Forewords
Rt Hon Justine Greening, Chair of the Purpose Coalition and former Secretary of State for Education
Nick Forbes CBE, former member of Sir Keir Starmer’s Shadow Cabinet and Chair of the Breaking Down Barriers Commission
Professor Georgina Andrews, Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University
An Overview of Bath Spa University and its Purpose
1.1 An Introduction
1.2 Bath Spa University’s Purpose
Rt Hon Justine Greening, Chair of the Purpose Coalition and former Secretary of State for Education
Universities are anchor institutions. Of course, their primary role is to provide higher education, but they also make a far wider contribution to delivering equality of opportunity across the country through their outreach work, student support and encouragement of entrepreneurship. They drive economic growth in their local areas too.
They are also agents of change. In a society where it is still too often the case that who you know or where you are from dictates how successful you are, getting a degree and experiencing life at university can be transformational. For me, from a family where I was the first to go to university and from a town which traditionally had few prospects, going to university gave me access to opportunities I would never have had without it.
But the win is greater than any individual achievement. Rooted in their communities across the country, universities do the hard yards of
seeking out talent in disadvantaged areas where there is often no experience of going to university and in some cases little experience of work, educating potential students and their families on what going to university entails and what opportunities can result. That talent pipeline then filters out into the local area, with graduates going on to contribute to local economies, linking up with employers with whom universities have often already developed constructive relationships. Their cutting-edge, world class research facilities power local tech hubs and businesses, and act as magnets for further inward investment.
The best purpose-led universities recognise the extent of the impact they can have. Bath Spa University’s ambitions are encapsulated in its own Strategy 2030 Report which has four areas of key focus: creativity, enterprise, talent and enablers. The work it has engaged in with the Purpose Coalition very much reflects those aims and this report showcases how that approach is generating opportunity for its students, its staff and the communities it serves. Its success is evidenced by the awards it has received just in the last year - University of the Year for Social Inclusion by The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, in recognition of its commitment to empower students from all backgrounds, and the Social Enterprise Gold Mark to acknowledge its work as a social enterprise, the first in the South West and the fifth in the UK to achieve the standard.
I am confident that Bath Spa University’s blend of history and modern education, and its determination to play an important role in its local communities, will see it go even further in its mission to meet the challenges of today’s world and make a significant contribution to a fairer society.
Nick Forbes CBE, former member of Sir Keir Starmer’s Shadow Cabinet and Chair of the Breaking Down Barriers Commission
The Breaking Down Barriers Commission was established to shape the role that businesses, universities and other organisations committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity for their customers, colleagues and communities can play in society.
A new government in 2024 provided an opportunity to redefine the way responsible organisations work together to deliver a fairer society and make a tangible difference. Universities are key to this ambition, with a renewed emphasis on the role they play in reducing inequality, supporting communities and creating opportunities. More recently, the Prime Minister has set out six milestone targets in his plan for change, including giving children the best start in life.
Early years education is the focus of the first of 15 Purpose Goals - Strong Foundations in Early Years - which identify the key barriers to opportunity and form a framework that
purpose-led organisations can measure themselves against. Research suggests that on average 40% of the development gap between disadvantaged 16-year-olds and their peers has already emerged by the age of five, so it is clear that a strong foundation in early years education is crucial to achieving sound social mobility.
This report demonstrates that this is just one aspect of the work that Bath Spa University is engaged in across a range of Purpose Goals, and which is breaking down the barriers to opportunity and making a difference. Practical placements working with children and families are a key fundamental aspect of its Early Years degree programmes, enabling students to develop skills to apply in their future careers that will make a positive impact on the lives of young children in the area and beyond. Whether through its Centre for Research in Early Childhood, which contributes to education policy, practice and theory and ensures that the importance of positive foundation years is more widely acknowledged, or through its Playful Green Planet programme – the first of its kind in the country – which helps young children connect with nature, the University demonstrates the creativity and innovation that is so much a part of its heritage.
As one of the UK’s largest providers of teacher education, Bath Spa University’s contribution to breaking down barriers to opportunity goes far further than early years. It works with many local, national and international educational partners to share best practice and develop talent pipelines. Similar partnerships with other organisations relating to regional social mobility, wellbeing or access to justice are some examples of its commitment to addressing wider social and economic challenges.
This report showcases a host of best practice where Bath Spa University is delivering a positive social impact and includes recommendations of how it can go even further, equipping students and communities with the tools to drive societal change.
Professor Georgina Andrews, Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University
Bath Spa University is a Professionally Creative university for the future. We believe that creativity is our human superpower, and Professional Creativity is at the heart of BSU’s purpose and planning, placing us as a lead for creativity and innovation in the West of England and more widely.
Our students, staff and partnerships make BSU a special place, rich in diversity, with people coming to work and study from all over the country and from around the world, with a huge range of life experiences, beliefs, and identities.
BSU teaches from campuses across Bath, from our centre in London and in partnership with our franchise institutions across the UK and internationally in UAE, Malta and China.
BSU is a key partner in the local, regional and national economy and this year signed a Civic Agreement with three other anchor institutions in Bath to commit to work more closely together for the benefit of our home region.
The agreement sets out the intention of the four institutions to collaborate and address key challenges and opportunities for the region to help its communities thrive, as well as learning from each other to continuously improve how we all operate.
Bath Spa University also works in partnership with many community, cultural and educational partners on projects and initiatives that make a real difference to people, places and communities.
We are a teaching-led institution, aligned to the needs of a modern economy and always focussed on excellence in learning. Our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees range from CyberSecurity, Fine Art and Law to Wildlife Conservation, Creative Writing and Teaching. Our innovative short courses have reached over 1,000 students since we launched our programmes three years ago and are a growing element of our portfolio. We have developed our offering to meet applicant and employer demand and employ outstanding creative professionals who support our aim to be a leading educational institution in creativity, culture, innovation and enterprise.
The deep roots of our university, with origins dating back over 170 years, have a rich history in many fields, including the sciences. Today, BSU’s School of Sciences is the University’s most popular school for undergraduate study in Bath with well over 1,200 students currently enrolled on its courses – three-quarters of whom identify as female.
We have always sought to make a difference and have been ahead of the curve of social change and the progression of BSU’s School of Science significantly illustrates this. Over the years, the School has transformed, evolving to cover a wider range of subjects such as Criminology, Biomedical Science, Forensic Science and Forensic Psychology alongside long-established strengths in Nutrition, Psychology, Biology and a suite of popular environmental disciplines. Whilst these subjects are traditionally male-dominated, BSU has flipped the switch, with female academics making up 70% of staff in the Biological Science subjects contributing to all courses across the School. Women make up half of its management positions, while also constituting the majority of the specialist technical staff who support student learning.
BSU also has a long and distinguished history of teacher training and provides teachers to the local region and nationally via PGCE, SCITT and Teach First routes. Ensuring that every child has access to the very best education and teachers is at the heart of Bath Spa University’s teacher training. The institution’s firm belief that education is vital in reducing inequalities dates back more than 75 years to the opening of its Newton Park Teacher Training College in 1946. Bath Spa University’s work to produce highly qualified teachers that will go on to shape the lives and educational experiences of children nationally has been recognised. Our vocational and professional training has grown in recent years into new areas of expertise including law and architecture.
As Sunday Times University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2024, Bath Spa University has widening participation as part of its core values and our educational partnerships are one of the ways we are reaching those learners who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education.
Our evolution, development and growth must and should be inclusive if it is to be socially just, engaged and sustainable and our operating model has diversified to be accessible to all areas of our communities.
January 2024 marked a new step in the partnership between Bath Spa University and New City College, as the new University Centre - situated in the heart of Hackney in London - was opened by Turner Prize winner, Bath Spa University alum and local acclaimed artist, Veronica Ryan, OBE. The site, on Hoxton High Street, offers a non-traditional offering of a blend of degree courses alongside short courses and professional development programmes to learners from a broader range of backgrounds.
New City College’s partnership with Bath Spa University brings increased opportunity of further and higher education and professional qualifications to the community, offering clear routes to employment opportunities in London and the wider region, while effectively contributing to regional skills priorities. This initiative was spotlighted in a recent higher education Policy Institute (HEPI) report as an innovative example of partnership working between higher and further education. It stated that good growth, and an era of universal higher education, can be achieved if we ditch the ‘world-class university’ model in favour of group and collaborative approaches.
Our work with the Purpose Coalition enables us to bring all this together and supports us to collaborate, partner and connect with likeminded businesses and organisations, so that we might all learn from each other to progress further opportunity for all.
1.1.
Bath Spa University’s four campuses are home to around 8,000 students from over 40 different countries. Situated just 3.5 miles west of the historic city centre of Bath, the University’s main campus at Newton Park is complemented by its state-ofthe-art Locksbrook Campus in the city centre as well as a base in Corsham Court, Wiltshire. The campuses combine to create a unique blend of history and modern education. The University also has a base in the capital city through its Bath Spa University London site in Hackney.
Bath Spa University traces its roots back to 1852, when the Bath School of Art was founded to focus on delivering education in the fine arts. Over time, the University expanded its offering of courses, becoming recognised as a leading institution in the arts and creative teaching by the early 20th century. Previously known as Bath College of higher education and Bath Spa University College, the institution gained university status in 2005 to become Bath Spa University.
Throughout its history, the University has had a strong sense of the important role it has to play in its local community. Perhaps most distinctively, the Newton Park Teacher Training College for women was opened in 1946 to address the post-war shortage of teachers, demonstrating the awareness Bath Spa University has had of the needs of society throughout its journey as an educational institution. This commitment and sense of duty to the community is still evident today, with Bath Spa University being one of the UK’s largest providers of teacher education.
Known today for its modern curriculum across the arts, education, business and science programmes, along with its unique approach to fostering
creativity and innovation, Bath Spa University offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes, with a focus on practical learning and real-world application.
