops and assemblies, to running 14 weekly youth clubs and oneto-one mentoring for children who have been referred to the charity by schools or social services, Enthusiasm’s 23-strong team work tirelessly to help young people to become mentors to others in their peer group.

“Some of the children we mentor have been in and out of prison, have no family, are gang members or are children who have grown up in the care system,” says Joseph.

“Over a period of three to six months we start to assess the needs of the young person, as well as working to empower their parents.

“We can’t make people come to us but if they do we can try and help. A lot of our children are damaged goods, with many of them suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Some of the children we work with have witnessed their parents being attacked, murdered, or have grown up in a household where guns and violence is the norm. These children just need somebody to love and care for them.

“Over the years, the children we have mentored have gone on to become volunteers at Enthusiasm and are now teachers, managers of children’s homes, or work in local authority and homeless shelters. Our impact on those individuals spreads far and wide.”

But despite having a huge impact, the road to becoming a charity hasn’t been easy and the journey to get funding is getting tougher.

This year, the charity is celebrating its 25th anniversary and aims to raise £25,000 to help support more children across the UK. “Enthusiasm has a programme that costs £2,500 to mentor a young person for a whole year. This includes regular weekly visits, activities and inter-agency meetings, where appropriate. If that child gets locked up it costs the state over £200,000. If they come to us first we can avoid that happening but we need funding to continue what we are doing,” explains Joseph.

“Our biggest challenge is to maintain our integrity – who

18

we are and where we come from – and not to become corporate and over-regulated.

“That challenge often comes with funding. A lot of Government schemes are ‘Payment by Results’, which mean that in order to get funding, results have to be in the form of, in our case, young people getting a qualification or job – a measurable, tangible result.

“So there’s a disparity there, as a result for me is knowing that a gang kid is no longer carrying weapons

” This choic is not a jo enthue. You ha b, it’s a l and wsiasm to ve to ha ifestyle do En ve e hav t e so muchhusiasm of it.“ because they have changed their ways – that’s a significant outcome.”

“Our biggest achievement is that we are still here after 25 years and still changing young people’s lives,” smiles Joseph.

successful Friday night youth club in Allenton with wellresourced dedicated staff who give their all to the youth work. We have gone far beyond that and it’s incredible.”

“We have proved that you must never ever give up,” adds Heather. “This is not a job, it’s a lifestyle choice.

You have to have enthusiasm to do Enthusiasm and we have so much of it. We cannot wait for what the future holds.”

“I never had a dream that we would be what we are.

My wildest dream was that we would be running a

www.enthusiasm.org.uk

And the charity’s biggest achievement?

19 4

SPOTLIGHT ON...

NIGEL OLSSON Jenny McNicholas speaks to Nigel Olsson, Elton John’s long-serving drummer, about working in the music industry for over 45 years, performing at Madison Square Garden with John Lennon and visiting Derby with the band this summer.

20

The University of Derby Magazine

You helped define Elton John’s band in the 1970s, how does it feel to have been part of that?

It’s been an amazing journey and I can’t believe we’re still going strong over 45 years later, and now more than ever we’re filling up venues all over the world. It’s great to see how our music has gone through generations – it’s so heart-warming when I see kids singing our songs.

What has it been like working with Elton John for 47 years?

It’s been an amazing journey. He’s just a regular guy with a huge heart, he’s very funny and tremendously kind. He does all he can to help people and to change the world. The work he does for the Elton John AIDS Foundation is just incredible.

You started out as a singer in Sunderland. Did you ever think you’d be where you are now and what made you go from singing to being a drummer?

I didn’t for one second think this would be my life. I started out as a lead singer in a band. There was one night our drummer didn’t turn up for the show. I could keep time, so I went on the drums, and something clicked. I thought, I like it here. Plus, when playing at working men’s clubs, when they started hurling things at you, at least you had cymbals to protect you! So I stuck on the drums and that’s how my career started. What I used to do was put headphones on and listen to Cliff Richard or Lonnie Donegan and play to their records. I then moved down to London to join a band, which is how I met Elton John and visual artist and songwriter Bernie Taupin.

Are you looking forward to performing in Derby?

I’m really excited to perform in the city. I have a lot of family and friends in Derby so it will be great to visit and see them all.

What’s been the most memorable experience in your career so far?

Just to be involved in the history of music is an absolute dream come true.

It’s difficult to pinpoint one experience as so many brilliant things have happened to us, although there is one that stands out. Having grown up with The Beatles, performing at Madison Square Garden in New York with John Lennon was a moment in my life I will never forget.

John used to come to the studio and hang out with us.

We had so many great times together, he was just one of the lads.

You saw so many songs materialise from the studio through to being huge records, that must have been such an incredible journey.

It was such a joy to be in the studio watching Bernie Taupin and Elton John – to be sitting there when Bernie handed Elton a set of lyrics and then Elton would go to the piano and start creating the song – it was just magical. We were all on the same wavelength and knew exactly what we were all going to play and how we were going to create each song. Most of the early records we did were cut in the first or second take.

What’s your favourite song to perform and why?

All of them are my favourites but I’d rather play ballads because I’m a big romanticist. When I perform ballads, they come from my heart.

How do you prepare yourself for every performance?

I still get really nervous before every performance, but as soon as I get on stage I’m fine. I just want to put the best show on for our fans. My motto is if I can look out in the audience every night in this day and age, in this crazy world, and see just one person smiling, my job is done. Because we have taken them into a space where they don’t think about what’s going on in the world, they’re just enjoying themselves and having a good time.

What’s the biggest challenge facing musicians today?

Making it in the industry and keeping it going is very tough because there’s so much competition out there.

For me, it was being in the right place at the right time and I got very lucky. I’m blessed to have had, and still have, this amazing career but it’s a very, very tough business.

What do you hope the legacy of the band will be?

