Tackling health inequalities through community voices, inclusive research and action

bethjohnson | 15 October 202615 October 2026

From L-R: Dr Jo Buring (GP, Bristol, NIHR Doctoral Fellow, University of Bristol); Ruby Osunsola (Nilaari); Dr Naabil Khan (Foundation doctor, Kent); Dr Tabinda Rashid-Fadel (Accure Health); Dr Reem Kayyali (UWE Bristol); Dr Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu (UWE Bristol); Francesa Arrigoni (Kingston University, London); Dr Praveen Kumar (Founder and Chair of Ethnic Inequality Research Network)

This is a guest blog by Dr Praveen Kumar, Associate Professor in Stroke Rehabilitation at UWE Bristol.

Health inequalities are rarely the result of a single issue. Gender, ethnicity, culture, mental health, trust in services and wider structural inequalities can all shape people’s experiences of healthcare. These interconnected challenges were at the heart of the Ethnic Health Inequalities Conference 2026, bringing academic, healthcare, community and lived-experience perspectives created opportunities to discuss inequalities and consider practical and holistic ways of addressing them and creating more equitable healthcare and research.

With World Menopause Day on 18 October, menopause and women’s health provided a particularly timely focus for the conference. The conference focus was also based on the release of the Renewed Women’s Health strategy for England.

Menopause: addressing inequalities in awareness, access and treatment

Dr Jo Buring (GP) practicing in Bristol explored inequalities in menopause awareness, access to care and treatment. Drawing on Patient and Public Involvement Engagement work with Somali, Afro-Caribbean and White communities in Bristol, alongside qualitative research exploring mental health issues during perimenopause phase, her session highlighted how women’s experiences of menopause can be shaped by wider social, cultural and health inequalities. The discussion emphasised the importance of ensuring that menopause research is genuinely inclusive and representative. Understanding the experiences of women from different communities is essential if we are to identify barriers to care and develop services that respond to the needs of women across the UK.

This focus was complemented by an insightful workshop led by Nathalie Sherring, CEO of Bristol Women’s Voice, exploring medical misogyny experienced by post-menopausal women. By placing lived experience at the centre of the discussion, the workshop moved beyond identifying problems towards practical action, with participants contributing to the development of a checklist designed to help women advocate for themselves within healthcare settings.

Dr Naabil Khan (Foundation doctor in Kent) further broadened the conversation around inequalities in women’s health, including maternity care and menopause, and challenged the limitations of approaches sometimes described as “Bikini Medicine” (refers to the outdated conceptualisation of women’s health as primarily focused on breast and reproductive health rather than whole-person health). The workshop highlighted diverse lived experiences and the importance of culturally responsive care, community engagement and practical action to address inequalities and inform research, service redesign and policy.

Connecting menopause and mental health

An important message from the conference was the need to recognise the connections between physical health, mental health and wider inequalities.

The relationship between perimenopause and mental health featured within the menopause discussions, while Dr Miriam Khan (GP) and Ruby Osunsola from Nilaari explored inequalities in Severe Mental Illness care and access to physical health checks among Global Majority communities in Bristol. Their PPIE work highlighted barriers relating to understanding, communication, trust and access to services. It also reinforced the importance of healthcare services working alongside community organisations and people with lived experience, rather than developing solutions in isolation. Their interactive workshop took this principle further by asking what meaningful community involvement in health research should look like. Drawing on Nilaari’s experience, the session explored trust, intersectionality and community expertise, encouraging a move beyond consultation towards shared ownership, influence and genuinely community-led research.

Anti-racism and institutional commitment

These conversations took place within a wider discussion about racial inequality and organisational responsibility.

As keynote speaker, Professor Sir Steve West, UWE Bristol Vice-Chancellor, shared UWE Bristol’s Anti-Racism Strategy. His contribution provided a meaningful context for the conference, highlighting the importance of creating a more inclusive and equitable university community and reinforcing the need for sustained institutional commitment to addressing racial inequalities, representing diverse voices and embedding anti-racist principles within organisational culture and practice.

This was particularly significant during Black History Month (October), providing an opportunity not only to reflect on inequality but also to consider the role institutions, researchers, healthcare professionals and communities can collectively play in creating meaningful and sustainable change for Global majority Groups.

Moving from consultation to partnership

A consistent message emerged across the conference:

Communities should not simply be consulted about health inequalities. They need to be partners in understanding and addressing them.

Bringing academic, healthcare, community and lived-experience perspectives together created opportunities not only to discuss inequalities but also to consider practical ways of addressing them.

Whether discussing menopause, mental health, women’s health or racial inequality, one message was clear:

Reducing health inequalities requires trust, accessibility, representation and genuine partnerships with communities.

By listening to diverse voices, recognising lived experience as expertise and moving from consultation towards shared ownership, universities, healthcare services and community organisations can work together to create research, services and policies that are more inclusive, equitable and responsive to the communities they serve.

Our sincere thanks to Dr Alice Berry, Dr Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu and Dr Vincent Singh for abstract reviewing; Dr Tabinda Rashid-Fadel and Dr Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu for chairing sessions; and Emma Thomas, Abi Price, Abi Goddard, Emma Dent and Charlie Buckfield for event management. We also thank Professor Marc Griffiths, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and Professor Fiona Cramp, Director of CHCR, for generously supporting the venue and refreshments. A special thanks to Poppy Shields for her excellent behind-the-scenes administrative support throughout. Your collective contributions were greatly appreciated and helped make the conference a success.

