Bristol Distinguished Address Series announces autumn speakers

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UWE Bristol is pleased to announce the latest programme of speakers for the forthcoming Bristol Distinguished Address Series. The lecture series has now been certified for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes by the CPD Certification Service*.

Now in its ninth year, the Bristol Distinguished Address Series is well regarded by the City’s business community as the leading place to hear about the challenges, issues and decisions being made at the highest level of strategic leadership.

The Bristol Distinguished Address Series is free to attend and open to members of the business community.

The line up of speakers for the Autumn is:

Wednesday 03 October 2018 : Ashok Vaswani, CEO of Barclays Bank UK, will deliver the University’s prestigious Annual Bolland Lecture entitled, ‘Digital Transformation of Banking’.

Wednesday 17 October 2018: Kevin Ellis, Chair and Senior Partner of PwC UK, will deliver a lecture entitled, ‘The Role of Business in a Disrupted World. Why Business Needs to Work Harder to Show its Positive Contribution to Society’.

Wednesday 7 November 2018: Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall, will deliver a lecture entitled ‘Achieving Social Change’.

Please contact the Media Relations office if you would like to request a media seat or have a media query about this event, email pressoffice@uwe.ac.uk

The series is delivered by the Bristol Business School in partnership with ACCABristol City CouncilBristol Junior ChamberBristol Law SocietyBristol MediaBusiness LeaderBusiness WestCBICIPDCIPFACMIFSBIoDICAEW and the West of England Combined Authority.

Following the talk, there will be an opportunity for the audience to put forward their issues and questions at this event.

Series organiser, Professor Nicholas O’Regan says, “We are delighted to announce that the series is now CPD accredited. The series is an excellent opportunity for members of the business community in Bristol, as well as our own students, alumni and staff to hear directly from inspirational figures in industry with a wealth of strategic experience and leadership skills at the highest level.”

Find podcasts, video interviews, photos galleries and media coverage from past Bristol Distinguished Address Series events. Follow the discussion on Twitter using the hashtag #BristolLectures

To register for the first address please click here.

*For delegates who wish to obtain a CPD Certificate of Attendance, it is the responsibility of delegates to register their details with a member of the events team at the end of the event.

Bristol Business School shortlisted for Times Higher ‘Business School of the Year’ award

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The Bristol Business School has been shortlisted for ‘Business School of the Year’ at the Times Higher Education awards.

This is the 2nd year in a row the Business School has been shortlisted for the prestigious award.

The shortlisted submission was build around impactful research, engagement with business and innovation in entrepreneurship.

The submission showcases the success of two students from the Team Entrepreneurship programme who secured national awards: Jamie Rawsthorne, named IoD Student Director of the Year and Oliver Haddon, TARGETjobs Future Leader in Business Undergraduate of the Year, as well as highlighting the opening of the purpose built £55 million building. Reflecting the strong links to industry and the growing reputation of the business school as a hub for knowledge exchange, last year saw the milestone 100th speaker in the Bristol Distinguished Address Series.

The Business School is not alone in receiving recognition for a success over the last year, the Centre for Fine Print Research has also made the shortlist for Most Innovative Contribution to Business within the University Collaboration Category for their Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Burleigh Pottery.

Thanks to AHRC-funded research, the Centre for Fine Print Research was able to use innovative digital technologies to rescue the traditional engraving techniques which are used to create Burleighware’s distinctive designs. These techniques, developed in the late 18th century, have been vanishing and Burleigh is the only company in the world to keep them alive.

Vice-Chancellor Steve West, said, “I’m sure the whole University community will join me in wishing the best of luck to everyone involved in both submissions. We’re extremely proud of the successes made by the Bristol Business School in the first year in their new building, and delighted that our links with industry and the opportunities they open for students are being recognised by the shortlisting of the Burleigh project.”

The winners will be announced on Thursday 29 November at a gala event at Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

IoD relocates regional headquarters to UWE Bristol

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The South West Institute of Directors is relocating its regional headquarters to the Bristol Business School at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) in a move that further cements the partnership between the two organisations.

The office in the Business School will also act as a second hub for members. Members already have access to the facilities at Engine Shed, near Temple Meads.

The organisations already partner on a number of key initiatives including student membership, the Team Entrepreneurship degree programme and the Bristol Distinguished Address Series of which the IoD was a founding member.

Nick Sturge, South West regional director, said: “Encouraging the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs has always been one of the IoD’s priorities so it seems entirely appropriate that we should be regionally headquartered at UWE Bristol which has such an established reputation for business and enterprise studies.

“Having a physical presence in the Business and Law faculty will enable us to be even more actively involved in supporting existing and new initiatives, such as the Team Entrepreneurship degree and some of the activities at Launch Space, which provides enterprise support for graduate businesses.”