That people will look back and remember that it’s all from the heart and when they listen to us that they get the same enjoyment out of it that we put into it.

Tickets are still available to see Elton and His Band: Wonderful Crazy Night Tour at: ticketmaster.co.uk and hospitality packages for the June 4 Derby concert are available from: derbyshireccc.com.

Photography - Steve Jennings

21 4

EDUCATION IN DERBY Writer: Jenny McNicholas

"Derby has been an economic success story this decade."

Financial Times (2016)

W

ith over £3 billion of investment in the city over the past ten years, the fastest growing economy in the UK, Derby is a thriving city on the up. Despite this, education in the city has been regarded by Ofsted as ‘distinctly second division’, with the East Midlands the joint lowest performing region. As a result of this the city has been identified as an Opportunity Area and will have access to £6 million funding to help improve education standards. How can there be such a gulf between the city’s success and its education provision?

22

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, opens the discussion by asking how education in our city has become ‘distinctly second division’ and where do we go from here?

Richard Gerver kick starts the debate: “There are times when chief inspectors of schools come out with very sweeping statements, which really troubles me. I’m not in denial, there are significant problems in the East Midlands around education. But to say it’s distinctly second division doesn’t help anybody, especially those schools that are achieving exceptional things in our city today.

“When you look at the data, from our region, the schools that are very poor are data poor, which slews the average right down. If you take GCSEs as an example, three of our main secondary schools in the

The University of Derby Magazine

"There are significant problems in the East Midlands around education. But to say it's distinctly second division doesn’t help anybody."

Richard Gerver

city are way above the national average, all in excess of 70%, yet the other secondary schools in the city are way below 50%. What you’re dealing with here are polar opposites. What we’re not dealing with is a universality of poor education in Derby.”

At the table: Chair: • Professor Kathryn Mitchell, University of Derby Vice-Chancellor, and Chair of the Opportunity Area initiative Participants: • Richard Gerver, international speaker, author and former headteacher of Grange Primary School in Long Eaton • Councillor Sarah Russell, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, and Board Member of the Opportunity Area initiative • Dr Sarah Charles, Deputy Head of Department for Professional Studies, Institute of Education, University of Derby

Sarah Russell agrees but also feels it’s not just down to schools: “Education is everyone’s responsibility. One of the key areas we need to look at is how we work with parents to ensure children are school ready and that they understand the importance of education.

“I recently visited a primary school in a leafy suburb, which is an outstanding school, although the headteacher made it clear that a lot of children do not start school, school ready. She told me about two children, who were English born, who started school with American accents because all they’d done is sat with an iPad. I was really shocked.”

Richard added: “We also have to take into account the number of children coming in and out of schools from Romany families. Some of these children come into

23 4

Richard Gerver

Councillor Sarah Russell

"English and maths are incredibly important but some children are made to feel worthless because they’re not achieving in those subjects."

Sarah Charles school at seven for the first time and, within three years, they’re put through the same tests as the children who have been in education since they were three years old, and those schools are being held to account in the same way.”

Despite the ‘distinctly second division’ education in the city, the University of Derby’s Institute of Education has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. “The University is providing exceptional newly qualified teachers (NQTs), so why it is that they are held hostage by the schools in which they work? Schools are so entrenched in certain behaviours that NQTs fall into the trap of perpetuating what’s already in place. Now, that to me is fundamentally flawed on every level,” says Sarah Charles.

Richard continues the argument: “Most teachers didn’t come into the job to get excellent exam results, they came into it because they want to change the lives of human beings.”

Sarah Charles comments that the nature of Ofsted inspections needs to be looked into: “School teachers and leaders need to be accountable, but I think inspections have become so focused on core subjects and outcomes, we’re missing the holistic child here, and

24

actually that can, and does, impact on attainment.”

In support Sarah Russell says: “Schools are funnelled to focus on results, they plough all their resources into it and they don’t have resources left for enrichment. If we take one child as an example who’s fortunate enough to go to the zoo at the weekend, and another child who never goes anywhere other than their house, local shop and school – they’re confined and see nothing. So how do you expect both of these children to be able to have the same level of comprehension?”

Sarah Charles says from an early age we are drilling into children that english and maths are the only subjects that count. “However, if every child invests all of their time into these subjects, we will end up with a generation of children who lack skills and knowledge of other subjects. english and maths are incredibly important but some children are made to feel worthless because they’re not achieving in those subjects. Then we’re left with a generation of children who are despondent; they don’t enjoy education because they associate it with failure.

The fundamental philosophy of education is to value different subjects so that children build self-worth.”

Richard added: “I’ve heard a couple of people talking about using the funding from the Opportunity Area

The University of Derby Magazine

Dr Sarah Charles

Professor Kathryn Mitchell

"Most teachers didn’t come into the job to get excellent exam results, they came into it because they want to change the lives of human beings."

Richard Gerver initiative to hire 120 maths teachers and I looked at them and laughed. I thought ‘what on earth are you talking about?’ because what we’ve got to do is stop with the interventions and strip it right back to ask some fundamental questions. For me the starting point is what exactly is our vision for school and education in this city?

What do we want Derby children to look like as human beings?”

Kathryn questioned what can be done to move forward?

“We need to remember to trust teachers and children,” says Richard. “Because if you create dynamic learning environments where there is a context for learning, children will turn up every day going, ‘I want to learn how to read a little bit more please’. It’s not like children are intrinsically lazy and they don’t want to learn. Between 70 and 75% of everything we learn in our lifetime is before we’re five.”

The landscape of education has changed dramatically in recent years, which Sarah Russell believes has had a huge impact on the city’s education. “Historically, what happened in Derby is a number of young people left school at sixteen and got an apprenticeship at RollsRoyce or Bombardier, but those opportunities have

diminished because a lot of large companies are moving those manual jobs abroad. This means those young people don’t have those opportunities anymore. The competition to get an apprenticeship in Rolls-Royce is phenomenal and your attainment levels required to do that are much, much higher now.”