Organising committee

Dr Tabinda Rashid-Fadel (Accure Health); Zehra Haq (CEO, Dhek Bhal), who worked for almost 40 years to support the South Asian community in Bristol), Dr Vincent Singh (Senior Lecturer, UWE) and Dr Praveen Kumar (Associate Professor in Stroke Rehabilitation, founder and Chair of the Ethnic Inequality Research Network, UWE Bristol).

Honouring Communities: Research, Service and Lasting Impact

annaelvins | 12 October 202613 October 2026

For Black History Month this year’s theme, Honouring Communities, recognises those whose contributions create meaningful change. Newly promoted UWE Bristol professors Tinkuma Edafioghor, Mwidimi Ndosi and Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu, share how their work connects academic excellence with community knowledge to improve health outcomes, strengthen organisations and create opportunities for others.

Dr Tinkuma Edafioghor

Strengthening enterprises through people and practice

Dr Tinkuma Edafioghor is an Associate Professor in Human Resource Management at UWE Bristol, with a particular interest in organisational resilience and how small and medium-sized businesses survive, adapt and grow through challenging times.

Published in leading international journals, including Human Resource Management and Human Resource Management Journal, her research explores how people and HR practices build organisational resilience.

Additionally, Tinkuma leads a project funded by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Caucus (EDICa), with UKRI and British Academy support through Heriot-Watt University, examining how hybrid working affects Black women academics’ productivity, visibility and career progression. She also founded the Black Business Leadership & Growth Partnership for the West of England, which gives Black-led small businesses practical, research-informed support in leadership, resilience and growth. For Bristol’s Black Small Business Show, Tinkuma delivered the webinar “Understanding Business Resilience: Why Some Businesses Survive and Others Don’t”, sharing practical insights with local Black business owners. Her guiding principle:

For me, research should not just sit in journals. It should make a real difference to people, organisations and communities.

Mentoring, faith and community support

Through the Network for Black Women Leaders (NBWL) and the alta mentoring platform, Tinkuma supports women’s leadership and career progression. As an alta steering-group member, she helps expand the platform across aviation, aerospace and space. She also co-founded the Safe Space Initiative for Black Women in Higher Education, where Black women in academia can connect, share experiences and support one another, with plans to reach more people across the sector.

In Bristol, Tinkuma serves the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Glory of God Parish, as Assistant Pastor, Sunday School teacher and Minister in Charge of Evangelism, Community Outreach and house caring fellowships. She mentors young people and emerging church leaders, and coordinates support for vulnerable community members through activities including coffee mornings and food donations. She also helps international students adapt to UK study through informal sessions on the academic system, essay writing, critical thinking and note-taking, recognising their varied educational backgrounds. Across her research, mentoring, church and community work, she creates opportunities and helps others thrive.

I am guided by the African philosophy of Ubuntu, the idea that our humanity is connected and that when we lift others, we all rise together.

Dr Mwidimi Ndosi

Putting patient priorities at the heart of care

As Professor of Rheumatology and Health Outcomes, Mwidimi Ndosi connects clinical research with patients’ priorities. He develops and validates patient-reported outcome measures and supports self-management for people with long-term rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions.

I am interested in ensuring that patients’ perspectives are incorporated into the development and evaluation of healthcare interventions, and that research findings can be translated into meaningful improvements in clinical practice and outcomes that matter to patients.

Mwdimi recently completed a four-year term as Chair of the Health Professionals Committee of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, contributing to European work on education, standards of care and advocacy. The role reinforced his commitment to multidisciplinary working and to ensuring accessible, evidence-based and person-centred care for people living with rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions.

Opening doors through knowledge and representation

For Mwdimi, honouring community means contributing through service, mentorship and making health knowledge accessible beyond academia. He supports rheumatology education and capacity-building where specialist services and learning opportunities are limited. In Tanzania, he helps educate health professionals, provides information to patient groups and, with local colleagues, highlights the need for stronger professional education, patient support, research and rheumatology services. This work reduces barriers to knowledge and builds sustainable local capacity.

For me, academic citizenship means using my experience and position to help create opportunities for others.

Mwidimi also shares research and health information through mainstream and digital media, including BBC Swahili, helping to make evidence more accessible to diverse audiences. In addition he volunteers with parkrun to encourage physical activity and wellbeing across different ages and abilities. Within higher education and research, he mentors early-career researchers, clinicians and aspiring academics, helping them gain the confidence, skills and opportunities to progress. His own path from nursing to professorship was not straightforward. As a Black academic and nurse, he has seen the value of representation, opportunity and encouragement, strengthening his commitment to those underrepresented in senior roles.

Professor Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu

Expanding participation in active, healthy lives

Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu is a medical doctor and Professor of Physical Activity, Ageing and Community Health at UWE Bristol, as well as a Distinguished Professor of Public Health at MIVA University, Nigeria.

Her research develops physical activity interventions with underserved groups, including older adults, global majority Black and Asian communities, Muslim women and people with long-term conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), in an effort to tackle health inequalities.

My work is participatory and co-designed, and it advocates for greater inclusion in health research and clinical trials.

Faatihah has secured about £3 million in Research and Knowledge Exchange funding from the Medical Research Council, Medical Research Foundation and Innovate UK. Her projects include Fitbees, a digital service helping South Asian older adults and adults with learning difficulties stay active and connected, and Family Backyard Cricket, which promotes intergenerational activity and social cohesion in South Asian and Black families. She is currently working on C2REST, a longitudinal study of the effects of climate change and air pollution on respiratory health in urban and rural Nigeria. Faatihah is also Associate Editor of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health and Secretary of the low- and middle-income country International Society of Physical Activity and Health Research Counciln (LMICISPAH).