Named University of the Year for Social Inclusion by The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, BSU has been recognised for its commitment to empowering students from all backgrounds to succeed in higher education.
Awarded Silver in the latest Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment across England, BSU robustly demonstrated that all aspects of the student experience and outcomes are consistently high quality, often surpassing the expected standards for higher education institutions. This is further evidenced by the 2024 National Student Survey (NSS), showing improvements in six out of seven categories, positioning BSU above the sector average in areas such as Assessment and Feedback, Academic Support, and Student Voice. BSU significantly exceeded the sector average in questions related to student feedback and teaching quality. These improvements build on previous efforts which resulted in BSU being ranked in the top 25% of providers for teaching quality in The Sunday Times 2023 Good University Guide league tables.
BSU’s recent win for Best Employability Strategy at the Target Jobs Awards 2025, reflects the Careers and Employability Team’s efforts and the university-wide commitment to embedding employability, enterprise, and work-related learning into the curriculum. The most recent Graduate Outcomes survey confirms that BSU exceeds OfS thresholds for alumni who are in graduate-level employment or further study.
Bath Spa University’s mission is to be a Professionally Creative university for the future and ‘to use creativity and innovation to successfully address the key issues of our age’. The University’s staff and student community is encouraged to make the world a better place by using their talents for not only their own benefit, but also the wider good.
The University’s Strategy 2030 sets out its plan for the next decade, as it looks to apply its unique focus on creativity to global challenges and opportunities within Bath itself. The report highlights Bath Spa University’s clear vision of the institution it aspires to be:
• Big enough to be bold, sure of our own capabilities
• Small enough to care, valuing, challenging and nurturing all our students and staff
• Innovative and agile, able to make quick decisions and react to opportunities and challenges at speed and with effect
• Relevant and impactful, changing the world by seeing it differently
• One community, valuing and celebrating originality and difference as a cornerstone of creativity
• Passionate, compassionate, brave, inclusive, ethical, engaged and effective at the core of who we are
The Strategy 2030 report focuses on four core areas which are at the heart of Bath Spa University’s attitudes and ambitions:
• Creativity
• Enterprise
• Talent
• Enablers
The University’s staff and student community is encouraged to make the world a better place by using their talents for not only their own benefit, but also the wider good.
1. Creativity
‘We will apply creativity to all that we do, and to the global and human challenges that face society... we will celebrate and nurture the capacity for creativity and innovation in all of our community, be they learners, makers or professional staff.’
This value is focused on ensuring that creativity is embedded into Bath Spa University’s ethos, with the aim of finding innovative solutions to local and global issues, including climate change and breaking down barriers to equality.
2. Enterprise
‘Partnerships will foster economic and cultural development at a range of scales, improve our student learning and graduate outcomes and ensure that our work is relevant, useful and needed.’
Partnerships are central to Bath Spa University’s work, forming a vital part of the institution’s commitment to taking an active role within its local community. The University works with businesses and SMEs, and local and regional government to promote economic growth within the Bath area, in addition to partnerships with educational settings and cultural institutions.
3. Talent
‘We will identify and develop talent wherever we find it… We will focus on the personal growth and aspirations of our students, building their
confidence and agency to meet local and global challenges through personal action.’
This value confirms Bath Spa University’s commitment to creating an inclusive and challenging environment where staff and students can thrive. By prioritising the wellbeing and value of each individual, the University aims to help each member of its community to reach their full potential.
4. Enablers
‘We will grow sustainably… we will work ethically and inclusively, towards the highest external standards of corporate behaviour. We will cherish and develop our estate and use it sustainably and to the full’.
This value is focused on looking after and cherishing the Bath Spa University estates and spaces where staff and students work, underlying the University’s commitment to utilising technology and sustainable practices to allow the institution to thrive in a way that supports its aims and values.
Bath Spa University is an institution which aims to use the strengths and talents of its community, along with creativity and innovation, to help it be a force for good. The University’s Strategy 2030 puts its staff and students at the forefront of its work, promising to support its people to achieve their full potential, with the aim of working together to improve the University’s local community and beyond.
The Purpose Coalition measures organisations against a set of sector-relevant social impact criteria. The Purpose Goals outline 15 interconnected impact barriers to opportunity. By drawing on expertise provided by academia and business, the Goals are designed to specifically address some of the unique challenges facing the UK.
The Coalition’s cross-party work brings together the UK’s most innovative leaders, Parliamentarians and organisations to share best practice, and develop solutions for improving the role organisations can play for their customers, colleagues and communities by breaking down barriers to opportunity.
The Purpose Coalition is chaired by Rt Hon Justine Greening, the UK’s former Secretary of State for Education, Transport and International Development, and led by Nick Forbes CBE, who recently served in Sir Keir Starmer’s Shadow Cabinet and leads the Purpose Coalition’s work with the Labour Party; Rt Hon Anne Milton, former Minister for Apprenticeships and a Minister in the Department for Health and Social Care; and Lord Walney, former No 10 Advisor to Gordon Brown and Labour Member of Parliament for Barrow-in-Furness.
The Goals were designed following Justine Greening’s experience, as Secretary of State for International Development, leading the UK’s delegation to the Convention of the United Nations (UN) that established the 2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Purpose Goals apply the SDGs in a UK context.
The SDGs as interlinked goals emphasised the interdependent environmental, social, and economic aspects of development and centralised the role of sustainability. At the time, Justine recognised how transformative a
common set of accessible but ambitious goals could be in galvanising action to effect change.
After leaving Government in 2019, Justine established the Purpose Coalition and Social Mobility Pledge with the intention of inspiring UK economic and social actors to improve social mobility in the UK.
The Purpose Goals focus on key life stages and highlight the main issues that need to be resolved to break down barriers to opportunity in the UK.
The Goals are intended to guide ambition, provoke action, and measure progress.
Strong foundations in Early Years
A lack of strong foundations in Early Years education is one of the major barriers to opportunity. With research suggesting that on average 40% of the development gap between disadvantaged 16-yearolds and their peers has already emerged by the age of five, getting a strong foundation in Early Years education is crucial in achieving social mobility.
3.1.1
Bath Spa University excels as an institution which produces highly qualified Early Years teachers and practitioners who will go on to enhance the lives of young children and families upon graduating from the University and embarking on careers in the Early Years sector.
Students aiming to pursue a career in this sector are offered the choice of a range of Early Yearsrelated degree courses, including Early Childhood Studies and Primary and Early Years Teaching. These courses allow students to develop their understanding of families and childhood and have a strong focus on local and global issues in early childhood, while also having a major focus on employability by supporting students to achieve the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies.
Practical placements working with children and families are a fundamental aspect of Bath Spa University’s Early Years degree programmes.
Students are given the opportunity to gain vital, hands-on experience of working directly with young children and develop skills which they will be able to apply in their future careers to make a positive impact on the lives of young children in the Bath area and beyond.
A lack of strong foundations in Early Years education is one of the major barriers to opportunity.
With four research centres each focused around a specific area of expertise, Bath Spa University’s School of Education is a strong example of the institution’s work to contribute to education policy, practice and theory.
One of these research centres - the Centre for Research in Early Childhood (REACH) - works specifically on matters relating to Early Years education and families. REACH’s work is centred around understanding children’s relationships with the world and the way in which their experiences shape their identities from a young age, with the aim of influencing local and national policy on early childhood.
The Centre also demonstrates a firm commitment to raising the visibility and status of early childhood research and of those who work within the sector to ensure that the importance of positive foundation years is more widely acknowledged.
3.1.3
Research shows that 80% of children lack a connection to nature, with 75% spending less time outdoors than is recommended for prison inmates. Through the Playful Green Planet programme, Bath Spa University works in partnership with the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), House of Imagination and HundrED and the Eden Project to help young children in cities and urban areas to establish a connection with nature and their local communities through creative outdoor play.
The project, which is the first of its kind in the UK, aims to address many children’s lack of interaction with nature and the world around them by transforming areas of land in urban and economically disadvantaged areas into ecological outdoor playrooms and classrooms that promote outdoor learning and experiences.
Targeted areas are transformed by Playful Green Planet Stewards in collaboration with the local community and with the Eden Project, which shares its expertise in outdoor nature-based spaces and learning for children.
Case Study: BSU lecturer wins national award in Parliament for social inclusion
A Bath Spa University reader and lecturer was named as a winner at the prestigious Purpose Coalition ‘Breaking Down Barriers’ awards in March 2025, held in the Houses of Parliament.
Dr Sharon Colilles, Reader in Inclusive Early Childhood Education and leader of BSU’s Centre for Research in Early Childhood (REACH), won the ‘Strong Foundations in Early Years’ award for her commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity and boosting social mobility.
Dr Colilles was presented her award by the Chair of the Purpose Coalition and former Secretary of State Rt Hon Justine Greening MP who said: “A champion of inclusivity and child-led learning, Sharon drives social inclusion in early years education through training, research, and advocacy, shaping practice nationwide.”
Dr Sharon Colilles said: “I am delighted to receive this award for my work in the areas of inclusivity, play and participatory approaches for supporting ethnic identity formation. Early Years Education is central to unlocking a myriad of opportunities.”
Dr Colilles is a leading expert in the field of early childhood education and is passionate about social inclusion in early years education, and engages practitioners through seminars, CPD and workshops to build greater understanding of the importance of child-led approaches.
In 2021 she became a trustee of the Froebel Trust, a national charity promoting inclusive approaches from birth to eight-years-old. She works as an Associate Trainer for the Early Education charity and acts as Vice-Chair of the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network.
Recently, she has delivered a wide range of development activities into the sector including for Early Years Wales, the Nursery World Show, Creative Futures, Bright Beginnings and Suffolk and Wiltshire Councils.
Dr Mark McGuinness, who leads BSU’s relationship with the Purpose Coalition, said: “We were thrilled at the recognition of the impact of our work at the Purpose Coalition Awards this year. Sharon’s success, in the face of stiff competition, demonstrates the quality of the University’s research and teaching in this key policy priority area for the government.”