Kathryn closed the debate by asking what role the media plays in influencing the perception of education in the city.

Richard feels they play a pivotal role: “If parents are continually reading in the press that education in the city is terrible, what happens then is the parents start to send their children to school with just a little bit less enthusiasm.

“The danger in the city is we are under pressure and scrutiny, and that’s everybody from councillors, the university, teachers, headteachers, anyone that has any involvement in education.

“What we have to do as a city is ensure we don’t sacrifice the futures of our children to meet that narrow band of what is presumed to be success at the moment.”

25 4

Craig Keegan

Sports Performance Manager, University of Derby

Find a way to win

B

ritain achieved great success in the Rio Olympics when we placed second in the overall leader board with 27 gold medals. As the Assistant Coach of the GB women’s hockey team at the time, I was proud that one of those gold medals belonged to us.

I’ve spent the last 20 years coaching hockey and now that I’ve moved into the business world I will be bringing what I’ve learnt from sport to the office. Our motto in the Olympic hockey team was ‘find a way to win’; this was part of our mind-set and I believe that adopting an athlete’s outlook can help people achieve success in their professional life.

So what can you do to win? When selecting the members of your team you must consider a mixture of skills and abilities. In performance sport the selection process is crucial to enable you to build a successful team and it’s just as important in business.

Create a strong team culture from the offset. Give your staff the opportunity to have their say. For your team to be successful they must be prepared to say how they feel and what they think without the fear of repercussions. It takes time but it is rewarding.

Your team has to be on board and bought into the vision and values of the business. People will buy into your culture if they are given the opportunity to contribute, they feel listened to and valued. In business, providing opportunities for employees to align their values and behaviours as a team can only create a stronger one.

26

In competitive sport the time training is significantly higher than the time spent competing, with 90% training and 10% performing. In business it’s the opposite way around; there’s a constant pressure to perform and little time spent on training or ‘thinking’ time. I believe that by increasing the amount of time allocated for staff to ‘train’ in work, this would create greater success in the future.

The word failure has no place in the world of sport and neither should it in business. Not meeting your target gives you an opportunity to realign and assess whether you have deficiencies in certain areas of your approach, or if it was the right approach to use at all.

As part of competitive sport you have to know your competitors as well as they know themselves. So learn from your opposition but also learn from businesses that aren’t related to your sector. I incorporated aspects of basketball training into my hockey coaching because I found them effective. By overlooking the functions of another business, you can understand how their culture works and incorporate best practice into your performance.

Success is a combination of environment, culture and people. Turn ‘failures’ into opportunities for positive change and learn from everything around you. If you think like an athlete you can succeed like one, and find a way to win.

The University of Derby Magazine

R

enowned as one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs, Kavita Oberoi OBE has spent the last 16 years building her business portfolio. Oberoi Consulting was the first of Kavita’s companies – a major provider of healthcare support services to clients across the NHS and pharmaceutical industry. We speak to the Secret Millionaire star to find out about her latest ventures and how to make it in the challenging world of business.

When did you realise you wanted to become a businesswoman in the healthcare industry?

I was working as a sales representative for Bayer Pharmaceuticals but my heart was set on a new role within the company – a management position. The feedback was that I wouldn’t be a good leader. It was so disappointing. I didn’t feel I could continue to work for someone else so made the decision to go it alone. Once you have made that decision, failure is not an option.

In 2009, you were named in a Bank of Scotland report as one of “Britain’s 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women”. What does it take to become successful?

Sacrifice and dedication is very important. I’m a working mother of two and, while I fulfil my duties as a mum, I always have my eye on the businesses – I work 24/7.

Laser-sharp focus is also critical to success; see it, own it, do it!

What advice would you give people wanting to take a step up in their career and become a leader?

A leader’s job is to inspire – people need to believe and buy into your vision. You need to understand what

motivates individuals and identify their key skill sets, so that you can guide them accordingly to contribute to the overall plan and mission. When you get that right, it’s brilliant.

When you’re not at work, what do you enjoy doing?

I have a fitness trainer who comes to the house three times a week – that’s a bit of me-time and builds my energy for the day. I also like to travel with my family.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

My parents. My father was an outstanding entrepreneur who set up his own plumbing and bathroom company from nothing after he arrived in the UK in the 1960s. The business is now third generation. My mother is my rock.

She was widowed in her early forties when I was 15.

She empowered me to pursue my dreams. I came from a background where men went to work and women didn’t, but my mother was the one that backed and encouraged me to push against the taboo and fulfil my education and career ambitions.

You are also involved in charity work. What made you want to help empower young females through some of the initiatives you have worked on?

My father was a philanthropist and was forever supporting others, so a lot of it came from him. When I got my first Saturday job, I used to give £100 every month to Oxfam. After appearing on the Secret Millionaire I got involved in a lot more charity work. I wanted to help empower women because I know, from personal experience, what a difference it can make.

If you’d like to be the focus of 5 minutes with… get in touch: editor@derby.ac.uk 27 4

With some sectors in the economy suffering from a shortage of qualified workers, apprenticeships could offer a way of bridging the skills gap while at the same time boosting social mobility and worker productivity.

Writer: Jeremy Swan

Photo: Tim Anderson

28

The University of Derby Magazine

Securing the foundations of a strong and dynamic economy is key to our long-term prosperity as Britain prepares for life outside the European Union. But skills shortages in sectors such as fintech (financial technology), hospitality and engineering are holding us back.

Last year a Government report found that almost a quarter of job vacancies were caused by skills shortages, which represents an increase of 43% in just two years.1 In the months since the Brexit vote there have been fewer European workers seeking jobs in Britain, as a result of uncertainty surrounding the right to work, and this has highlighted the skills gap in the domestic labour market.