From evidence to everyday impact

Faatihah founded Ageing Lifestyle in Blacks and Asians (ALIBSA), a global knowledge-exchange and research-engagement programme that improves health literacy and confidence in accessing services among ageing Black and Asian communities. Since 2023, it has offered free monthly webinars on ageing and healthy living across several continents.

She also established FaithFit, which equips multifaith leaders to promote physical activity, and the Renal Health Initiative, which supports CKD awareness, prevention and treatment through faith-led outreach in Nigeria, where one in ten adults is affected. In 2025, the initiative screened more than 200 people and referred 30 for further investigation. She later led the CoolKidney workshop with stakeholders and outdoor workers on heat stress and kidney health, alongside a related UK study funded through BNSSG ICB research capability funding with UWE Bristol colleagues in Architecture and Built Environment and Engineering.

I believe research has its greatest value when it improves lives, so much of my work extends beyond the university into communities locally and globally.

Mentoring is central to Faatihah’s work through the Royal Society Career Development Fellowship, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and UWE Bristol Women Researchers’ Mentoring Scheme. She hosted a grant-writing workshop for Breaking Barriers for Black Academia and runs “Dragons’ Den: Nurturing Research”, where early-career researchers in the Global South pitch ideas and receive feedback and mentorship through her ISPAH role. At UWE Bristol, she co-leads the Black Professoriate Group, coordinates the Africa Staff Network and serves as EDI co-lead for the School of Applied Sciences. Her work has received the UWE Bristol Community Impact Staff Award and Black Hall of Fame Award.

Together Professors Edafioghor, Ndosi and Niyi-Odumosu exhibit how research, leadership and service can create lasting change when communities are placed at the heart of these endeavors. By sharing knowledge, widening opportunities and supporting others to thrive, they embody the essence of Honouring Communities and are helping to build a more inclusive future.

Bringing space science to life in Minecraft during a solar eclipse

bethjohnson | 8 October 202612 October 2026

This is a guest blog written by Dr Laura Hobbs, Senior Research Fellow in Science Communication and lead for Science Hunters.

In August, UWE Bristol’s Science Hunters team travelled to Rutherford Appleton Laboratory’s Summer Stargazing event, where families gathered to witness a near-total solar eclipse. Alongside the excitement of the astronomical event, children had the chance to discover the science and engineering behind the UK’s national space laboratory.

Based in the Science Communication Unit (SCU), the Science Hunters team develop practice and research in engaging children and young people with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects through interactive topic exploration and constructive play in Minecraft. Supported by a Spark Award from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Science Hunters: Space Missions in Minecraft project brings together specialists from UWE Bristol and RAL Space to create, deliver and evaluate activities introducing real-world space science, testing facilities and Earth observation.

The Summer Stargazing event at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus offered visitors a packed programme of talks, tours, demonstrations and practical activities meeting the needs of the broad age ranges attending. Alongside opportunities such as creating and coding light sensors, recreating the solar system using fluffy planets and trying ice cream made using liquid nitrogen, visitors could join the Space Missions in Minecraft team to explore the most complex telescope ever flown: the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

The session introduced children to the telescope and how it helps explore the history of the universe. Using RAL’s JWST Lego model and an infrared camera display, participants learned why the telescope needs to remain extremely cold to detect infrared light from space to allow study of distant galaxies, the first stars, forming planets and more.

They then put this knowledge into practice by designing their own space telescopes in Minecraft. Like real engineers, they had to think about where their telescope would be located, how it would be shielded from heat, and how it would be powered to communicate with Earth.

As the eclipse began, activities paused and visitors headed outside. Equipped with eclipse glasses and gathered around solar telescopes, families and event staff fell silent as the Moon moved between the Earth and the Sun. Afterwards, visitors returned to the activities full of questions and enthusiasm. The Space Missions in Minecraft team spoke with families about the JWST, space science and how Minecraft can be used to explore complex scientific ideas and admired some excellent telescope designs created by participants.

The Summer Stargazing event was highly rated for inspiration and relevance to their lives by participants, demonstrating the power of combining cutting-edge research with creative public engagement. Through the partnership between UWE Bristol and RAL Space, young people were able to connect with real-world science, develop their problem-solving skills and perhaps even imagine themselves as the scientists and engineers of the future.

“We had the most amazing experience. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole evening from the lecture to all the stands in the visitor centre and were very impressed how well everything was pitched to engage all levels of scientific background.”

Event participant feedback, courtesy of STFC.

The Science Hunters team are continuing their collaboration with RAL Space at recent and future events at the campus, including Space Explorers Day and Jamboree on the Internet, and the ESA-ECSAT Open Day with support from the European Space Agency.

Bringing people together through robotics and performance

bethjohnson | 6 October 2026

Guest blog by James Knight, Technical Specialist: Robotic Fabrication at The Bridge Studios, UWE Bristol.

What happens when acting students, engineers, designers and researchers share a stage with a robot?

At The Bridge Studios, our collaboration with the Robots, Art, People and Performance (RAPP) Lab gave us the opportunity to explore exactly that, and to consider how technology can bring people together through creativity, curiosity and play.

We welcomed the RAPP team from the University of Canberra for a three-day workshop exploring physical theatre and human–robot interaction. Working alongside students and practitioners, we used a collaborative robot, or ‘cobot’, powered by embodied artificial intelligence to explore movement, improvisation and storytelling.

The technology gave everyone something to investigate together. Each participant brought a different perspective, and the workshop created opportunities for those perspectives to meet. How do you respond to a robot’s movement? What might that movement communicate? How do you create a performance when one member of the ensemble behaves in unfamiliar ways?