Donna Whitehead, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law, said: “As the largest University in the South West, UWE Bristol is a key driver for productivity and economic growth. It is our responsibility to develop graduates’ skills and experiences to ensure that they can make a meaningful contribution to the world of work and their community. Consistent and practical interactions with business and industry help facilitate a successful transition into the workplace. Our relationship with the IoD is one facet of this and our students have benefited enormously from initiatives such as the student membership programme. I am delighted we are now under the same roof.”

Institute of Directors award for Bristol Business School Executive Dean

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Donna Whitehead, Executive Dean of UWE Bristol’s Bristol Business School and Bristol Law School, was named New Director of the Year at the 2018 IoD South West awards.

Leading a team of nearly 300 staff and more than 6,000 students, Donna manages a budget of £55 million. She also leads the work on enterprise across the University. In winning the inaugural New Director award, she was singled out for achieving transformational change for the organisation in an impressively short period of time.

Donna said: “I am delighted to win this award. I’m incredibly proud to lead the Faculty, and enjoy and value working with all our talented staff. This award reflects their great work.”

A total of 14 directors from across the region were shortlisted for the awards, presented yesterday at a ceremony near Exeter. The awards were sponsored by accountants Bishop Fleming, which has offices throughout the South West. Guest speaker was Roy Kinnear, COO of South West-based airline Flybe.

Nick Sturge, South West chair of the IoD, said: “The South West has a well-deserved reputation for creativity, leadership and entrepreneurship. The diversity of awards this year served to demonstrate just this. We had a record number of entries this year so to be even shortlisted was an achievement. I want to congratulate not just our winners but our runners up too.”

All the winners will now go forward for a chance to represent the South West at the IoD National Director of the Year Awards in the autumn.

Dr Zainab Khan wins at the Bristol Diversity Awards 2018

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Dr Zainab Khan picked up the award for Positive Role Model (Race / Ethnicity) at the 2nd Bristol Diversity Awards event on Saturday 18th May at the Mercure Holland Hotel & Spa.

Zainab was nominated for her work on the UWE Bristol Equity Programme.

Equity is a positive-action talent development programme aiming to improve BAME graduate outcomes  through identity coaching, enterprise education and large networking events.

It marks a major departure from traditional diversity practice in Higher Education, and has received  positive reception from external observers and city commentators for its innovation. You can find out more about the Equity Programme here

Prior to the event Zainab was interviewed for ITV’s local news to discuss the upcoming awards

Attending the awards were Equity student committee members, Donna Whitehead (Executive Dean & Pro Vice Chancellor), Dr Harriet Shortt (Associate Professor Bristol Business School), Mena Fombo (Motivational Speaker and Equity Programme Coach) and Alex Mormoris, former colleague and key member of the Equity Programme staff.

Congratulations to Zainab and the Equity team on this impressive achievement.

International Women’s Day 2018 at the Bristol Business School

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On Thursday 8 March, Bristol Business School hosted several events and workshops to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The day was collaboratively organised by the Faculty of Arts, Creative Industries and Education (ACE); the Bristol Business School and the Bristol Law School.

Guests were welcomed by Hazel Edwards Associate Dean (Research and Innovation) who set the scene for International Women’s Day and shared her own personal experiences with attendees.

The first session was run by Professor Carol Jarvis, with several students from Team Entrepreneurship, and focused on inspirational women.

Guests were asked to work in groups and share their inspirational women and then describe them using just one word.

Next there was a panel discussion entitled ‘Barriers to and opportunities for enabling more successful women in business’. The lively discussion was chaired by Professor Jane Roscoe, Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean, ACE and panellists included:

  • Kalpna Woolf – Award winning ex BBC Head. Author -Spice Yourself Slim
  • Sado Jirde – Director of Black South West Network (BSWN)
  • Vashti Seth – Success Redefined Coach
  • Professor Sue Durbin – Professor in Human Resource Management

Over lunch, stalls were set up in the Business School atrium which were run by female entrepreneurs. Guests were served food from Bini Fine Foods and were serenaded by our International Women’s Day choir.

There was also a raffle which raised over £200 for Bristol charity one25, who reach out to women trapped in, or vulnerable to, street sex work, supporting them to break free and build new lives away from violence, poverty and addiction.

In the afternoon there was a screening of “Barefoot in Business”, a film created by BAFTA award winning film maker Carol Cooke about female entrepreneurs in Uganda.

Also running throughout the afternoon were several workshops and drop in sessions including speed mentoring; an Athena SWAN workshop and a CV surgery.

The whole day was compered wonderfully by Lynn Barlow Assistant Vice Chancellor, ACE.