If we take engineering and defence as examples, then we can begin to see the scale of the gap.

Research carried out by Engineering UK found there is a 20,000 annual shortfall in the number of engineers produced by the education system.2 Meanwhile, experts have warned that the skills gap in the defence sector leaves Britain vulnerable to cyber-attacks.3 The challenge, therefore, is to ensure that our young people learn the skills that employers are looking for.

One of the ways we could accomplish this is through apprenticeships.

In 2015, the Government set a target of three million apprenticeship starts by 2020 as part of a plan to put vocational education on a level with academic study.

Historically, one of the barriers has been that vocational education was regarded by parents as something for “other peoples’ children”.4 But vocational education shouldn’t be seen as a second-class route. There are actually lots of benefits.

different educational and social backgrounds. Higher and Degree Apprenticeships can attract people who wouldn’t otherwise have considered Higher Education and this can help improve social mobility.

Low productivity was described in the Government’s industrial strategy green paper as one of Britain’s “underlying weaknesses” that is holding back the economy. In addition to training new workers, companies could use apprenticeships to upskill their existing workers. This investment in human capital can help boost productivity.

Apprenticeships could offer organisations a recruitment boost, which is especially useful for those hard-to-fill vacancies that require a specific skillset. They’re also a great way for companies to bring in fresh talent and new ideas. Training can be tailored to fit business needs and much of the learning can be done ‘on the job’, so this helps minimise disruption.

Last year a Government report found that almost a quarter of job vacancies were caused by skills shortages, which represents an increase of 43% in just two years.1

Apprenticeships typically take between one and six years to complete, depending on their level, and this flexibility makes them more accessible to people from

1 UKCES (2016), Employer Skills Survey 2015: Skills in the Labour Market, available at www.gov.uk.

2 Engineering UK (2017), The State of Engineering, available at www.engineeringuk.com.

3 Guardian (3 Feb 2017), ‘Skills shortage ‘harming UK’s ability to protect itself from cyber-attacks’.

4 A. Wolf, Does Education Matter? (London, 2002).

29 4

Apprenticeship Levy: what you need to know The Apprenticeship Levy was introduced in April to fund new apprenticeships and help the Government reach its target of three million apprenticeship starts by 2020.

The levy is charged at a rate of 0.5% of an employer’s paybill and the levy will only be paid on annual paybills over £3 million.

Each employer will receive a £15,000 allowance from the Government to offset against their levy payment.

Full guidance is available online at www.gov.uk.

Getting started The University of Derby can help you get started if you are thinking of hiring apprentices or if you’d like to develop your existing apprenticeship programme.

We have a strong background in delivering real-world learning in partnership with industry. That’s why we’re the top university in the East Midlands for graduate employability.5 Currently, we can support apprenticeships at all levels from 2-7 and offer entry points at the level that is suitable for your needs.

Jane Lowe, Acting Head of Apprenticeships at the University of Derby, said: “We recently received £250,000 funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to develop new degree apprenticeships for students starting in September 2017.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to address the skills gaps in the economy. We’re therefore delighted to be launching five degree apprenticeships in response to the specific needs of our region.”

The new degree apprenticeships are: • Nursing • Civil Engineering Site Manager • Digital and Technological Solutions: Cyber Security Analyst • Aerospace Engineer • Chartered Manager To find out more about apprenticeships and the support that is available from the University visit www.derby.ac.uk/apprenticeships or get in touch by emailing apprenticeships@derby.ac.uk.

5 HESA 2016

30

Levels of apprenticeship1 Name

Level

Equivalent educational level

Intermediate

2

5 GCSE passes at grades A* to C

Advanced

3

2 A Level passes

Higher

4,5,6 and 7

Foundation degree and above

Degree

6 and 7

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

1 Table reproduced from www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide/overview.

The University of Derby can help you get started if you are thinking of hiring apprentices or if you’d like to develop your existing apprenticeship programme.

READY TO INVEST IN YOUR WORKFORCE? Ensure your organisation’s success by motivating and engaging your workforce with online learning.

Delivered 100% online, our short courses are designed to enable employers to train and develop their workforce, maximising employee efficiency and benefiting from greater flexibility and accessibility.

Online learning benefits:

 Cost effective

 Ensures consistency

 Easily measurable

By utilising our experience and know-how we can work with employers seeking to develop their workforce by providing a total solutions package, incorporating content development, academic knowledge and hosted solutions.

Call 01332 597888 or email UDOLbusinessdevelopment@derby.ac.uk to discuss further Whether you’re starting out, moving up or starting again

WE’RE READY WHEN YOU ARE

www.derby.ac.uk/online-business

H

ari Punchihewa is Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director at the University of Derby and, as part of this role, is responsible for the estates portfolio and refurbishment projects. In this article, he outlines his vision for the city and explains what the University is already doing to help with Derby’s regeneration.

32

The University of Derby Magazine Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, claimed that we “stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another.” 1 This ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’ is the result of the advancement of communication technology, where billions of people are connected through mobile devices, and other emerging developments such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and nanotechnology.

In the eighteenth century, Derby led the way in the Industrial Revolution that transformed Britain into a global economic superpower. We’ve been a city built on ideas ever since the world’s first modern factory, Derby Silk Mill (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site), was constructed on the shores of the Derwent. Innovation is part of our identity.

As we head towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we need to take inspiration from our history at Derby and make sure that our city is once again equipped to lead the way. Investment is needed to ensure that Derby remains a great place to live, work in and visit.

Projects are already underway across the city. As part of the Midlands Engine Strategy, the Government announced £11 million funding to regenerate the city centre and replace the Assembly Rooms. Infinity Garden Village, on the outskirts of the city, has received ministerial backing and will provide much-needed new housing and local amenities. Toyota’s £240 million investment in its Burnaston plant is another welcome development in our city.