We began with physical theatre exercises, building a shared language of movement before introducing the robot. This gave participants a common starting point, whatever their background. From there, groups experimented with the cobot and developed short performances that brought their different skills into a shared creative process.

Game design and software engineering students also worked with activity from within the robot’s AI system, translating it into live visuals on the studio’s LED wall. Alongside the performers and robot, these visuals added another dimension to the work, opening up questions about how we understand and interpret the technology we interact with.

For me, the value of this collaboration lies in the connections it made possible. Students had the opportunity to work alongside researchers and practitioners, contribute to an experimental project and encounter approaches beyond their own disciplines. Their knowledge and ideas became part of something they could develop and present together.

That experience matters. Working across disciplines asks us to explain our thinking, listen carefully and make room for different ways of approaching a problem. A shared creative task provides a practical setting for that exchange. Here, robotics became a meeting point for people whose paths might otherwise rarely cross.

We are still examining the participant feedback, so there is more to learn about the workshop’s impact. What we can already point to is the work the groups produced together, and the opportunities the collaboration created for hands-on engagement with emerging technology.

This is the kind of activity we want to support at The Bridge. Our facilities bring robotics, immersive technologies and making into one space, supported by people who can help turn an initial question into an experiment. The RAPP collaboration shows how that combination can support both research and learning.

It also offers a positive way to think about technology’s role in our lives. We can use it to invite participation, support creative expression and explore questions together. In this workshop, a robot helped create a space for human collaboration.

We are keen to build on that experience and welcome conversations with researchers and partners who are curious about what we could explore together.

Take a look at a video showcasing the day.

Fundraising, Recognition and Sports Day for Stroke Survivors

annaelvins | 28 September 202628 September 2026

Next Steps with Bristol After Stroke (BAS)

Many stroke survivors become less active after discharge from formal rehabilitation despite evidence that ongoing exercise improves mobility, independence, fitness, and reduces the risk of further stroke. Interviews with participants from the Bristol After Stroke (BAS) Next Steps programme revealed a strong desire for continued rehabilitation support, while carers reported feelings of abandonment and uncertainty about how to support recovery at home. The project was developed to address this gap by providing accessible, long-term rehabilitation opportunities within the community.

Rehabilitation Exercise Videos (REVs)

The programme builds on UWE Bristol and BAS’s established Next Steps rehabilitation classes and uses therapist-developed rehabilitation exercise videos (REVs) that have been co-designed with stroke survivors. Trained BAS group leaders and support workers deliver structured exercise sessions within community stroke groups, supported by guidance from a physiotherapist. The programme includes chair-based and functional exercises, written resources, safety guidance, and home-based exercise materials to encourage ongoing participation in rehabilitation beyond formal services.

Fostering Community

Unlike traditional therapist-led programmes, this model empowers trained support workers, volunteers, stroke survivors and community group leaders to facilitate exercise sessions within existing stroke support groups. The approach combines rehabilitation, peer support, social interaction, and education in familiar community settings. It encourages stroke survivors to remain active, learn from others with shared experiences, and access ongoing support without relying solely on NHS services, making rehabilitation more sustainable and accessible.

“Working alongside a stroke survivor facilitator created a supportive and inspiring environment. Participants became more confident, active, and engaged, demonstrating the potential of community-led approaches to support long-term recovery after stroke.”
Stella Fisher – Group coordinator, Bristol After Stroke

Stroke survivors in an exercise class watching Rehabilitation Exercise videos.

What’s the Impact?

Feedback from stroke survivors and carers has informed programme refinement and resource development. Participants reported that community exercise sessions increased motivation, confidence, social interaction, and engagement in physical activity. The project has also strengthened collaboration between UWE Bristol and BAS, created opportunities for student involvement, and generated a scalable model that could improve long-term rehabilitation outcomes while supporting NHS priorities for community stroke care.

“Facilitating the sessions was a hugely positive experience. It boosted my confidence, physical activity, and social connections, and it was wonderful to see so many participants enjoying themselves and supporting one another.”
Debs – Stroke Survivor

Find out more about Deb’s story

Next Steps

The programme is being refined through participant, carer, volunteer, and group leader feedback, with plans for wider implementation across BAS stroke groups. Discussions are underway with the Stroke Association to distribute the programme’s resources nationally, creating the potential to extend the model beyond Bristol. Future work will evaluate effectiveness, optimise delivery, and explore opportunities for broader adoption across community stroke services, helping more stroke survivors access ongoing rehabilitation and support closer to home.

Bio

This year Praveen Kumar, Associate Professor in Stroke Rehabilitation at UWE Bristol and the Project Lead of the programme, was nominated for the JustGiving Awards. Over the years he has witnessed the number of annual referrals received by BAS rise from 180 in 2016, to now approximately 900 referrals each year. Remarkably, Praveen has helped the badminton community to raise nearly £38,000 for Bristol After Stroke.

Left - Group photo of Bristol After Stroke Badminton Tournament participants.
Right - Four players in the midst of a doubles badminton game.

How to get involved

2026 marks the 9^th Badminton Annual Charity Tournament for Bristol After Stroke on 21^st November at UWE Bristol Centre for Sports. This year’s tournament is dedicated to the memory of Steve Miller (Occupational Therapist at UWE Bristol), and will celebrate the values he embodied: friendship, resilience, kindness, and community spirit.

This year aims to be the biggest tournament to date with 90 teams competing across four categories: Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Children’s Doubles. The tournament will also be receiving support from the staff and students of the UWE Bristol Sports Rehabilitation team.