BSU was also shortlisted for a second award in the ‘Building Sustainable Communities’ category for its work in partnership with community interest company, Little Lost Robot. This nomination was in recognition of BSU and Little Lost Robot’s social inclusion initiatives and the innovative, measurable and impactful place-based engagement work undertaken in excluded and multiply disadvantaged semi-rural communities in Somerset. This work breaks down barriers to access skills and learning through a number of community-based projects and programmes.
Successful school years are a crucial part of not only a young person’s academic development, but also their wider personal development. The so-called attainment gap between the most and least privileged remains stubbornly high, with research suggesting that by the time disadvantaged young people finish secondary education, the difference in learning between them and their more advantaged peers equates to 19 months.
Ensuring that every child has access to the very best education and teachers is at the heart of Bath Spa University’s work. The institution’s firm belief that education is vital in reducing inequalities dates back more than 75 years to the opening of its Newton Park Teacher Training College in 1946.
Today Bath Spa University is the largest provider of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and ITT-related provision in the South West of England. The University supports more than 2,000 new teachers to enter the profession each year, with over 250 newly qualified teachers produced annually from their own courses in addition to the work BSU does with hundreds of local schools to train new teachers for their specific contexts. BSU’s work to produce highly qualified teachers that will go on to shape the lives and educational experiences of children nationally has been recognised, with its School of Education named as a finalist in the Education category of the 2020 Bath Life Awards.
BSU’s teacher training provision includes courses specialising in both Primary and Secondary teaching. These programmes have been developed
in partnership with schools and other educational settings to ensure that students are equipped with relevant knowledge and skills to embark on a career in teaching. Students also benefit from the opportunity to experience practical placements within local educational settings as a means of gaining hands-on experience before entering the teaching profession. Enrolment for Bath Spa University teaching programmes takes place online, with the aim of ensuring that courses are accessible and flexible for all applicants and that any potential barriers to applying are removed.
In addition to the University’s own programme of ITT courses, Bath Spa University works in collaboration with a number of partners to support and deliver further teacher training. The University is an Accredited Initial Teacher Education provider and is the only university in the country to deliver ITT provision for two other universities which have recently lost their ITT accreditation. These partnerships demonstrate BSU’s commitment to making sure that there are no areas in the country where teacher education is limited due to a lack of teacher training providers.
Another significant partnership at Bath Spa University is with Teach First. Teach First is an education charity and social enterprise that works to train teachers in some of the poorest areas of the country, working around the belief that every child should have access to the best education. BSU is one of only two universities in the country to work with Teach First to train new teachers, delivering the Teach First programme in the subject areas of Primary/Early Years, English, Business Studies, Music and Modern Languages.
BSU’s work to ensure that children have access to the best teachers does not stop when a teacher graduates. The University recognises the importance of professional development of teachers throughout their careers, with its Network for Learning providing professional courses for around 1,500 in-service teachers and school leaders annually.
3.2.2
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities between pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and their more privileged peers. Bath Spa University was proactive throughout the pandemic in developing initiatives to make sure that the attainment gap between pupils was limited as much as possible.
The Themes Reading Programme was developed by the University’s Access and Participation team in 2020 to support children whose learning was limited due to a lack of face-to-face teaching. With the advantages of reading, such as building confidence, vocabulary and communication skills, widely acknowledged, BSU recognised that a programme that could be used by schools to develop pupils’ reading skills was vital to tackle alarming research that showed that primary school-aged pupils eligible for free school meals in March 2021 had an average learning loss in reading of 2.7 months.
The programme was developed in collaboration with local primary schools to make sure that the scheme was tailored to schools’ needs and could be easily delivered to support school outcomes and promote Access and Participation. Schools that participated in the programme reported positive feedback, with the fact that participating pupils received a new book highlighted as a successful way of inspiring a love of reading, particularly for those who may never have chosen or owned a book of their own.
3.2.3
Bath Spa University makes a strong contribution to the school system through its teacher training provision and supports this objective further by working with local schools to raise attainment and promote the aspiration of pupils to progress into higher education.
The University has working relationships with around 1500 schools in its region, including schools in more disadvantaged areas or that
are facing challenging circumstances. Targeted support and intervention is prioritised by BSU so that the University can work directly with groups that are underrepresented in higher education or that are hard to reach. For example, during the 2023/24 academic year BSU worked with Wiltshire and Bath and North East Somerset Local Authorities to provide campus visits and events to ‘Care Experienced’ pupils, with the aim of raising aspirations and making higher education more accessible.
BSU’s Outreach team works with both primary and secondary pupils, delivering a range of targeted outreach programmes in Years 5/6 and Years 7-13. Guidance workshops and campus visits are also offered to secondary and college students to provide advice about life in higher education, with topics covering choosing university courses, writing personal statements and understanding student finance.
Positive destinations Post 16+
3.3. Goal
Post 16+
Every young person should have the choice to pursue higher education, employment or training upon turning 16, regardless of their background or financial circumstances.
While young people becoming the first in their family to go to university is an increasingly common occurrence, there are still numerous barriers which lead people to rule out university as an option for them because of their individual circumstances.
Despite the region performing at the national average (40%), when it comes to the proportion of 16-year-olds from state schools entering higher education, this figure is much lower in some specific areas of Bath, such as Twerton where the number stands at 12%. Narrowing the gap between the number of students in affluent and more disadvantaged areas who progress into higher education is consequently a priority for Bath Spa University.
The University’s Outreach team runs a range of programmes designed to encourage students to consider higher education throughout their school years. This work begins in Primary School, with BSU’s My Future programme targeted at Year 6 pupils to ensure that students start to become aware of education and career options from an early age. The programme focuses on introducing pupils to the concept of university and helping them to identify different jobs and whether they may require a university degree. Schools which participate in the My Future programme are also offered the opportunity to visit BSU’s campus with their pupils.
Outreach work is also carried out with Secondary School pupils. BSU works with pupils to build on their existing knowledge of university and the benefits of pursuing higher education, while also providing more practical advice on topics such as writing personal statements, choosing subjects and courses and transitioning to university. This work is delivered to students from Year 7 to Year 13 through a combination of workshops and campus visits, giving pupils the opportunity to speak with current student and experience life at a university first-hand. Curriculum talks are also offered on specific subject areas to inspire students to continue their studies at a higher education level.
Representatives of Bath Spa University regularly attend careers fairs across the UK to advise young people on their education and careers options.
BSU’s work on widening access to higher education is particularly valuable for students who come from groups which are traditionally under-represented
in higher education or who have no family history of university. By ensuring that advice on higher education is more accessible to students across the Bath region and beyond, BSU helps to break down barriers to further education often faced by students from more disadvantaged areas and backgrounds.
The University’s Access and Participation Office works collaboratively with schools, colleges and community groups in Bath and the surrounding area to deliver targeted support and intervention to young people from under-represented groups in higher education.
Bath spa University’s Widening Participation team also works in partnership with the University of Winchester to hold events designed to raise attainment and participation in higher education among young people from Armed Forces families, who are often under-represented at university level. For example, Primary and Secondary school pupils from Years 5 to 7 and their teachers from eight schools across the Wiltshire and Hampshire regions were invited to take part in a Creative Forces day, with a range of activities including university taster sessions, campus visits and opportunities to meet university student ambassadors from Armed Forces family backgrounds intended to encourage pupils to consider studying at university in the future. Events were also held for school staff so that they could work collaboratively to explore key issues such as how schools can support pupils from Armed Forces backgrounds.
BSU excels in ensuring that university is not inaccessible for those who, for a range of reasons, did not pursue this route upon leaving school.
Bath Spa University supports mature students to enter university at a later point in their lives through its Mature Students’ Mixer Events. These events facilitate a successful transition of mature students into university and provide the opportunity to meet students from similar backgrounds and experiences. The University receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants at these events, often highlighting the support BSU provides mature students to meet new people and feel confident and prepared to engage with university life and academic work.
A lack of access to the right advice and experiences is one of the major barriers to opportunity. The adage that ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’ means that many young people find themselves excluded from certain careers or opportunities because of a lack of experience within their families and wider communities.
Getting access to career advice and the chance to experience wider opportunities that broaden horizons is vital to ensure that young people are aware of the opportunities available to them and understand the required steps to pursue a particular pathway. Working out how we can consistently provide high quality careers advice, mentoring and access to work experience is a vital step in improving social mobility.
3.4.1 Employability and Work Experience
Bath Spa University places a major focus on employability, with a professional and dedicated Careers Team offering all students a range of advice and support on finding jobs, gaining work experience and enhancing their employability skills.
The University’s Careers Team is based on campus and offers daily in-person appointments so that students can receive tailored careers advice. BSU also appoints Student Careers Champions who are available to provide peer-to-peer advice and signpost students to relevant careers resources. Other examples of careers events designed to support BSU students to make the right careers choices are regular Career Essentials Workshops on topics such as CV writing and preparing for interviews, weekly Group Coaching sessions Right advice and experiences 4
providing students with the opportunity to share advice and experiences, and Employer in the Foyer events where students can speak directly with representatives from businesses across a range of industries and receive advice on applying to work for their company. These events and workshops are vital in ensuring that all students can receive the best advice and support to enhance their careers and provide work opportunities and experiences which those from less advantaged backgrounds may not have previously been able to access.
All BSU students have access to the MyCareer online portal. This online resource allows students to browse thousands of jobs, including parttime roles and placements at undergraduate or graduate level, along with information about careers events and resources to assist them in finding the right role.
A lack of work experience is often one of the most common factors that prevent people from more disadvantaged backgrounds from being hired for roles. Those who do not have access to business or workplace connections, for example through friends or family members, find it more difficult to gain relevant work experience. Bath Spa University supports its students to gain the required experiences for their future career prospects through its Bath Spa University Works Programme, which supports students to enhance their CVs by completing short, medium or long-term work experience placements, projects or internships.