Derby’s heritage, ambition and potential makes it an attractive proposition for investors. At MIPIM 2017, the world’s largest property investor summit, representatives from Derby generated 31 new leads. This shows that the interest is there.

One of the projects unveiled at MIPIM was the University of Derby Science Park, a partnership with Derby City Council.

Our plan is to create an environment where entrepreneurs, academics and global companies can collaborate on innovative ventures to support advanced manufacturing using a combination of research, the latest equipment and 1 Klaus Schwab (14 Jan 2016), ‘The Fourth Industrial Revolution: what is means, how to respond’, www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/the-fourth-industrial-revolution-whatit-means-and-how-to-respond

33 4

digital technology. The 10-acre site is located at Infinity Park Derby, adjacent to the world headquarters of RollsRoyce.2 The University of Derby Science Park will encourage businesses and academics to commercialise worldleading science and will also help to provide a stream of talented graduates equipped with the skills that employers want. Our experts will help both large companies and SMEs in the supply chain to develop skills in their workforce, access specialist equipment and enhance their R&D to improve their productivity and competitiveness.

At present, the majority of students leave Derby during the summer months and many of our graduates choose to begin their careers elsewhere. Developing a University Quarter would give them more opportunities to stay for longer, which would benefit the city through higher levels of spending and a boost to the local labour market.

"As we head towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we need to take inspiration from our history at Derby and make sure that our city is once again equipped to lead the way."

A new development on site will provide office, studio and workshop space between 200 and 10,000 square feet, which will provide flexibility to cater to almost every business need. Companies will also have access to education and training resources, innovation labs, research centres at the University of Derby and knowledge transfer programmes. We want to foster an environment where new ideas are shared between organisations – helping each other to be globally competitive.

The first phase of the University of Derby Science Park is already underway, with the completion of the iHub building, which provides flexible workspace for SMEs hoping to establish themselves, or expand their role in the aerospace, rail and automotive supply chains. A key component of this is Enscite, a collaboration between the University of Derby, Derby City Council and Aston University. Enscite work with SMEs with an annual turnover under £50 million to create sustainable supply chains, develop their workforce, access new markets and increase productivity through new technologies. Working with companies in this way is a priority for the University of Derby, as we recently secured funding through the European Regional Development Fund to deliver a £10 million programme of innovation and business support to SMEs in the region.

We’re also working towards the official designation of a ‘University Quarter’ in Derby. This would be a vibrant social and cultural environment where students can feel confident and develop a greater sense of belonging.

2 For more information about the University of Derby Science Park visit www.uodsp.com

34

The Science Park and University Quarter proposals are part of our ongoing programme of campus improvements.

In the last few years we’ve invested over £150 million to make sure our students have access to some of the most modern facilities in the country. It’s all part of ensuring that our students leave university with the right mix of skills and experience that employers are looking for. All of our courses are designed to respond to the changing needs of industry and our campus improvement programme aims to reflect this.

Recent improvements include a new centre for Derby Law School on Friar Gate, renovated textiles facilities at Chandos Pole, new student accommodation in the city and a new sports centre at Kedleston Road. In September this year, a £12 million extension to our Markeaton Street site will open its doors to students on STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) courses. The new 4,200 square metre facility has been specially designed to enhance teaching in our new Master of Engineering (MEng) programmes and provide upgraded facilities for electrical and electronics engineering and computer networking courses. An accessible roof space will also provide new opportunities for teaching communications technology and sustainable engineering focusing on renewable energy systems and rainwater harvesting.

Looking to the future, I believe that Derby has every reason to be optimistic. Time and again we have proved that we are adaptable and forward-thinking.

But we should take care not to fall into complacency.

Regeneration is about breathing new life into our city and I’m excited to see the new opportunities it will bring.

One thing is for sure: the University will play a key role in building a prosperous future for Derby.

A

new aquatic research facility to help with zoo and conservation research was launched by the College of Life and Natural Sciences in November.

Working alongside the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham, the College has created a specialist facility containing a series of tanks, which allow students, staff and project partners of the University to conduct research associated with marine and freshwater systems.

The space has been designed for dedicated research into animal behaviour, welfare and disease. The current residents are tadpoles, reef corals, freshwater mussels and Malawi Cichlids – a species of African fish.

Dr Michael Sweet, Lecturer in Invertebrate Biology, said: “Since opening, the Aquatic Research Facility is going from strength to strength. Projects in full swing include the role native mussels can play in bio-remediation of polluted water, exploring ideal protein content in tadpole food in an attempt to understand the cause of spindly leg syndrome (a disease which causes the death of many tadpoles from numerous different species), and the role of heterotrophic feeding in corals and whether increased feeding can increase tolerance with regard to bleaching.�

36

The University of Derby Magazine

Nursing Associates

News Round-up

Holocaust survivor Bernard Grunberg

Culinary students with chef Mick Burke

• The University of Derby Online Learning recently introduced a new portfolio of online short courses to meet the growing demand for flexible continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities and organisational workforce development training. Courses range from health and social care to data protection, and are designed to be easily accessible and professionally orientated, allowing learners to apply their knowledge and skills within the workplace straight away.

• The College of Health and Social Care is running a pioneering education programme to train Nursing Associates, a new support role alongside care assistants and registered nurses to deliver hands-on care for patients. In February 110 students – the largest cohort of nursing associates in the UK – began their training at the University.

• In January, Holocaust survivor Bernard Grunberg was invited by the Institute of Education to speak to an audience about his experience within Nazi Germany.

The talk was organised to mark National Holocaust Day and was entitled, “How can life go on?”

Bloomberg Suite

• Buxton, Campus and Culinary Arts students from the College of Business, Law and Social Sciences welcomed Michelin Star

chef, Mick Burke, to reveal the secrets of his sweet success over a two-day event in March. Afterwards, he said: “It’s all about innovation and inspiration, and the students have been superb. They’ve worked hard for two days, producing 50 different products, working well together and as individuals.”