If you are interested in taking part in the event Praveen would love to hear from you! The tournament is designed for players who are comfortable competing at an intermediate to advanced level, so is ideal for any experienced badminton players looking for a fun but competitive day of badminton. Not a keen to play ball? The event is aiming to raise £6,500 and you can show your support by donating through the JustGiving page

Something new is starting at UWE Bristol: the Enterprise Engine

Anna Jones | 7 September 20267 September 2026

People in image:

Top row L – R: Mahmoda Ali, Enterprise Team Manger; Mark Corderoy, Enterprise and Incubation Manager; Leanne Newton, Enterprise and Incubation Mangager; Nick Powell, Enterprise Programmes Manager.
Bottom row L – R: Daniel Nyambutora, Student Enterprise Co-ordinator; Nhi Ho, Student Enterprise Co-ordinator; Jo Portis, Enterprise and Incubation Co-ordinator

Guest blog post: Mahmoda Ali, Enterprise Team Manager

Over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time talking to founders, students, academics, colleagues and partners about entrepreneurship at UWE Bristol and across the West of England.

One thing has come through strongly: there is no shortage of ideas or ambition here.

What often makes the difference is what surrounds those ideas- the people you meet, the expertise you can access, the confidence to take the next step and, sometimes, simply knowing where to start.

That thinking has shaped something we’re really excited to launch this September: the UWE Bristol Enterprise Engine.

The Enterprise Engine brings together our support for students, graduates, staff, researchers and regional founders. However, it’s more than putting existing activity under one roof. Instead of a single programme with a fixed starting point, we’re creating different ways into enterprise depending on where you are and what you need. Whether you’re exploring entrepreneurship for the first time, developing an idea, commercialising research or already building a venture, the aim is to help you find the right support, connections and next step, and stay connected to the wider ecosystem as you progress.

But for me, the most exciting part isn’t simply bringing our support together.

It’s what we can build around it.

The West of England is full of entrepreneurial talent, research, creativity and innovation. UWE is part of that ecosystem, and we want to play an even bigger role in connecting its different parts.

That means opening up more opportunities for people inside and outside the University to meet, share expertise, test ideas and build relationships. It means helping promising ideas find their next connection. And it means creating an enterprise community that people want to stay part of as they progress.

Because the best ecosystems keep giving back.

Students become founders. Researchers turn ideas into ventures. Founders become mentors, advisers and investors. Experience and connections flow back to the people just starting out.

That’s the kind of community we want the Enterprise Engine to help grow.

And this is just the beginning.

Over the coming months, we’ll be opening up new ways to get involved through our events, programmes and growing community.

Whether you have an idea, experience to share, connections to make or are simply curious about what’s happening, we’d love you to be part of it.

We will share more details in time, but get in touch to find out more: Enterprise@uwe.ac.uk

Fully funded AI-Ready Robotics Workforce Programme launches for manufacturing and production companies

bethjohnson | 7 September 20268 October 2026

Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to improve productivity, address skills shortages and remain competitive. While robotics, automation and AI offer significant opportunities, many organisations lack the capability to adopt these technologies effectively.

To help address this, UWE Bristol is launching the AI-Ready Robotics Workforce Programme, delivered through the world-renowned Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) in partnership with the United Strategic Planning Centre (USPC). Designed specifically for organisations operating within manufacturing and production, this fully funded programme will help participants build practical robotics skills and understand how AI can enhance industrial applications.

What participants will learn

Participants will gain practical, hands-on experience in:

Operating and programming industrial and collaborative robots
Working with sensors, communication interfaces and machine vision systems
Integrating robotics within manufacturing environments
Using AI tools to support programming, diagnostics and process monitoring
Applying robotics and automation skills to workplace challenges
Understanding responsible AI use and human oversight in industrial settings

Register your place

Programme structure

The programme will run over 10 weeks, with participants attending one full day per week at Bristol Robotics Laboratory.

Day 1: Industrial robotics fundamentals and safety

Start with the foundations of industrial robotics. You’ll explore the different types of industrial and collaborative robots used in modern manufacturing, learn essential safety practices, tour BRL’s advanced robotics facilities, and gain your first hands-on experience operating a UR5e collaborative robot.

Day 2: Collaborative robot operation and programming

Build confidence in programming a collaborative robot. Using a teach pendant and introductory URScript commands, you’ll create movement sequences and complete practical tasks such as pick-and-place operations using a robotic gripper.

Day 3: Robot communication and control

Discover how robots interact with external systems. You’ll configure robot networks, access and interpret live robot data, send movement commands through the UR5e’s RTDE interface, and explore how ROS2 enables communication across robotic platforms.

Day 4: Sensors and machine vision

Learn how robots sense and respond to the world around them. Working with force-torque sensors, cameras and environmental sensors, you’ll capture and analyse data, carry out inspection tasks, and integrate information using industrial communication standards such as OPC-UA.

Day 5: Multi-robot and cross-platform working

Gain experience with multiple robotics platforms by working with both the UR5e and KUKA iiwa collaborative robots. You’ll compare programming approaches, evaluate their suitability for different manufacturing applications, and establish communication between robot systems.

Day 6: Manufacturing cell design and integration

Put your skills into practice by designing and building a complete manufacturing cell. Working in teams, you’ll integrate robots, sensors, machine vision and communications technologies, while addressing practical challenges around safety, performance and troubleshooting.

Day 7: Agentic AI and the Model Context Protocol

Begin exploring how AI can support robotics engineering. You’ll learn the principles of agentic AI, set up Claude Code, connect AI tools to technical documentation using the Model Context Protocol (MCP), and develop strategies for validating AI-generated outputs.