Thank you to all who were involved and helped make International Women’s Day at the Bristol Business School such a success.

International Women’s Day at UWE Bristol

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Come help us celebrate the entrepreneurial, political, social and cultural achievements of women, and their acts of courage and determination in the pursuit of gender parity in their workplaces, communities and countries.

To mark the day, we have planned a series of events and workshops at UWE which are all free to attend and open to all.

Alongside the events there will be stalls set up through the Atrium showcasing the amazing work that women in our region produce.

There will be a charity raffle with prizes including a Spa day from The Gainsborough Bath Spa, two tickets to the Affordable Art Fair in London, a coaching session from Sequoia Bridge as well as many more. All proceeds from the raffle will go to Bristol charity one25 who reach out to women trapped in, or vulnerable to, street sex work, supporting them to break free and build new lives away from violence, poverty and addiction. Further information can be found here!

There will be a free lunch provided by Bini Fine Foods for all attendees.

In order to register for this event, please email: fbl.execsupport@uwe.ac.uk 

Agenda

Arrival & Refreshments

10.00 – 10.15

Welcome

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10.15 – 10.45

Female entrepreneurs: Inspirational case studies 6X269
Refreshments

11.00 – 12.00

Panel discussion: ‘Barriers to and opportunities for enabling more successful women in business’

·         Professor Jane Roscoe (Chair) – Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean, ACE

·         Kalpna Woolf – Award winning ex BBC Head. Author -Spice Yourself Slim

·         Sado Jirde – Director of Black South West Network (BSWN)

·         Vashti Seth – Success Redefined Coach

·         Professor Sue Durbin – Professor in Human Resource Management

6X269
Lunch

International Women’s Day Choir

Stalls ran by female entrepreneurs

Raffle announcement

Drop in sessions

Available between 12.00-14.00

Screening of Barefoot in Business

This is a film created by BAFTA award winning film maker Carol Cooke about female entrepreneurs in Uganda.

7X201

13.15- 14:15

CV Surgery

Careers Space X Block

13.15-14.15

Speed Mentoring

Speed mentoring (with a focus on enterprise)

TE Space

Workshops

14.20-15.00

Athena SWAN Workshop

The Role of Athena SWAN in engaging gender equality in UK university settings: Accreditation or lever of change?’

2X116

14.20-15.15 Creating and Telling your Leadership Story

3X105

15.20-15.50 Difficult Conversations

‘Based on one of UWEs Learning and Development Centre courses, this will workshop will leave you with some tips on how to better handle difficult conversations.’

 

2X116

 

 

Bristol Business School shortlisted for Business School of the Year

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Bristol Business School has been shortlisted for Business School of the Year category of the Times Higher Education Awards 2017.

This nomination is welcomed by the Executive Dean Donna Whitehead who said that making the Times Higher Shortlist is the culmination of a fantastic year.

Donna Whitehead said, “It is wonderful to be nominated for this coveted accolade especially in a year where we have seen our investment in a state of the art building come to life.

“The building is a symbol for the way we approach business education with an emphasis on practice based learning enhanced by the way we relate to and engage with thousands of business partners in the region.

“The new purpose built business school has completely moved away from traditional learning spaces and greatly expanded the use of technology enhanced active learning to allow for greater co-creation and student-led problem solving. We have created an ambitious, creative and inspiring place for our students, staff and the business community.”

The School is distinctive in five areas: engagement with businesses and region; enterprise, practice led teaching and learning, internationalisation and research that is shaping the future of organisations.

The award submission was based around our performance during academic year 2015/16 during which we are especially proud our strong performance in the areas of enterprise and practice based learning, engaging with business and impactful research.

Student satisfaction rates are excellent as evidenced by scores in the 2016 National Student Survey, for example, 100% on BA Business and HRM and 98% on BA Economics; and businesses in the region routinely describe the school as responsive, innovative and engaging.

Donna Whitehead continues, “We have embraced new learning methods, such as the BA (Hons) Team Entrepreneurship, where we achieved an NSS personal development score of 98%.

“Employability rates are impressive with 95% of our students in work and 75% in professional and managerial roles / further study six months after graduation.

“Enterprise is embedded within all of our courses ensuring that all students graduate as resilient, agile and able to deal with a working environment that is constantly changing.

“Students are encouraged to take part in summer internships with financial support and a mentor to develop a business. As part of a partnership agreement with Santander, students can compete in a Dragon’s Den competition with up to £5,000 available to winners.

“A Business Fellows Programme brings together an exclusive network of 40 business leaders, from a range of sectors, working in partnership with each other to mentor our students and work in collaboration with our academics.

“A world-class Bristol Distinguished Address Series is brought to the city twice each year where business leaders are invited to open lectures to provide valuable insight to record numbers of employers and students.