• A ‘Women in STEM’ event was held at the University in March to inspire girls about careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.

The event, organised to mark International Women’s Day, featured talks from external guests, Charlotte Tolley, an undergraduate student from the College of Engineering and Technology, and Aradhana Mehra, Head of Research Centre in the College of Life and Natural Sciences.

• Photography students, from the College of Art, Humanities and Social Sciences, showcased their work in FORMAT 17, Derby’s popular international photography festival. This year the festival theme was ‘HABITAT’ and exhibits explored ideas of landscape, environment, conflict, regeneration and our impact on the world locally and internationally.

• The College of Business, Law and Social Sciences launched their ‘Bloomberg Suite’ in late 2016 to give students access to the same facilities and technologies as finance professionals all over the world.

37 4

Graduate Profiles Fazane Malik Fox

F

rom making clothes out of old pillowcases for her Barbie dolls at four years old, to launching her own multi-award winning label, Fazane Malik is cutting out her place in the fashion world.

“I’ve loved fashion from a very young age and my passion continued through school and into college where I studied a BTEC in Fashion and Clothing before completing my degree at the University of Derby,” she says.

Graduating with a degree in Fashion Studies in 2006, Fazane worked with two top designers in Australia, while studying in her final year, before going on to work with leading retailers such as Hobbs, Jaeger, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Monsoon.

Then, in 2010, she launched fashion label ‘Fazane Malik’, leaving her Senior Account Manager role at a clothing manufacturer in 2011 to concentrate on the business full-time and she hasn’t looked back.

Fazane’s limited edition womenswear is stocked in boutiques worldwide and the mum-of-one’s ambition and entrepreneurial spirit have driven her.

“I wanted to capitalise on my production background so, after the first six months, I set up a second arm to my business ‘Fazane Fox Apparel’ allowing me to work with small brands and retailers to develop their production offers. To date I have worked with over 20 brands, covering products from babywear and menswear to dog clothing and womenswear.”

38

The fashion label and business, which she co-runs with her brother Joseph, has flourished over the past five years, winning Fazane the Midlands Independent Designer of the Year Award in 2013 and securing Runner-up Entrepreneur of the Year 2014 at Nottingham Post’s Women in Business Awards.

More recently, Fazane Fox Apparel scooped the award for ‘Best SME Retail Product Development UK’ at the Manpack Global Manufacturing Awards 2017 and given an Award for Excellence in Customer Service in Nottinghamshire.

Fashion inspiration?

Vivenne Westwood is a big inspiration – it took her 10 years to make it in the industry which not many people know so that keeps me going when things get tough.

Top tips for success?

Get as much experience as you can while studying and then in industry. It’s really important to build good relationships – you’ll need those people to help you succeed.

What does the future hold?

The big focus is to grow the production arm internationally, starting with Europe. We’ll also be re-launching the brand next year with a new look and direction. www.fazanemalik.co.uk and www.fazanefox.co.uk

The University of Derby Magazine

Charlotte Carpenter

R

emember this name. Charlotte Carpenter is a new breed of singer-songwriter. She’s toured with big name acts like George Ezra and Marika Hackman, and released three standout EPs showcasing her own brand of blues-inspired, soulful folk music.

Her passion for music has always existed and, since graduating with a degree in Popular Music and Music Technology from the University of Derby in 2012, Charlotte has been nurturing her craft.

“It’s been a long haul since university. I’ve been touring every corner of the UK and I’ve recently moved onto new territories like Germany and Lithuania. I also started up my own record label and have self-released my music.”

Since releasing ‘The Fault Line’ EP in 2015 and followup EP ‘How Are We Ever To Know’ in June last year, Charlotte has garnered critical acclaim from the likes of music industry heavyweights NME, Clash and BBC Introducing, to name a few.

“I’ve had some amazing success and support from national radio and press, which has been incredible and it feels like the determination and sacrifice is now paying off. Total Guitarist magazine voted me ‘Guitarist to Watch 2016’ and I received my first national radio plays on BBC Radio 2 (Dermot O’Leary) and 6 (Lauren Laverne).

“Then in December 2016, Edith Bowman made my new single ‘Fire’ her record of the week at Virgin Radio. She invited me in to perform a live session and I was sitting next to comedian Ricky Gervais – it was very bizarre!”

Charlotte’s storytelling and song writing talent has been praised as “eerie perfection” and “wonderfully affecting” and critics believe she’ll make an enormous impact in this genre. But where does she draw inspiration?

“It changes all the time, depending on what’s happening within my life personally but I mostly write about relationships and the people around me. I’ve always felt the need to express my mind and I feel as though, like many other artists across all art forms, we are desperately needing to convey or communicate emotion in more than one way. It’s built within us, and it’s impossible to ignore.”

Music inspiration?

Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys, Bonnie Rait and Led Zeppelin.

Top tips for success?

Don’t pass up any opportunities, take some risks, be brave and most importantly be you – authenticity is important.

What does the future hold?

Following my UK tour with my friend Alessi, I’ll be releasing a limited edition vinyl in October when I’ll be touring the UK again but with my band. I’ve also got some festivals booked in for the summer and the big goal for this year is to begin recording my first album. www.charlottecarpentermusic.com www.facebook.com/charlottecarpentermusic

39 4

STUDENT SUCCESS Rosie cooks up a storm as she scoops top prize at national competition

40

The University of Derby Magazine

A

Culinary Arts student who had a childhood dream to run her own restaurant has won a national catering competition.

Rosie Maguire scooped top prize at Young Guns 2017 – a prestigious competition for university and college hospitality students who have undertaken industry placements.