Day 8: AI-assisted robot programming

Harness AI to accelerate robot programming. Using natural-language instructions, you’ll generate code for both UR5e and KUKA robots, review and verify outputs against technical requirements and safety constraints, and test solutions on physical hardware.

Day 9: AI-driven diagnostics and process monitoring

Discover how AI can improve maintenance and operational performance. You’ll connect AI agents to live sensor data, investigate simulated production issues, evaluate AI-generated recommendations, and produce reports to support decision-making.

Day 10: Integrated AI and robotics deployment

Bring everything together in a final team project. You’ll design, build and demonstrate an AI-enhanced robotics workflow that uses AI to programme, monitor and diagnose robotic operations, while exploring responsible deployment and identifying opportunities for real-world application within your organisation.

Cohort dates

Tuesday 3 November, 09:30-16:30

Tuesday 10 November, 09:30-16:30

Tuesday 17 November, 09:30-16:30

Tuesday 24 November, 09:30-16:30

Tuesday 1 December, 09:30-16:30

Tuesday 15 December, 09:30-16:30

Tuesday 12 January, 09:30-16:30

Tuesday 19 January, 09:30-16:30

Tuesday 26 January, 09:30-16:30

Wednesday 27 January, 09:30-16:30

Benefits for employers

By investing in workforce development, employers can:

Build confidence in robotics and automation projects
Develop in-house capability rather than relying solely on external expertise
Improve productivity and operational resilience
Strengthen understanding of both robotics hardware and software workflows
Support future investment decisions around automation and advanced manufacturing technologies

Who can apply?

The programme is open to organisations that have been operating for at least one year and work within manufacturing, engineering, production, automation or related industrial sectors. Participating organisations must be able to attend training at Bristol Robotics Laboratory on UWE Bristol’s Frenchay Campus.

Register your place

If you have any questions about this course, please email workforceskills@uwe.ac.uk or phone +44 117 328 86303.

This workforce programme is funded by Innovate UK.

What UKRI’s new strategy means for UWE Bristol

bethjohnson | 17 August 202617 August 2026

By Boudewijn Devanicus, Research Development Manager (Health and Science) at UWE Bristol.

Earlier this year we looked at how UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) Spending Review settlement reorganised research funding into four strategic investment areas across 2026–30:

£14.5bn for curiosity-driven foundational research

£8.3bn for targeted R&D addressing government and societal priorities

£7.4bn to support innovative companies to start, scale and stay in the UK

£8.4bn for skills, talent, infrastructure and national facilities underpinning all three areas

That blog focused on the broad “buckets” of UKRI funding. UKRI has now published its new five-year strategy (2026–2031) alongside its Delivery Plan for 2026–27. Since the budget itself was already known, there are few new spending commitments, but there’s now much more clarity on what UKRI’s priorities are, how it intends to invest, and who it expects to work with.

To summarise the changes in a sentence: UKRI intends to be more selective, less duplicative, and more challenge-led in what it prioritises, and be faster, more flexible, and more responsive in how it funds.

What funding areas does the strategy prioritise?

Curiosity-driven research

UKRI has explicitly protected a large “investigator-led” budget (£3.3bn) to support discovery research, underpinned by dual support and quality-related (QR) funding. UKRI says it is “committed to supporting and sustaining [this] investment, growing as the economy allows”. In practice this means open responsive calls will continue, though their format may evolve; the Delivery Plan mentions new open applicant-led schemes for BBSRC, and five new ESRC schemes (React, Connect, Grow, Explore, Challenge).

QR funding is still championed, but its allocation method is under review. Research England’s Strategic Institutional Research Funding (SIRF) review, running to 2030, is examining whether the formula-based funding given to English universities should better reward specialisation and collaboration. This echoes last autumn’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, which wants to see “fewer broad generalist providers and more specialists” over time, with institutions collaborating rather than duplicating effort.

Strategic government and societal priorities

A revised emphasis is on targeted R&D to address government-defined challenges. This will mainly be delivered through integrated “Priority Programmes” which broadly align to the eight Industrial Strategy-identified sectors (IS-8), as well as leaving some space “wider priorities” categories that do not fit neatly within the IS8. The overarching message is that “UKRI will be selective about interventions to maximise the return for the UK”, emphasising the general approach of doing fewer things, better. These programmes don’t replace the old Research Councils, but are intended to break down the siloing that occurs across them, with Priority Programmes overseen by UKRI’s own programme board(s). Other UKRI organisational reforms also support this: rather than each Council guarding its own budget, resources will be dynamically managed across UKRI as a single portfolio, allowing funding to be reprofiled mid-year to capture emerging opportunities.

Industry and commercialisation

UKRI has substantially boosted support for business-led innovation (£7.4bn). Innovate UK is being refocused, via new service offers and IP support, to help spin-outs, scale-ups and R&D-intensive companies grow, including through its account-managed Velocity service for fast-tracking commercialisation. Mechanisms for research translation are also being simplified (see below).

How will funding change?

Faster and more responsive funding

UKRI wants faster, more agile decision-making: grant processing times will be cut through new assessment mechanisms and simplified applications. The target is to bring application-to-decision times down to 90 days for applicant-led calls and 60 days for targeted calls by 2031.

Some of this ‘speeding-up’ is expected to come from more experimental review methods which have been piloted with by the Metascience Unit (established under the former DSIT in 2024, now sitting within the merged business department). Distributed Peer Review, already trialled in 2025, asks applicants to assess each other’s proposals rather than relying solely on external reviewers. UKRI is now building this into a wider AI-assisted evidence platform intended to speed decisions further, alongside faster desk rejection of applications that clearly don’t meet the criteria.