Through the Bath Spa University Works Programme, students can find paid work experience or internship opportunities that are available exclusively to the University’s students. Roles usually last for at least three months and can be done remotely or in-person. Students can also be paid to work on projects for local and regional not-forprofit organisations to gain new employability skills and build contacts.
BSU’s work to widen its students’ employment opportunities and experiences has been recognised by the National Target Jobs Awards, which shortlisted the University in the ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ in 2025. The University’s Placements Team also won a National Undergraduate Employability Award for ‘Most Improved Commitment to Employability’, in recognition of its undergraduate work experience and placements programmes.
3.4.2
In addition to offering its students a range of work placement opportunities, Bath Spa University’s Professional Placement Year (PPY) is available to all undergraduates, regardless of their course, between their second and third years. The PPY takes place over a minimum of 30 weeks, with at least 900 working hours, and is an invaluable way for students to gain long-term work experience that will enhance their CVs and help them to stand out when entering the job market.
Recognising that opportunities such as the Professional Placement Year are often out of reach for many students from less advantaged backgrounds due to financial barriers, Bath Spa University introduced the PPY Bursary to make their Placement Years more accessible. Students can receive a bursary of up to £1,500 to use towards the cost of their placement, such as for commuting, accommodation or work outfit expenses.
The amount of the PPY Bursary varies depending on an individual student’s circumstances, with students from the most-underrepresented groups receiving the highest amount of £1,500. Students are not required to apply for the bursary – instead, students are automatically informed about the amount of funding for which they are eligible. Bath Spa University has adopted this process to eliminate any barriers to accessing this funding and to ensure that every student can access the financial support to which they are entitled.
The opportunity to receive advice and guidance from people with similar experiences and backgrounds is vital in supporting social mobility and helping people to make the most of their potential. Bath Spa University facilities dialogue and the exchange of advice and experiences through its MentorMe scheme.
MentorMe is a mentoring programme introduced at BSU to connect students with people who can support them in their specific career goals and expand their network of industry contacts. The programme is available to all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students and lasts for around four to six months. BSU graduates from the past two years can join the MentorMe Bitesize scheme, which usually lasts for three months, to support their transition from university into the world of work.
After registering for the programme, BSU students are presented with a choice of mentors from MentorMe’s wide and varied range and are given the opportunity to select someone who they feel will be most helpful to support them with their specific career goals. In addition to receiving valuable insights into their chosen career from their mentor, participants in the MentorMe scheme are also given access to online training materials to further support them with their transition into work.
3.4.4 Bath Law Clinic
Bath Spa University established the Bath Law Clinic in 2022 in collaboration with law firm Stone King and Citizens Advice B&NES to provide pro bono legal advice to people in the local community. The Clinic offers advice in a range of areas, including family, employment and immigration law, with the aim of ensuring that everyone who needs it has access to justice. The Bath Law Clinic runs twice a month and has to date supported around 240 members of the public.
The Bath Law Clinic is notable as, in addition to widening access to the legal system to members of the community, it also provides work experience opportunities for trainee lawyers from BSU’s Law degree courses. Law students are able to gain vital first-hand experience at the Clinic, while benefitting from the support and expertise of Stone King lawyers.
In recognition of the Bath Law Clinic’s success in widening access to justice, the programme was nominated for ‘Best Contribution by a Pro Bono Clinic’ and ‘Best New Pro Bono Activity’ at the 2023 LawWorks Pro Bono Awards.
Open recruitment
Open opportunities and recruitment are vital so that our nation’s talent can make the most of its potential. Universities have an important role to play in ensuring that academic opportunities are available to people of all backgrounds through transparent and open recruitment practices.
3.5.1 Recruitment Policy
Bath Spa University has a clearly defined recruitment policy which aims to ensure a fair, transparent and unbiased recruitment process that provides equal opportunity for all, regardless of background or gender.
Vacancies at BSU are advertised both internally and externally through a range of mediums, such as websites, relevant publications and social media, so that job opportunities reach a diverse range of potential applicants. The University makes sure that applicants are fully equipped with the information they need to make a successful application, with all Bath Spa University job descriptions clearly stating the necessary qualifications, skills and attributes, as well as providing details of the role’s responsibilities.
In order to ensure consistency when hiring for vacancies at the University, BSU has a structured application process that is implemented for all recruitments. All applicants are selected for interview based solely on the skills, qualifications and experiences they detail in their application, using specific criteria to shortlist interviewees in a fair and consistent manner.
Safer recruitment is another crucial aspect of Bath Spa University’s recruitment process.
BSU’s recruitment process is designed with diversity and inclusion in mind, with a number of measures in place to promote equal opportunity for all applicants, regardless of their background. Discrimination and bias are avoided by making sure that all staff involved in recruitment at BSU have taken online training on diversity and inclusion and unconscious bias. Interview panels are also made up of a minimum of two individuals with the aim of ensuring that applicants are evaluated fairly and that any biases regarding background or gender are reduced.
Safer recruitment is another crucial aspect of Bath Spa University’s recruitment process. The University prioritises the safety and wellbeing of its staff and students by utilising robust hiring processes to ensure that those employed by the University are reliable, trustworthy and suitable for the roles they carry out.
A notable aspect of BSU’s recruitment policy is its commitment to supporting the development of unsuccessful applicants. Detailed records are kept of every Bath Spa University recruitment process, not only for transparency, but also so that candidates can request to receive feedback about their performance throughout the selection process. In this way, Bath Spa University supports unsuccessful candidates with their career progression through honest feedback that they can use to improve their performance in subsequent application processes.
Like many other universities across the UK, Bath Spa University employs members of staff on a variety of contract types. However, recognising that casual contracts, often used to employ roles such as Associate Lecturers, can lead to pressures and concerns about potential loss of work, BSU has worked in collaboration with the University and College Union (UCU) to reduce insecure forms of employment at the University.
In recognition of the valuable contributions they make to the University, BSU has committed to providing secure employment for its staff whenever possible. For example, BSU has worked with UCU to form a Joint Consultation and Negotiation Committee to agree actions to reduce the use of casual contracts for Associate Lecturers at the University. By working to provide its employees with greater job security, Bath Spa University demonstrates the value it places on its employees’ wellbeing and career progression.
career progression
The chance to keep developing once in work and to progress in a career is essential not only to increase an individual’s earnings, but to ensure that they continue to feel challenged and able to learn.
In addition to helping students to explore opportunities in the world of work, universities have a key role to play in providing opportunities for its employees to keep progressing and taking new steps forward in their career.
Supporting its employees to access career development opportunities is a priority for Bath Spa University. The University recognises that enabling staff to develop their skills and knowledge base not only helps employees to progress in their careers but also benefits the wider University community. BSU aims to ensure that all of its staff have equal opportunities to upskill and progress in their roles.
To ensure that staff clearly understand the criteria for progression and promotion at the University, BSU has three formal academic career pathways which clearly set out expectations and routes to promotion for the University’s employees.
All academic staff are asked to choose one of the three pathways: teaching and scholarship; teaching, scholarship and research; or teaching, scholarship and K3E (knowledge exchange, enterprise and employability). These pathways provide clarification and guidance on how staff can progress in their chosen field. For example, BSU offers its employees the opportunity to gain a variety of industryrecognised professional certifications, which once gained can advance their career and skills and help them to stand out from other employees.
Another example of how Bath Spa University aids its employees to progress in their careers is by supporting Associate Lecturers at the University to transfer to a fractional Teaching Fellow contract. Associate Lecturers that meet the clearly defined criteria can pursue this route, which makes them eligible for incremental career progression and progress meetings to further support their career advancement.
Bath Spa University has a dedicated Learning and Development Policy to ensure that supporting its employees to further their skills and knowledge is enshrined in the University’s ethos. This document sets out how BSU aims to help its staff develop their talent, for their own benefit as well as for the wider University.
While there is an expectation that all employees should proactively identify ways in which they can develop their skills to reach their full potential, Bath Spa University supports its staff in identifying their development needs through regular dialogue and reviews. Employees are also encouraged to create their own personal development plan which identifies their career goals and criteria for achieving this progression.
A range of learning and development events are held at BSU that are open to all members of staff. These events cover a wide variety of topics, such as recruitment, coaching skills and managing difficult conversations, while LinkedIn Learning
modules on areas including using Microsoft OneDrive and SharePoint are recommended each month and are accessible to all employees.
Further career development is available to Bath Spa University employees through free webinars and courses, some of which are funded by the government, designed in collaboration with external partners such as TechSPARK and Transform Digital. These courses provide employees with the opportunity to learn from relevant industry professionals and gain an understanding of the skills needed to progress in a specific sector.
BSU’s Researcher Development Team additionally runs training workshops and events targeted at those at the University whose focus is on research. As well as offering access to a range of resources, the Researcher Development events are led by external specialists on a variety of subjects and are designed to cater to the needs of Bath Spa University researchers.
January 2024 marked a new step in our partnership between Bath Spa University and New City College, as our new University Centre - situated in the heart of Hackney in London - was opened by Turner Prize winner, BSU alum and local acclaimed artist, Veronica Ryan, OBE.
The site, on Hoxton Street, offers a non-traditional offering of a blend of degree courses alongside short courses and professional development programmes to learners from a broader range of backgrounds.
Professor Sue Rigby, the former Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University, said: “We are very proud at BSU to be recognised for our efforts to drive inclusivity in higher education. This new site is the culmination of these efforts over the past couple of years, resulting in a truly collaborative - and communityminded - university hub, offering access to high quality education to learners from all walks of life.”
Bath Spa University was awarded the Sunday Times University of the Year for Social Inclusion 2024 and our innovative new centre provides a blueprint for a more flexible and dynamic higher education offering that embraces and nurtures the different
lived experiences of students. With that ambition in mind, the perfect location for the new site was in Hackney - the very epitome of diversity in London.