The 20-year-old, who grew up on her parents’ farm in East Sussex, impressed the judges with her wealth of hospitality experience, including her internship at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando in Florida.

And after a 90-second video entry as well as a paper application, Rosie succeeded at a networking dinner held in London where she was given the award alongside fellow competitor Leonora Ramos Brebner from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.

The pair were competing against six other finalists for the accolade, which was awarded by the Council for Hospitality Management Education (CHME).

Rosie said: “I don’t think I can put into words how I felt when they announced I had won. I was absolutely ecstatic but completely in shock, I couldn’t stand up as my legs were shaking so much!

“There were so many amazing applicants so to have been recognised is an absolute honour.”

Rosie, who is studying a Foundation Degree in Professional Culinary Arts at the University’s Buxton Campus, was selected in 2016 to undertake an industry placement in Florida.

Following an extensive interview, including a series of cooking sessions, she was chosen by Loews Portofino Bay Hotel’s Executive Chef

to spend five months at the resort, along with five other Derby students.

During her placement, she worked in five of the resort’s kitchens including the garde manger, where cold food preparation was carried out, a stone baked pizza restaurant, poolside bar and patisserie.

“I’d never been away from home before this so it was daunting and exciting at the same time,” said Rosie. “But to be able to go into a kitchen with so many experienced chefs and get yourself noticed, not just as the intern, but as somebody who actually contributes to the team, was such a valuable opportunity.

“I ended up making a cheeseboard for the CEO of American-Italian restaurant Olive Garden, which was my proudest moment.

“I grew up on a farm which was what got me so passionate about food. I always wanted to turn a derelict barn on our farm into my own restaurant. I never thought I’d be where I am today though.”

Leonard Cseh, Lecturer in Culinary Arts at the University of Derby, added: “Rosie embodies the professionalism we aim to inspire in all of our students. She always strives to be the best and her recent success reflects this.

“Rosie developed her professional skills to such an extent at her placement in Florida that the Executive Chef decided to let her run her own station. This was unheard of previously with placement students.”

Rosie’s award comes as the latest in a long line of success.

She was a finalist in the Nestle Professional Toque D’or 2016 and 2017 competitions, and recently presented a research paper at the CHME’s conference in Denmark.

41 4

Local Link-up Fashion students’ designs on show at Chatsworth

S

uccessful students on the University’s fashion courses have been handpicked by Laura Cavendish, Countess of Burlington, to be part of a new exhibition at Chatsworth House, looking back at five centuries of fashion.

Lady Burlington – part of the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN selection panel – viewed toiles designed by eight students and selected all of them to be exhibited in the Orangery at the ‘House Style: Five centuries of fashion at Chatsworth’ exhibition.

She said: “They’re all really amazing, and it’s so brave to have something totally of the future in the show at Chatsworth – our visitors are going to be very interested in these. It’s not easy to make something so conceptually interesting and yet so simple, and the designs I’ve seen are beautifully constructed.”

The Gucci-sponsored fashion extravaganza, which runs until 22 October 2017 and explores the history of fashion from the Cavendish family, will also feature designs from Christian Dior, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. www.chatsworth.org/events

42

The University of Derby Magazine

New partnership with Buxton Opera House makes sure the show goes on

B

uxton Opera House and the University joined forces for an innovative new partnership, providing a boost to Buxton’s economy.

Avant Homes, one of the UK’s leading privately owned housebuilders based in Chesterfield, was looking for a venue in Buxton to hold its annual conference in.

Christine Sweetmore, Business Development Manager at the University, had a brainwave at 3am one morning to hold it at Buxton Opera House, which won the town the contract.

All the hotels in the town were booked up, and the Opera House became home to the 500 delegates attending the conference. The Devonshire Dome, home to the University’s Buxton Campus, also hosted a gala banquet – planned, organised and catered for by students.

Ewen Crilley, Hospitality Operations Trainer, said: “We believe in exposing our students to real life working environments. Our students value these experiences and enjoy the planning, delivery and evaluation of every event they work in. This approach gives our students much needed opportunities and makes them more employable.” www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk

Derby Book Festival

Birdsong author Sebastian Faulks, which will coincide with the arrival of the Tower of London Poppies exhibition at The Silk Mill.

This year’s Festival also includes: former Home Secretary Alan Johnson with Matthew Parris, Reverend Richard Coles, historian Alison Weir, Dame Jenni Murray, Sarah Perry (The Essex Serpent), architectural historian Dan Cruickshank, performance poet John Hegley, comediennes Jenny Éclair and Shappi Khorsandi, Guardian columnist Tim Dowling, Louise Doughty (Apple Tree Yard) and Salley Vickers (Miss Garnet’s Angel). www.derbybookfestival.com

Family Fun Day attracts record visitor numbers

F

ive thousand visitors took part in the University of Derby’s largest ever Family Fun Day on Sunday 30 April. The event, which is free to attend, was first held in 2012 to mark the London Olympics and has continued to grow year-on-year.

This year’s pirate-themed event was packed full of activities including sports, crafts, exotic animals, bouncy castles and, of course, a treasure hunt.

Rosie Marshalsay, Head of External Relations at the University of Derby, said: “It’s a real pleasure to see so many people enjoy themselves at the Family Fun Day. We wanted to give something back to the community and I’m delighted that its popularity continues to grow each year.”

T

he third Derby Book Festival has been launched and opens from 9 – 17 June 2017.

The Festival takes place in venues across the city with more than 70 exciting events, featuring top writers, poets, historians, politicians, illustrators, storytellers and musicians. This year’s Festival will cover topics from birding to buttons, fashion to football and mindfulness to music, so there is something for everyone.

The University of Derby is one of the main funders of the Festival and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kathryn Mitchell, will be interviewing Dame Jenni Murray and author Wendy Holden. Staff and students from across the University have been involved with the Festival, including students from the teaching, art and design and publishing courses – who took part in a photoshoot for the launch.