As well as changes on the UKRI-side, there continues to be a trend towards more University-side ‘demand management’ (limiting how many applications an institution can submit to a given call). REE will continue to work on facilitating this demand management as quickly, efficiently, and fairly as possible.

Simplification and deduplication

Where possible, UKRI are trying to reduce duplication of schemes and harmonise them to use the same terminology. For example, in relation to innovation funding schemes there now will be a “new framework [which] reduces the number of schemes [they] run, helping simplify our offer and making sure [they] use consistent terminology across UKRI” (Prosperity Partnerships to enable collaborative R&I; Impact Acceleration to test applicability of new ideas to commercial application; Proof of Concept funding to test these ideas at scale, and Entrepreneurship training support).

Who will UKRI work with and expect universities to partner with?

UKRI is growing increasingly ambitious in encouraging private co-investment: UKRI is targeting 3:1 leverage on its Priority Programmes (compared to historic levels of 2:1 in wider R&I investment), so bids developed alongside industry, charity or other private funding may be viewed more favourably. Innovate UK, the Catapult network and new sector-specific Tech Boards are the main named delivery partners on this side of the strategy.

Collaboration with local government (be that city regions/councils, combined authorities, or NHS bodies) is another expectation. Through the £500m Local Innovation Partnerships Fund (which funded its first tranche of programmes in April 2026), UKRI wants city regions, combined authorities and universities to co-design programmes around genuine local strengths. In parallel with this and other investments (e.g. OxCam Arc), UKRI will also publish a refreshed “place funding policy” this year. This regional approach was further cemented in the devolution of “later-stage innovation funding” in the recent Rewiring the State – Cabinet Statement.

Internationally, UKRI is prioritising partnerships with the greatest mutual scientific and strategic benefit, particularly multilateral programmes like Horizon Europe and organisations such as CERN. Of note, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)’s annual report and accounts for 2025-26 were published recently, showing that 2025-26 Horizon Europe associated cost was £2.043bn against an allocated figure of £2.736bn.

Broader context

UKRI’s reforms sit inside a wider policy landscape rather than standing alone. The Industrial Strategy’s eight priority sectors (IS-8) provide the framework most Priority Programmes will map onto; the Defence Industrial Strategy (Sept 2025) commits to significant defence spending growth with an emphasis on dual-use technology (aligning with UKRI’s push on AI, quantum and engineering biology); and the AI for Science Strategy (Oct 2025) earmarks around £137m for AI-driven science, likely feeding into UKRI’s own AI-focused calls. The Post-16 White Paper, discussed above, shapes how QR funding and specialisation evolve alongside the SIRF review.

This backdrop now sits under a new government. Andy Burnham became Prime Minister in July 2026, and one of his first acts was to abolish DSIT, folding its science and innovation responsibilities into a new Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (DBIST) under Jonathan Reynolds, with some digital and creative-industries functions moving to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport under Lisa Nandy, and universities policy moving to Lucy Powell at Education.

Early signals suggest Burnham intends to preserve the existing R&D settlement and Industrial Strategy rather than reopen them, but his “Manchesterism” emphasis on devolved, bottom-up growth, echoed already in UKRI’s own Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, makes it likely that regional research funding and devolution deals gain even more prominence over this parliament.

What this means for you and for UWE

Think about sector and regional strengths

Show how your work contributes to Industrial Strategy sectors (e.g. IS-8 sectors such as AI, health, clean energy), major agendas (NHS Long Term Plan, AI for Science) or regional strengths (West of England creative tech, green clusters etc.).

Embrace interdisciplinary calls and programmes.

Collaborate across UWE, external academics partners, or with industry partners to fit with the new Priority Programmes, supported by UWE’s new internal funding routes if pump-priming is needed.

Contact REE’s BID team to get help with positioning bids for outcome-driven calls, as well as keeping on top of new funding opportunities through the Research Funding Bulletin.

Consider commercialisation and partnerships early.

Engage REE’s Innovation and Impact team as soon as you realise your research could spin out technology or inform policy.

Develop and nurture industry, third-sector and local government contacts to bolster bids, with help from REE’s Business and Alumni Partnerships team.

Monitor and learn new processes

Get ahead by reading UKRI’s guidance from their pilot on Distributed Peer Review and other new schemes so that timely submissions and quick revisions (if invited) don’t catch your team out.

Real Issues, Real People, Real Change: The Future of Health & Care in a Podcast

ripleywk | 14 August 202614 August 2026

Have you ever wondered about the future of the healthcare industry? Who is taking us with them? Let’s Talk Health and Care Podcast (LTH&C), a part of the Integrated Care Academy (ICA) at UWE Bristol, aims to unveil the answers to these key questions and introduce you to the academics, researchers, founders and community leaders driving this change. Meet the people working to tackle real-world challenges with compassion and determination from the bottom up.

Professors Marc Griffiths and Peter Brindle sit down with academics, founders and community leaders who have identified real opportunities for change and who are working incredibly hard to implement that change. In the wake of the NHS England 10-Year Health Plan, the healthcare industry is actively searching for innovative solutions to complex problems.

“the NHS now stands at an existential brink” where “the choice for the NHS is… reform or die”.
Department for Health and Social Care, 2025

How can one conversation change the trajectory of your career?