“In April 2016 our BA (Hons) International Business was accredited by EPAS, a highly regarded international accreditation system enjoyed by only the world’s best business courses.

“During 2015/16, Bristol Business School received £1,121,000 income for Business and Management research – exceeding that of all Alliance University Business Schools and a significant number of Russell Group Business Schools.”

Professor Steve West, President and Vice-Chancellor, said, “The Bristol Business School deserves to win Business School of the Year. Our strategic objectives are bold and distinctive and we are proud to open up opportunities to thousands of students who go on to become business leaders.

“I am proud of what the staff team has achieved and grateful to the hard work from across the university that has led to this recognition by making the Times Higher Education awards shortlist in this important category. Good luck to us!”

The awards dinner and ceremony when the winner will be announced will take place on Thursday 30 November at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London.

New £55 million building will change how UWE Bristol does business

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Staff and students working and studying at Bristol Business School (BBS) and Bristol Law School (BLS) at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) have moved in to a new state of the art £55million building.

The building is the jewel in the crown of a significant £300m capital investment programme across all campuses and will enable UWE Bristol to offer a new way forward in Business and Law Education to benefit students and businesses in the region.

Designed to foster formal and informal interaction between businesses the new facility promises to bring many benefits to the regional economy.

Donna Whitehead, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of BBS and BLS says,

“This will be a live environment where staff and students and business work together – with collaboration at its core.

“We consult with our advisory board of key business figures who challenge us to make our provision meet the needs of employers and the latest developments in the business world.”

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Professor Steve West, President and Vice-Chancellor at UWE Bristol, said,

“It is wonderful to see this flagship build fully occupied. But it’s not really about the building, it is about what will happen inside it.

“At UWE Bristol we teach business differently. A UWE education goes beyond getting industry accreditation, important though this is.

“We are harnessing relationships with thousands of businesses across the region, nationally and internationally helping us to shape our courses so that our students develop the skills that are needed to help the economy thrive.”

Donna Whitehead continues,

“Already UWE Bristol students are demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit through our Team Entrepreneur course where a degree is earned by students collaborating in teams to create and run a business over a three year period under the guidance of mentors.

“We foster an enterprise mindset in all our students. Last year Bristol Law School students doing pro bono work gained £1 million in welfare benefits for people wrongly declared fit for work.

“They also advise start-ups and tech businesses though our Business Clinic, which will diversify into digital marketing, finance and tax advice over the next year. This service has been set up in collaboration with Bristol law firm Gregg Latchams Ltd and international legal practice Osborne Clarke LLP and is based at the Future Space Centre on Frenchay Campus.

“Activities like these keep us in touch with what is happening in the region and provides students with relevant work and placement opportunities as they interact with business, owners and developers.”

Features of the new building include two showcase law courts, a city trading room, a 300 seat lecture theatre, two Harvard lecture theatres, an incubator for our Team

Entrepreneurs, technology enhanced and flexible learning spaces, IT suites, meeting facilities and parking for business, an external business engagement space, a central social space and a café.

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Key professional organisations will have a base in the new building enabling barristers, accountants, small business owners and start-ups to mix with staff and students in the learning and social areas.

Throughout the building there are flexible workspaces that staff, students and visitors can use.

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See also a 3D-modelled film showcasing the internal design, layout and infrastructure and also a YouTube 360 degree video visualisation of the new building.

Bristol Business School recently achieved the prestigious European programme accreditation (EPAS), placing it in an elite and internationally recognised group of modern Business Schools.

 

Donna Whitehead Invites Business Alumni to Join New Bristol Business School Celebrations

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“Here at Bristol Business School, we are proud to have such a vibrant community of alumni underpinning our success and leading our development.

Our alumni are already a big part of the new Bristol Business school and the construction of its new home on Frenchay Campus. So when the building starts buzzing with life in early January 2017, we would love our alumni to join in the celebrations.

Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing ways for you to help us from donating to the new building, mentoring a current student, giving a guest lecture or getting involved with the alumni festivities, reunion activities and networking events wherever you are based.

Firstly, we would love to see photos of your UWE Bristol days, hear your memories and reflections on what your time here meant to you, to share and feature in the alumni archive for the new building.

All entries will go into our prize draw, to win a private trip for two people in UWE Bristol’s hot air balloon!

  • Tweet them to us using #UWEBristolMemories
  • Send them to us by email or post

It’s the growing success of our network of alumni that has made this new world-class hub for students, academics and professionals possible. We hope you will help us celebrate the successes that have led us to become the Business School we are today, and join us on the next step of our journey to drive innovation, research and economic growth.”

Donna Whitehead
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean, Faculty of Business and Law

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