The Centre was officially opened by acclaimed Hackney-based artist, Turner Prize winner and BSU alum Veronica Ryan OBE, who joined staff, students and partners at the University Centre as it celebrated the positive impact that the new learning hub will bring to the local community.
Gerry McDonald, Group Principal and CEO of New City College said: “New City College’s partnership with Bath Spa University brings increased opportunity of further and higher education and professional qualifications to Londoners.”
New City College’s partnership with Bath Spa University offers clear routes to employment opportunities in London and the wider region, while effectively contributing to regional skills priorities.
This initiative was spotlighted in a recent higher education Policy Institute (HEPI) report as an innovative example of partnership working between higher and further education. It stated that good growth, and an era of universal higher education, can be achieved if we ditch the ‘worldclass university’ model in favour of group and collaborative approaches.
Successful school years are a crucial part of a young person’s academic development, but also their wider personal development. The so-called attainment gap between the most and least privileged remains high, with research suggesting that by the time disadvantaged young people finish secondary education, the difference in learning between them and their more advantaged peers equates to 19 months.
Ensuring that every child has access to the very best education and teachers is at the heart of Bath Spa University’s teacher training. The institution’s firm belief that education is vital in reducing inequalities dates back more than 75 years to the opening of its Newton Park Teacher Training College in 1946.
Today, Bath Spa University is the largest provider of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and ITT-related provision in the South West of England, supporting more than 2,000 new teachers to enter the profession each year from BSU courses.
BSU’s teacher training provision includes courses specialising in both Primary and Secondary teaching. These programmes have been developed in partnership with schools and other educational settings to ensure that students are equipped with relevant knowledge and skills to embark on a career in teaching. Students also benefit from the opportunity to experience practical placements within local educational settings as a means of gaining hands-on experience before entering the teaching profession.
In addition to the University’s own programme of ITT courses, Bath Spa University works in collaboration with partners to support and deliver further teacher training. The University is an Accredited Initial Teacher Education provider and is the only university in the country to deliver
ITT provision for two other universities which have recently lost their ITT accreditation. These partnerships demonstrate BSU’s commitment to making sure that there are no areas in the country where teacher education is limited due to a lack of teacher training providers.
Another significant partnership at Bath Spa University is with Teach First, an education charity and social enterprise that works to train teachers in some of the poorest areas of the country and works around the belief that every child should have access to the best education. BSU is one of only two universities in the country to work with Teach First to train new teachers, delivering the Teach First programme in the subject areas of Primary/Early Years, English, Business Studies, Music and Modern Languages.
BSU’s mission to ensure that children have access to the best teachers does not stop when a teacher graduates. The University recognises the importance of professional development of teachers throughout their careers, with its Network for Learning providing professional courses for around 1,500 teachers and school leaders annually.
The work of Bath Spa University’s Inclusive Communities team reaches learners who are predominantly living in rural or low-income areas in Bath and North East Somerset. Many of the community have never previously accessed further or higher education, and there is higher than average unemployment in these areas.
Over the past three years, BSU has reached these ‘non-traditional’ learners as part of its widening participation, accessibility to education and inclusion programmes, with a strong objective of place-making and personal development for the community.
The purpose of this work is to support the transition and building of new routes into higher education for those people who would not consider university as an option. This might be because of poor mental health, financial limitations, or an uncertainty on how to approach or engage with an arts education. A secondary objective is to support our graduates to make a self-employed career in the arts, in
particular enabling graduates to access peer to peer mentoring with a wide network of people.
The benefits for the region are huge, firstly, to enable the skilling and reskilling of local people. Through this work, the BSU team is identifying and opening pathways to employment – providing residencies and practical workshops.
Secondly, the impact of this project is for social cohesion, with people from the community aged 2 to 80 accessing our buildings.
Finally, some of these projects are working to counteract crime and promote safe spaces, particularly in Radstock, where the team worked on an arts project in the aftermath of a violent crime which affected the whole town, particularly the young people in the community. The impact of the project has seen a decrease in crime due to increased respect, and the local PCSO has reported this is in part because the young people have somewhere to go – the space provided by the BSU project.
Against a backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis, increases in portfolio careers and a drive to make education more inclusive and accessible, people increasingly seek education in a flexible, short format.
The Short Course Unit at Bath Spa University provides skills training to the local region via government funded short courses, such as Skills Bootcamps, company funded digital skills training, personal development courses paid for by individual learners, and bespoke training for businesses. Currently, we offer short courses to address skills needs in a broad range of subjects including AI, project management, creative digital skills, entrepreneurship, creative writing, immersive audio and machine learning.
Our short course offer is unusual in that it is entirely demand led. Decisions about which courses to offer, and how to offer them – hybrid, online or in person, daytime or evening delivery, part time or condensed full days – are solely based on the skills
needs of individuals and organisations in our region and beyond. Crucially, we also adapt quickly – sometimes in a matter of hours or days –to changes in what our short course learners need.
The wraparound employment support accompanying many of our short courses is also based on personalised career coaching. As a result, our short course learners develop new skills, gain new employment or promotion, and start businesses.
Since its establishment in 2021, the Short Course Unit has delivered to over 1,600 learners. All of our short courses are designed in collaboration with subject matter experts and external partners, which means participants learn from industry professionals and get an idea of the skills employers in their sector are looking for. We work with a fantastic range of partners, including the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, West Midlands Combined Authority, the NHS, Adobe, British Computer Society, Unite Students, Swindon Borough Council, and other higher and further education institutions.
However talented a person is, being trapped in debt or being unable to access capital can massively hinder access to opportunity. Whether it’s being able to afford day to day essentials and housing or putting money aside to have a decent retirement, managing money and getting good advice can make all the difference in people being able to make the most of their potential.
3.7.1
For many students, going to university is their first experience of living away from home and managing their own money. Bath Spa University recognises the additional pressures that managing finances can place on a student and provides a range of support measures to help students to feel confident and secure about their finances, so that they can instead focus on their academic studies and making the most of university life.
BSU’s team of dedicated Wellbeing Advisors offer appointments to students who are concerned about their finances or the cost of living. Wellbeing Advisors are available to work with a student to provide tailored advice and support, for example with helping them to plan a budget that suits their specific needs and financial situation.
A range of financial resources are also in place which can be easily accessed by students who need them. Blackbullion is a free digital learning platform which contains guidance and resources to help staff and students manage their finances. The platform also guides users to create a personalised plan to support them in taking control of their money. Additionally, students can access free webinars run by financial experts which focus on supporting students to develop a healthy and positive relationship with money.
Many of Bath Spa University’s students come from areas in which the cost of living is higher than the UK average. Student loans are not means-tested by area of study, so for many BSU students coming from areas such as London or Bath, the current cost of living crisis is having a significant impact on their finances and ability to make the most of their university experience.
Bath Spa University recognises that financial concerns and the ability to pay for essentials such as food, accommodation and learning resources can dramatically affect a student’s academic performance. In response to the cost of living crisis and the impact that this is having, particularly on students from working class backgrounds, the University has widened its range of financial support available to its students.
One of the most significant ways in which BSU is supporting its students from more financially disadvantaged backgrounds is through the Bath Spa University Access Fund. This fund is specifically targeted at students who are struggling to meet essential costs by providing funding support before they reach the point of financial difficulty. Similarly, the Bath Spa University Short Term Emergency Grant also provides discretionary financial support for basic costs to students before they receive their next Student Finance payment.
Concerns about affording essentials such as food costs are alleviated through measures such as the Student Eats scheme. This measure was introduced in partnership with the BSU Students’ Union and allows students to purchase a hot meal and drink for just £3.25. Furthermore, the University’s Newton Park Campus is home to food larders where students can buy non-perishable goods such as tinned foods, pasta and rice, to ensure that every student can access sufficient food at an affordable price.
Period poverty is another focus of BSU’s work to reduce cost of living concerns for its students.
Twenty-eight vending machines are located across the University’s campuses which dispense free and easily accessible period products.
BSU staff are also being supported through the cost of living crisis with a variety of financial support measures. A number of discounts at retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Argos and restaurants and entertainment outlets are available through the MyBenefits platform, which also provides pension advice, information about the University’s Cycle to Work scheme and details on discounted gym memberships. BSU employees with children can benefit from an onsite nursery and comprehensive Adoptive Leave and/or Maternity and Paternity schemes, which aim to ensure that childcare costs do not prevent individuals from returning to work.
Bath Spa University acknowledges that financial barriers often prevent people from underrepresented groups from participating in higher education. The University has a number of bursaries and funding available to widen access and participation among those from less advantaged backgrounds and has extended the eligibility criteria for many of its bursaries to make sure that all those who require support are able to access it.
The Bath Spa University Bursary Scheme is available to all undergraduate students who meet the clearly defined eligibility criteria. Eligibility is determined by where a student lives and their household income, so that support is targeted at those who face the most significant barriers to participating in university and higher education.
A number of supplementary awards for bursary-holders have also been introduced to extend support to under-represented groups such as care leavers, estranged students or those from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller or Show Person and Boater backgrounds.
Good health and well-being
Health and wellbeing inequalities lie at the heart of driving social mobility; a lack of good health and wellbeing is one of the major barriers to opportunity. Good health and wellbeing are often a precursor to a person being in a position to make the most of their talents.
The statistics on diverging life expectancy and the health inequalities in our country give a clear sense of how communities even living side by side can have very different outcomes if health and wellbeing is not treated as a priority.
Good physical health is vital in forming a positive foundation for a person to succeed in other areas of their life. Bath Spa University’s campuses are home to sports facilities which are available to be used by both staff and students to promote good physical health and fitness.
Rugby, netball and football pitches are located at BSU’s Newton Park campus. These facilities are used by the University’s sports clubs and societies, with students of any level encouraged to join and try out new sports with the aim of fostering physical wellbeing as well as opportunities for recreation and socialising with new people. The Students’ Union encompasses a wide range of sporting teams and societies, including boxing, cricket, netball, football, rugby and badminton, so that there is something for every student to try.