In episode 8, Dr Appolinaire Etoundi explained how one conversation at a swimming pool changed his career. He discusses how, by blending engineering with healthcare he is now able to improve accessibility and independence for amputees and people with disabilities. Now, his work has helped to reduce the cost of prosthetics by up to 80%, with devices costing less than £500. This is the meaningful impact and innovation the podcast continues to spotlight. Listen now to hear Dr Etoundi explain how this happened.

One theme which comes up repeatedly is that healthcare is a complex industry inextricably linked with other industries, ranging from engineering to technological development, to community centres, to educational institutions. The ICA bridges all these industries and more, promoting a collaborative healthcare environment, fit for the future.

Intervention through community

In episode 10, we explore how we can prevent acute health issues requiring hospital treatment further down the line. Both our guests, Mark Graham and Jo Poole, emphasise the importance of neighbourhood-based health for building trust and a boundary-less workforce, bridging the gap between community and healthcare. Find out more about how this community centre acts as a one-stop community hub, and the impact it is having.

This boundary-less mindset can be applied when tackling cultural change, like systemic racism. In episode 2, Noor Nixon and Professor Anthony Hill discuss the Inclusive Training Within Practice Project, highlighting the challenges Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic students and staff face, and what a multi-system initiative can achieve. This is echoed with Caafi Health in episode 4, who exemplify a community-logic model, where healthcare is powered by the community, for the community. Listen to episodes 2 and 4 to find out how systemic discrimination is holding health and care back.

“We learned that the idea that health challenges are deeply social rather than just medical.”
Huda Hajinur, Co-founder and Director of Caafi Health, episode 4.

Listen to the podcast and find out how the latest research and collaborative problem solving is changing the way we interact with healthcare. Episodes are available on SoundCloud, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Building futures together through Degree Apprenticeships

bethjohnson | 4 August 20264 August 2026

This is a guest blog by Jane Exon, Apprenticeship Employer Development Manager at UWE Bristol.

July is always one of the most exciting and proud highlights of the year for all of us involved in apprenticeships at UWE Bristol. It is a moment to celebrate achievement, perseverance and business partnerships. We proudly applauded our 2026 Degree Apprentice graduates recognising not only the incredible learners who crossed the graduation stage, but also the businesses who invested in their potential and supported them throughout their journey.

A degree apprenticeship is never achieved alone.

Behind every apprentice graduating is a business that has committed time, investment, mentoring and encouragement – managers who have created opportunities, colleagues who have shared their own experiences, and businesses that decided to build the skills of their future workforce through apprenticeships.

Our graduates are a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when providers, employers and apprentices work together with a shared goal – the truest meaning of a triparty!

Amongst the many inspiring stories from this year’s graduation ceremonies was that of John Adesoye from Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

At the age of 64, John graduated with a BSc (Hons) Nurse Degree Apprenticeship, demonstrating that age should never be considered a barrier to learning, development or career progression. Having previously worked as an electronics technician, John changed careers, pursued opportunities through apprenticeships and has now qualified as a registered nurse. His story sends a powerful message to employers and potential apprentices alike: it is never too late to invest in your future. His journey highlights the transformative impact that apprenticeship opportunities can have on individuals, while showcasing Bristol NHS Foundation Trust’s commitment to workforce development and lifelong learning.

Read John Adesoye’s story.

Supporting the engineers and architects of the future

Across the School of Engineering and School of Architecture, our apprentice graduates are already making a positive impact across the region and beyond, helping to design infrastructure, deliver engineering solutions, shape sustainable buildings and contribute to the UK’s future skills base, proving that apprentices develop the technical capability to be future innovators and leaders in industry.

Standout examples include Prithvi Ramesh at Rolls-Royce, who was recognised as Engineering & Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year at the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards. The awards highlighted Prithvi’s technical excellence advocating for apprenticeships and inspiring future engineers, demonstrating that true engineering success lies not only in innovation but in inspiring future generations.

Hannah Hart from Atkins Realis successfully won the South West Princess Royal Award for Emerging Engineers 2026, impressing judges with her paper and presentation about the public response to flood alerts in Newport, South Wales. Hannah’s research found that many people were receiving and reading flood warnings but often didn’t understand them or know how to respond. “It highlighted that improving resilience is not only about predicting risk but communicating them effectively.’

Leonce Pereira with Safran Landing Systems who was a finalist in the Enginuity Skills Awards 2026. Leonce was shortlisted for combining technical excellence and design improvements with leadership and innovation, delivering impact through efficiency and improvement projects, while mentoring peers and promoting engineering careers through STEM outreach.

Thank you to our employer partners

At UWE Bristol we are proud to work alongside employers who are committed to future talent development through apprenticeships.

Smith Consult, whose support for apprentices continues to transform careers and strengthen the profession perfectly capturing what degree apprenticeships are all about in their reflections on this years’ graduations:

“For five years, they’ve juggled full-time roles, university study, independent learning and busy personal lives. Everything they have achieved is a testament to their hard work and dedication, and it has been an absolute privilege to watch them grow into the accomplished engineers they are today. The support from UWE is so appreciated. The teaching team there have been fabulous, thank you.”

As we celebrate our apprentice graduates, we also celebrate the employers who have made these achievements possible. From businesses helping individuals redefine and retrain later in life, to supporting award-winning early career engineering talent, these partnerships continue to demonstrate the transformational power of degree apprenticeships.

To all our July 2026 graduates: congratulations.

You have balanced work, study and life commitments with resilience, determination and professionalism. Your achievements deserve to be celebrated.

And to every employer that has supported a UWE Bristol apprentice along the way: thank you for investing in people, skills and the future workforce.

Together, we are not simply awarding degrees. We are building futures.

Explore Higher and Degree Apprenticeships at UWE Bristol.