The Festival opens on Friday 9 June with an event, sponsored by Peveril Homes, in Derby Cathedral with

43 4

University of Derby Estates team crowned Team of the Year The Estates team and Henry Boot Construction were crowned Team of the Year at the Efficiency East Midlands Building Communities Awards for the St Helena Campus in Chesterfield. The third annual Building Communities Awards was held at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham.

The Estates team have also been shortlisted for two awards at the RICS East Midlands Awards in the Building Conversation and Regeneration category for this campus.

Snap shots from the University and beyond…

Accounting lead wins PQ Magazine Award Nagin Lad, Professional Programmes Lead from the University of Derby’s accounting division, was shortlisted and won Lecturer of the Year - Public Sector at the 2017 PQ Awards which took place in February at London’s Café de Paris Estates team crowned Team of the Year

The 3rd Degree

Julie Stone, Director of UDOL

44

Nagin Lad

PQ Magazine is the leading magazine for part-qualified accountants and this year a record number of nominations were received.

Director of University of Derby Online (UDOL) presents at Bett Asia conference Julie Stone, Director of UDOL, was invited to attend the Bett Asia conference to share her knowledge of online learning among leaders in the sector. The Bett Asia Leadership Summit is a cutting-edge conference held in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together the leading decision makers within education technology.

University plays host to BBC Radio 4 quiz show - The 3rd Degree Recorded in front of a live audience in one of the University’s main lecture theatres, the show pitted a team of three academics versus three students with hilarious consequences. The show was hosted by Steve Punt (Mary Whitehouse Experience, Punt & Dennis, The Now Show).

The University of Derby Magazine

Save the date CULTURE

THEATRE

Derby Book Festival Various locations in and around Derby city centre 9 - 17 June The third book festival plays host to many bestselling authors including Sebastian Faulks and Dan Cruickshank. www.derbybookfestival.co.uk

Great Expectations

Derby Theatre, Derby, DE1 2NF 30 September - 21 October Derby Theatre brings this classic story to life in Neil Bartlett’s brilliant adaptation, using the magnificent language of Dickens’ original. www.derbytheatre.co.uk

Ray Mears Buxton Opera House, Buxton, Derbyshire 16 October Catch Ray Mears on his Born To Go Wild tour in Buxton this Autumn. www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk/raymears

FESTIVALS

4 - 6 August As Donington Park celebrates its 40th year, the Donington Classic Motorcycle Festival returns with New Zealander Simon Crafar confirmed as a star guest. www.donington-park.co.uk

Derby Feste

29 - 30 September Expect the unexpected as this multimedia festival hits the streets of Derby!

Silk Mill, Derby, DE1 3AF 9 June - 23 July

www.visitderby.co.uk

Castle Donington, Derby, DE74 2RP

Various locations in and around Derby city centre

Poppies: Wave and Weeping Window by Paul Cummins

As part of the 14-18 NOW tour the Silk Mill will host the iconic poppy sculpture created by University of Derby graduate and honorary Paul Cummins MBE. The original sculpture comprised 888,246 ceramic poppies which were first revealed to the world in the moat at the Tower of London in 2014.

Donington Classic Motorcycle Festival

www.derbyfeste.com

Eroica Britannia

Nr Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 0DY 16 - 18 June The world’s most handsome cycling festival with cycles, camping, carousing and more for all the family. www.eroicabritannia.co.uk

Derby Folk Festival Cathedral Quarter, Derby, DE1 3AH 6 - 8 October Back for its 11th year this is a perennial favourite for lovers of all things folk. www.derbylive.co.uk

45 4

Last Word T

he Last Word sounds frankly ominous – but it is in a way fitting, as it is with great regret that I am moving on this summer from my role as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Portfolio at the University of Derby.

The range and impact of Derby’s work with our communities, which is shown throughout this publication, is a key element in providing assurance that the region will be able to deliver on its ambitions for growth and increasing opportunity for those who live and work within it.

My role title is a bit of a mouthful – but it sums up the nature of the job that I have been tasked with, namely taking the lead in working with all of the academic units to ensure that the academic endeavour, which is our core responsibility as a university, is always moving forward and striving for excellence.

Reading this magazine, you get a real sense of the range of engagements that characterise a modern university. The popularity of Higher Education means universities are moving increasingly centre stage, both in terms of the national strategic planning for the future success of the country, and as “anchor institutions” in their communities, delivering regional growth.

At the heart of the mission of every university are the twin goals of creating and transmitting knowledge. The balance between these goals, and the way in which they are operationalised, varies between institutions, and both shapes and is shaped by each institution’s culture. But the impact of that process of articulation and delivery on the cities and regions in which each university is based should not be underestimated.

I’ve had the great privilege of working as part of the Executive team since 2011, during which we’ve seen a step change in the academic performance of the university.

Put simply, our students commit to their programmes in increasing numbers, achieve great outcomes, and increasingly have outstanding opportunities for graduate-level employment. And during this process we have maintained our commitment to creating opportunity for people who when they joined our community, would never have dreamed that they could achieve at the levels that they demonstrate at graduation.

£

It has been a vibrant and exciting six years; working with committed colleagues, meeting superb students of all ages, and being part of an Executive team led by two outstanding Vice-Chancellors. I will miss Derby very much, and will always be proud of the University.

Like any good academic I have ensured that I have continued to learn while I have been in role, and I will now take that learning with me to my next job. I wish the University of Derby very well.

Professor Philip Plowden

QAZWSXEDCRFVTGBYHNUJMIKOLPff

46

University in the East Midlands for employability (HESA 2016, graduating class over 2,000)

MILLION invested in our facilities in the last 10 years

MILLION annual impact on the UK economy

None of our waste is sent to landfill. If it can’t be recycled, it’s turned into energy

www.derby.ac.uk