The Bath Spa University gym is available exclusively to BSU staff and students. The gym is equipped with more than 40 stations and has flexible payment options available so that financial barriers do not prevent students from being able to prioritise their health and wellbeing.
Throughout the year a number of sports and fitness events are held to encourage participation in the many physical wellbeing opportunities BSU has to offer. In addition to introductory gym and yoga sessions to encourage students to make the most of the physical and mental benefits of exercise, Go Again and the Bath City FC Foundation hold annual football sessions to not only promote physical activity, but to also facilitate positive discussions around mental health and wellbeing.
With Bath Spa University’s Student Wellbeing Services being accessed by an increasingly large number of its students, supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our students so that they feel able to continue and thrive in their academic studies is a major priority.
Student Wellbeing Services and Mental Health Advisors are available to speak with students about any issues or concerns they are experiencing. These advisors can listen without judgement to a student’s concerns and/or provide advice and signpost students to services which may be useful to them.
For students who require greater support with their mental health, BSU has a counselling service staffed by qualified counsellors. BSU has noticed a trend between students with mental health conditions, or who access the University’s Student Wellbeing Services, and those who come from underrepresented groups that have lower university continuation or completion rates. To combat this trend, BSU works in partnership with Nilaari to provide culturally appropriate counselling for Black or other minority background students to ensure that these students can receive the right support.
Student wellbeing is prioritised on campus through the Sitting Room Service, which is a dedicated space for wellbeing activities at BSU’s Newton Park campus. Students can access this space seven days a week and are encouraged to use the space for activities which promote good wellbeing, such as creative activities or relaxing in a calm environment.
BSU’s commitment to enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of its community is demonstrated by the submission to the University Mental Health Charter (UMHC) in September 2024. The University is currently working towards achieving the UMHC through open dialogue and collaboration with its staff and students to establish a university-wide approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Bath Spa University is committed to ensuring that its employees are supported to look after their mental health and wellbeing through a range of measures and resources.
The University has an Employee Wellbeing Policy which sets out how senior managers should help employees to maintain positive mental wellbeing, as well as the support that they should provide in cases where employees’ mental health is preventing them from being able to thrive and perform in their work. Managers are encouraged to work with members of staff who are struggling with their mental health to develop a support plan or to refer employees to counsellors or specialist agencies if they require more specialist support.
The Employee Wellbeing Policy also focuses on establishing ways to support members of staff who are neurodivergent in the workplace. Reasonable adjustments, assistive technology and staff training on understanding the challenges faced by those with neurodivergence are some of the measures in place to support BSU colleagues to ensure that they are not disadvantaged when carrying out their jobs.
BSU employees are able to access a wide variety of wellbeing support resources. For example, employees can access support on work-life balance and wellbeing through Telus Health, the University’s employee assistance provider. This service is confidential and enables employees to access support and counselling services whenever they need it. Other services available to BSU staff to enhance their wellbeing include access to an ondemand GP service, access to the University’s gym and financial contributions towards eye tests and corrective lenses.
Bringing opportunities to communities and having more jobs on the doorstep is often discussed in terms of inward investment and promoting organisations investing in places that have traditionally been social mobility cold-spots. However, enabling people and communities to create their own jobs is perhaps the most powerful way of really driving opportunity.
Universities play an important role in not only linking with businesses – sharing expertise and resources – but also in the fostering of entrepreneurship amongst students and the immediate community.
Bath Spa University is home to Bath Business School, one of the UK’s newest business schools. The School was introduced to develop future business leaders and entrepreneurs through a student-centred programme that is focused on business and research. By providing a dedicated space for fostering entrepreneurship in students, BSU aims to raise aspirations and encourage young people to consider opening and developing businesses that will contribute positively to the local area and economy.
Despite being a relatively new addition to Bath Spa University, the Bath Business School has secured external professional recognition from a number of industry-relevant organisations and has been recognised in various awards schemes. The School was named as a finalist in the Education category of the 2019 Bath Life Awards in recognition of its outstanding teaching in the city and was shortlisted for the Business School of the Year category at the 2020 Times
higher education Awards for its outstanding overall performance as an institution that fosters entrepreneurship and business skills.
3.9.2
Bath Spa University provides opportunities for business and entrepreneurial development not only to its students, but to the wider community in Bath. The Studio is BSU’s innovation, research and enterprise hub based in the city centre and provides a space for local micro-businesses and BSU students and graduates to work on business projects and ideas.
The Studio currently hosts 95 local businesses, providing work and meeting spaces and business, technology and creative support. Workshops and events are also held at the venue for the wider community. The space offers a ‘pay what you can’ model so that smaller businesses can afford to access the facility. Residents at The Studio are encouraged to actively engage with the facility and to share their expertise to support other residents with their ideas. In the last year, 39% of The Studio residents have created new products or services during their time there.
Awarded the Creative Space Award at the Creative Bath Awards in 2021 in recognition of its role in promoting creativity and tech innovation in Bath, The Studio demonstrates BSU’s commitment to extending its expertise and facilities to those in the local community. By providing a space in which local people can develop their ideas and benefit from the support of others, Bath Spa University is contributing positively to the local economy and the region in which it is based.
Closing the digital divide 10
3.10. Goal 10: Closing the Digital Divide and AI Divide
The recent shifts in teaching and working patterns have displayed starkly the impact of the digital divide. For some people it is about having poor access to the internet or broadband, while in other cases it is that people and communities might have access to good broadband but not be able to afford a device or the necessary hardware to work and learn on.
Considering the proliferation of resources, equipment and skills, universities have a responsibility to their communities and their students.
3.10.1
Lack of access to technology and broadband is often a major barrier to learning and opportunity for those from less advantaged backgrounds. For this reason, Bath Spa University places a significant emphasis on ensuring that its students can access the technology they need to achieve academically and that they have the necessary digital fluency skills to confidently use this technology.
BSU students can access up to £500 of funding to purchase a laptop to support their studies through the Bath Spa University Laptop Fund. This scheme supports students from more disadvantaged backgrounds to ensure that their studies are not adversely impacted by a lack of access to the necessary technology.
Students who have additional support needs are also able to make use of a range of assistive technology provided by BSU. Software that makes technology more accessible and effective for students with disclosed or nondisclosed disabilities, such as text-to-speech, grammar tools, Pictionary tools and mindmapping, is available for those who need it through the Assistive Technology Mobile Hub. This facility has been recently introduced to support students with mobility, hearing, visual and neurodivergent disabilities to use technology to their benefit.
3.10.2
Bath Spa University is one of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, working in partnership with the company to make Adobe Creative software available to all staff and students. The partnership aims to promote digital fluency throughout the University community and ensure that students feel confident using a wide range of technology before entering the workplace.
Staff and students have access to a range of software tools, including graphic design, video editing, web development and photography software, allowing them to develop skills that will make them stand out to employers when applying for roles. As a result of its partnership with Adobe, Bath Spa University was named on the Adobe A-List, recognising its campus-wide use of the company’s software.
An Adobe Creative Lab has opened at BSU’s Library to encourage wider use of the company’s technology. The Lab is a dedicated space in which students can use Adobe technology creatively to develop ideas and projects.
Students who have additional support needs are also able to make use of a range of assistive technology provided by BSU.
For communities with less opportunity on the doorstep, having the infrastructure in place to access opportunity is essential. That’s why investment in the infrastructure that connects people with opportunities matters so much.
Institutions such as universities have the key resources and standing to develop the physical infrastructure that connects people and places to opportunity.
Creating opportunities that benefit the community around them is a vital part of the role a university has to play. Bath Spa University contributes positively to the wider Bath area through its collaboration with the Little Lost Robot project, a not-for-profit group of artists that produce art that reflects issues within their community.
Little Lost Robot is a resident at BSU’s Studio and works with the University to produce research and development projects within the local community. Projects work towards creating opportunities that will shape local communities in Bath and North East Somerset and provide better futures for local people, including immersive digital and installation work on subjects such as wellness and inclusivity. The project also offers student placements and opportunities for collaboration with artists, giving BSU students the chance to learn new creative skills such as metalwork and welding.
The Little Lost Robot project supports underrepresented groups within the local community to develop new skills, with a series of community learning projects held in collaboration with Bath Spa University in the last year. For example, the Re-Emerge Residency was a six-month programme designed to support people over 25 to return to creative work through skills development and mentoring.
One participant in the Re-Emerge Residency has since become a full-time working artist, selling over £3,000 of paintings and organising her work around the needs of her family. By providing people with opportunities within their local community, Bath Spa University is helping to provide opportunity and to promote entrepreneurship that contributes to the local economy.
The Little Lost Robot project supports under-represented groups within the local community to develop new skills.
Building homes & sustainable communities 12
Communities that are safe, with a good quality of life and homes that people can afford, are communities that are sustainable in the long run. Communities that aren’t risk losing their talent and driving away the very opportunities from business investment that could transform their futures.
Place-based approaches are essential, both from the government and from businesses, to break down barriers to opportunity within local communities.
As part of its partnership with local organisations Little Lost Robot, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Creativity Works and Youth Connect South West, Bath Spa University places a strong focus on regenerating its local communities by bringing disused spaces back into use.
For example, BSU and its partners collaborated on a project called Creative Twerton to transform an empty shop on Twerton High Street into a creative hub that can be used by the local community as part of the Local High Street Improvement Project.
The work to transform this space was led by a team which included Twerton residents to ensure that the needs of the local community were at the centre of the project’s work. The new building offers affordable work and exhibition spaces for local artists, as well as being a venue for free activities and events for people in the community.
To ensure that it benefits local residents in Twerton, the space also provides wi-fi and computer access, after school provision, youth services and food and warm drinks to provide support to those who need it most. Twerton was chosen as the area for this project as it is in the top 10% of most deprived areas nationally and 34% of children in Twerton live in poverty. BSU and its partners aimed to deliver a project that supported the needs of local residents and worked in partnership with local people to understand what they needed most.
Between April and October 2023, the building was used by 270 adults and 420 young people from Twerton, with 120 meals served to community members. In addition to regenerating the Twerton area by providing new opportunities to local people, BSU and its partners have supported four local lowincome artists to develop their skills and careers through access to free residency at the hub.
Another community regeneration project which Bath Spa University supports is based in Radstock. The University works with Radstock Town Council, Youth Connect South West, Bath and North East Somerset High Street Renewal Team and Creativity Works to develop new art and community spaces in the centre of the town.
Radstock was strategically picked as the focus for this work as the area lacked any cultural spaces and bus services had been cut, restricting access to facilities in larger cities for local residents. BSU works with its partners in Radstock to provide new spaces and opportunities on the doorstep of residents in Radstock, focusing particularly on creating facilities that will benefit groups that face the greatest challenges, such as young people, low-income families, women, carers and people from diverse or under-represented communities.
3.12.2
As a university that puts creativity and culture at the heart of its work, Bath Spa University ensures that it extends its cultural work into the local community through a number of events and initiatives that take place throughout the year.
The most notable example of BSU’s cultural outreach work is Sparkfest, an annual music, dance and theatre festival held in Bath for the last twelve years. The University organises and hosts the festival, which celebrates the creative work of BSU students, staff, graduates and other professionals and arts organisations. The 2024 Sparkfest event took place over five weeks and featured 92 live performances that were enjoyed by almost 3,000 people.
By organising cultural and creative opportunities that are accessible to Bath residents, Bath Spa University contributes positively to the arts and culture of the region.
The transition to a net-zero version of Britain is a unique opportunity to see new careers and roles in the very places where they can make the most difference to equality of opportunity and social mobility.
Investment in the green economy is already bringing brand new opportunities to areas across the country, and it is crucial that the transition is equitable for people and communities everywhere.
3.13.1
Protecting the environment and limiting the impact of climate change has been a long-term priority for Bath Spa University. Awarded First-Class University status in 2024 in the People and Planet University League Table, BSU has demonstrated its commitment in this area by making significant progress on tackling climate change in the last decade.
BSU successfully delivered on the commitments set out in its 10-year Carbon and Energy Reduction Plan in 2010, two years ahead of time. The University has reduced its carbon emissions by more than 50% per m2, with a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions from business travel and commuting, increased recycling rates across the University’s sites to 80% and improved the biodiversity of its campuses.
However, in recognition of the fact that its day-today operations continue to produce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, Bath Spa University is extending its environmental targets to further reduce its impact on the planet.
BSU’s second Carbon Reduction Management Plan ambitiously commits to reaching net zero emissions by 2030. This document sets out the University’s vision of becoming an institution that leads the way in achieving sustainability, through a whole-institution approach that encompasses the University’s campuses, curriculum and business and procurement processes. For example, Bath Spa’s new net zero target for the first time includes Scope 3 emissions, which are emissions produced by its supply chains.
The Carbon Reduction Management Plan aims to minimise Bath Spa University’s energy consumption and create a positive environmental impact through six key elements:
1. Continually improving the energy efficiency of the BSU estate by eliminating energy waste through close control of heating, cooling and ventilation, implementing new technologies, upskilling the University’s Estates Team and fostering energy-aware behaviours throughout the BSU community
2. Decarbonising heat at the Newton Park campus with heat pump technology, driven by renewable electricity
3. Ensuring all new developments align with the University’s Net Zero target
4. Developing on and off-site renewable energy generation where possible
5. Reducing Scope 3 emissions from transport, construction, waste and water
6. Offsetting what cannot be eliminated by the above means, through certified afforestation programmes that can provide ongoing education, research and recreation opportunities for staff and students
Through this clearly defined action plan to further reduce its environmental impact, Bath Spa University demonstrates its ambition and commitment to sustainability and decarbonisation of the higher education sector.
BSU commits to reporting on its carbon reduction progress annually to ensure transparency and foster engagement on the progress towards these goals throughout the wider University community. For example, staff and students are kept informed about the progress of BSU’s Decarbonisation Project, which is working towards significantly reducing energy and carbon consumption at its Newton Park campus. The project aims to be implemented between June 2025 and September 2028, with heat pumps, solar technologies and system optimisations in place to transition away from fossil fuels for heat generation.
3.13.2 Sustainability initiatives and education
The journey towards sustainability and carbon reduction is one that encompasses every member of the Bath Spa University community. BSU aims to ensure that its staff and students are sustainabilityliterate so that they are in a position to make environmentally positive decisions throughout their lives and influence others to do so as well.
BSU’s Sustainability Strategy sets out the ways in which every member of the University’s community can take action to minimise their environmental impact. The document promotes awareness and best practice to staff and students and encompasses seven key themes:
1. Estate Management
2. Transport
3. Procurement (including Food and Fairtrade)
4. Health and Wellbeing
5. Sustainable Financial Management
6. Community Engagement
7. Social Enterprise
Each theme is overseen by a senior department member to ensure that progress towards each area is closely monitored. The Sustainability Strategy is also monitored by BSU’s Sustainability Steering Group which meets three times a year to assess the University’s progress.
While BSU’s work towards achieving greater sustainability across its sites is still ongoing, the University has implemented a number of actions and initiatives which have contributed positively to its environmental targets. For example, encouraging staff and students to make more environmentally conscious decisions when travelling to and from the University has been a significant priority. Initiatives such as car sharing and cycle to work schemes, discounted bus fares and Electric Vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice schemes have resulted in a 30% decrease in carbon
emissions from daily commuting for the second year in a row, according to the University’s most recent Travel Survey results. Progress to decarbonise transport at BSU is also demonstrated through its Estates Team, which now has 12 EV vans in its fleet, representing more than half of its vehicles.
Two of BSU’s on-site catering outlets have been awarded the Silver Food for Life Award by the Soil Association in recognition of the University’s commitment to using food from sustainable sources. Further progress in the University’s food outlets has been demonstrated through BSU’s partnership with Refill to remove disposable cups from its food venues by implementing a returnable cup scheme. Around 1,000 cups were borrowed per month throughout the three-month partnership.
In addition to the University-wide Carbon Reduction and Sustainability policies implemented by the leadership at BSU, students also demonstrate a positive commitment to the environment. The Bath Spa University Students’ Union has a dedicated Sustainability Representative and Sustainability Action Group which aim to promote environmental best practice throughout the student body. The Students’ Union promotes initiatives to encourage BSU students to make positive and sustainable changes in their lives, such as by phasing out the use of single-use practices and choosing sustainable transport options.
BSU staff are encouraged to engage with the University’s sustainability targets by becoming Eco Champion Scheme representatives. The University aims to have at least one representative in each department and school to promote and integrate sustainability and share new policies with their colleagues.
Creating a level playing field of opportunity for all can fully unleash Britain’s potential for the first time.
Diversity extends beyond gender and ethnicity to sexuality, disability and other challenges that can lead to disadvantage. When we look across the leadership roles in business, the judiciary, government, politics and education, there is a continued skew towards those from the most privileged backgrounds. Britain will not succeed unless and until its leadership roles, wherever they are found in our society, better reflect the wider society at large.
3.14.1
Bath Spa University takes pride in creating an inclusive and diverse environment where every member of its community is treated with respect and provided with equal opportunities.
Progress towards achieving equality between those within the BSU community with protected characteristics and those without is monitored by the University’s Equality and Diversity Steering Group. The Group reports to BSU’s Senior Leadership Group and ensures that the University’s equality objectives are shared with all staff and students. These objectives include increasing support for underrepresented groups within the University through support networks and events, developing a more inclusive curriculum, and adopting more diverse staff recruitment processes so that BSU’s staff accurately reflects the diversity of its student body and wider society.
The student demographic at Bath Spa University is made up of 66.9% of students who identify as female, 27.8% who declare a disability and 14.2% from BAME backgrounds. A number of student networks, including the Disabled Student Network, BAME Student Network, Women’s Network and LGBT+ Network, have been set up by the Bath Spa University Students’ Union to provide support and opportunities to meet with students from similar backgrounds that are traditionally under-represented in higher education settings.
The University also holds several events throughout the academic year which are designed to celebrate Bath Spa University’s diversity and provide opportunities to consider how underrepresented groups can be supported further. Events such as International Women’s Day, Equality Week, Black History Month, Disability History Month and LGBTQIA+ History Month have been celebrated with presentations, film screenings, dance performances and community meals.
Despite the proactive work of institutions like BSU, inequalities in higher education persist within the sector. Because of this, Bath Spa University places a strong emphasis on widening access to university to people from all backgrounds, so that no one who has the ability and desire to study at university is prevented from doing so by their individual circumstances.
BSU has implemented a Widening Participation Strategy which examines how the University can work to break down barriers that prevent many people from underrepresented groups from applying to and being admitted to university. This strategy, along with our University Strategy 2030, sets out BSU’s commitment to increasing applications from students from underrepresented groups such as BAME people, people with a disability, mature students, care experienced young people and those with no family background of higher education. The plan pledges to implement a number of actions to extend access to higher education, including outreach with schools in low participation areas, fair admissions processes and financial support measures such as bursaries.
Events and initiatives are additionally held to target specific underrepresented groups and encourage them to consider pursuing higher education. For example, Bath Spa University holds Discovery Days for Young Carers to provide young people who have additional responsibilities as carers to visit the BSU campuses, understand the support that is available to students who are carers and speak with current students who come from similar backgrounds. BSU has signed the Care Leavers Covenant to demonstrate its commitment to supporting more care-experienced young people to enter higher education.
BSU’s work to widen access to higher education and the benefits it has to offer to a more diverse range of people has been recognised and celebrated by The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024, which named Bath Spa University as the University of the Year for Social Inclusion.
50.2% of BAME students at Bath Spa University graduated with a first or 2:1 degree classification, compared with 71.2% of white students in 2023/24.
While the attainment gap between white and black students at Bath Spa University has narrowed, the University recognises that there is further work to be done to ensure that the disparity in degree attainment between students of different ethnicities is eliminated. BSU has pledged to reduce this attainment gap further by 2028.
One of the ways in which BSU aims to reduce the awarding gap between white and black students is through the Bath Spa Empowers programme of events held annually to provide tailored resources and leadership trainings for students from African, Arab, Asian and Caribbean heritage backgrounds.
The Bath Spa Empowers programme includes opportunities for paid work experience and internships, careers advice, networking opportunities and opportunities for mentorship and coaching.
The plan pledges to implement a number of actions to extend access to higher education.
BSU reports annually on its gender pay gap, with the most recently reported figures representing a mean pay gap of 7% and a median pay gap of 7.2%. These figures represent a narrowing of the pay gap between male and female members of staff at BSU, with both figures at 11% for the previous year.
As part of its work to reduce the gender pay gap at the University, BSU introduced a higher percentage increase to members of staff on the lowest pay rates and brought in the Voluntary Living Wage pay rates earlier than required.
Other measures introduced to support BSU’s female members of staff and reduce the gender pay gap include developing the Women’s Staff Network, introducing mandatory Diversity and Unconscious Bias training, creating a menopause policy and developing gender neutral Pregnancy and Partner policies to replace previous Maternity and Paternity policies.
All too often leadership and management positions at businesses and organisations across the country are held by those from the most privileged backgrounds. In response to this trend, Bath Spa University demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting those from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds to progress into leadership roles within the institution.
The proportion of BAME staff in senior roles at Bath Spa University has increased from 10.5% to 11.1% according to the most recent figures, with the University’s mean ethnicity pay gap at -5.3% as a result of this higher proportion of senior BAME staff. These figures are better than the sector average and evidence BSU’s success in supporting its colleagues from minority ethnic backgrounds to thrive in their careers.
One of the primary ways in which Bath Spa University has achieved success in this area is through the Elevate programme. This programme is targeted at supporting women in academic and professional service roles and from BAME backgrounds to explore leadership opportunities.
Participants in the Elevate programme are encouraged to celebrate their cultures, experiences and diversity in order to develop their own leadership styles and strengths. The programme is run in partnership with five other UK universities - Bristol, Bath, Cardiff, Exeter and UWE Bristol.
By providing opportunities for employees from traditionally underrepresented groups in more senior roles, Bath Spa University is empowering its staff to aspire to progress in their careers, regardless of their backgrounds.
Only by organisations working in partnership can potential truly be recognised and opportunity boosted. By fostering meaningful strategic alliances, organisations can harness diverse talent and perspectives, and ensure their initiatives are grounded in the needs of real-world communities.
3.15.1
The University’s Centre for Educational Partnerships works through a network of educational partners to extend our mission into communities, especially those not well served by traditional higher education providers.
Working with a wide range of partners, from further education colleges to alternative providers who are locally embedded in their communities, allows us to significantly reduce barriers to higher education. Official monitoring shows that our work in this area is especially successful in reaching low participation groups and communities experiencing deprivation in the UK as measured by the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
This work is fully embedded in the University’s 2030 Strategy and is supported by an Educational Partnerships Strategy that feeds into it.
3.15.2
To support the University’s wider missions and targets, BSU also works in partnership with a number of organisations in the local Bath region. These partnerships enable the University to effect real change in its communities that will directly benefit and improve the lives of local people who are not traditionally served by higher education providers. For example, to support its mission to widen access to higher education Bath Spa University works with the Wessex Inspiration Network. This partnership aims to increase social mobility by providing opportunities for participation in higher education to young people in the Bath region.
A focus on wellbeing in the Bath area is advanced through BSU’s partnership with other Bath institutions, including the University of Bath, Bath and North East Somerset Council and Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. The four organisations have pledged to collaborate to address key challenges in the local area and to help local communities to thrive.
Work to achieve progress towards wider strategies and goals include widening access to justice through BSU’s partnership with Citizens Advice and law firm Stone King through the Bath Law Clinic (see 3.4.4) and community regeneration as part of the Little Lost Robot project (see 3.12.1).
The four organisations have pledged to collaborate to address key challenges in the local area and to help local communities to thrive.
Bath Spa University’s dedication to having a positive impact for its students, colleagues and the wider city of Bath is evident, with the institution’s far-reaching work and initiatives purposely designed to create meaningful change in the lives of every member of its community.
Bath Spa University leads by example through its efforts to widen access to university. Targeted initiatives, such as the My Future programme, provide effective routes into higher education for those from underrepresented groups or low socioeconomic backgrounds. Furthermore, the provision of bursaries to break down financial barriers to attending university is evidence of Bath Spa University’s drive to ensuring that there is equality of opportunity for all young people leaving school.
The University’s strong focus on employability demonstrates its commitment to supporting its students to achieve their full potential. In addition to its dedicated Careers team, Bath Spa University provides its students with valuable placement and mentoring opportunities so that they can gain insight and experience of their individual career goals.
Bath Spa University ensures that its students are at the heart of its work by creating an environment in which every individual can thrive and feel supported. Measures prioritising the physical and mental wellbeing of the University’s students, including wide-ranging financial support initiatives to support students with the cost of living crisis, show how Bath Spa University proactively works to contribute positively to its students’ lives.
Bath Spa University’s colleagues are greatly valued by the university. The institution is conscious of its duty of care towards its colleagues, with a comprehensive Employee Wellbeing policy instrumental in ensuring that all colleagues, regardless of their role, receive the support they need to thrive both in and out of their workplace.
The University excels at investing in the career progression of its colleagues. Measures such as clear career pathways and the provision of a wide range of professional development opportunities demonstrate how Bath Spa University is leading by example in the drive to ensure that every colleague has the opportunity to progress and achieve their career goals. Furthermore, through the Elevate programme, Bath Spa University is using its position as a force for good by focusing on the progression of women from BAME backgrounds, who are all too often underrepresented in leadership roles.
Through a wide range of outreach and community initiatives, Bath Spa University takes an active role in its local communities, placing it firmly as a leader on positive social impact in the city of Bath and beyond. The impact of projects such as The Studio, Little Lost Robot and Creative Twerton clearly demonstrates Bath Spa University’s commitment to using its position as a force for good, benefitting local communities by creating community spaces, supporting local businesses and contributing strongly to the local economy.
As the largest Initial Teacher Training provider in South West England, driving forward changes that will positively impact the lives of children is a priority for Bath Spa University. In addition to training highly-qualified and socially-engaged teachers who will go on to be positive presences in the lives of the children they teach, the University’s Centre for Research in Early Childhood takes this work even further by examining early childhood and education policy that can improve outcomes for children across the country.
By actively working to implement changes and initiatives that go beyond its own university community into its local communities, Bath Spa University demonstrates its commitment to having a positive social impact on the lives and opportunities of local people in the most disadvantaged circumstances.
Through a wide range of outreach and community initiatives, Bath Spa University takes an active role in its local communities.
Using the Indices of Multiple Deprivation, the Purpose Coalition and Bath Spa University have partnered to identify communities of acute need across the regions it operates in.
As outlined in this report, Bath Spa University already reaches into these communities in a variety of ways and is supporting a wide range of individuals into educational opportunities.
Through this data analysis, Bath Spa University can apply the recommendations outlined in Section 5 to the communities most in need.
Critically, Bath Spa University and the Purpose Coalition have identified the specific barriers
most important to each of these communities –supporting the company in targeting its work and collaborating with key partners in areas of strategic need.
In the tables below, a lower number is worse. Being in Decile 1 means the Lower Layer Support Output Area (LSOA) is amongst the 10% most deprived areas. Having a Rank of 1 means the LSOA is the most deprived LSOA in the country.
Conversely, being in Decile 10 means the LSOA is amongst the 10% least deprived areas and having a Rank of 32,844 would mean it is the least deprived LSOA in the country.
The IMD looks at seven key domains, each showing a different kind of deprivation:
Income: measures the number of people with very low incomes, including those who struggle to pay for basics like food and housing.
Employment: measures how many people of working age are out of work due to unemployment, health problems, or other reasons they can’t control.
Education, skills and training: focuses on low school results, limited qualifications, and a lack of learning of training opportunities for adults.
Health deprivation and disability: checks how poor physical and mental health, or a higher chance of dying early, affects people’s lives in an area.
Crime: measures how often people and property are affected by crime like violence, theft, or vandalism in the community.
Barriers to housing and services: looks at how hard it is for people to afford housing or access important services like shops, schools, or doctors.
Living environment: assesses the quality of homes and the local area, including housing conditions, air quality, and road safety.
There is also an ‘overall’ measure, which combines the information from all seven domains to give a complete picture of how deprived and area is compared to others.
Council Name: Bath and North East Somerset LA District Code: E06000022
LSOA Name per Census 2011 (most recent): Bath and North East Somerset 011C LSOA Code per Census 2011 (most recent): E01014463
Council Name: Bath and North East Somerset LA District Code: E06000022
LSOA Name per Census 2011 (most recent): Bath and North East Somerset 015D LSOA Code per Census 2011 (most recent): E01014458
Council Name: Bath and North East Somerset LA District Code: E06000022
LSOA Name per Census 2011 (most recent): Bath and North East Somerset 018D LSOA Code per Census 2011 (most recent): E01014390
Council Name: Bath and North East Somerset LA District Code: E06000022
LSOA Name per Census 2011 (most recent): Bath and North East Somerset 011D LSOA Code per Census 2011 (most recent): E01014464
Council Name: Bath and North East Somerset LA District Code: E06000022
LSOA Name per Census 2011 (most recent): Bath and North East Somerset 011B LSOA Code per Census 2011 (most recent): E01014462
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