Every organisation faces challenges that can benefit from specialist knowledge or a fresh perspective. You might be developing a product, looking to improve performance, responding to change or trying to turn an idea into something tangible.
At UWE Bristol, we connect organisations with the expertise, knowledge and facilities that can help them move forward.
We start by understanding your needs. You don’t need to come with us with a fully developed project. Tell us about the challenge you’re facing and we’ll help connect you with the right people, whether that’s academic experts, technical specialists or industry professionals.
Expertise for real-world challenges
UWE Bristol’s expertise spans a wide range of sectors and disciplines, so consultancy can look very different from one organisation to the next.
It could mean developing a new product, service or process, improving operational performance, accessing specialist technical or scientific knowledge, analysing data or bringing an independent perspective to an important decision.
Whether you’re a growing SME (small or medium-sized enterprise), a large organisation, working in the public sector, or a charity, the starting point is the same: what are you trying to achieve, and how can the right expertise help?
What can consultancy look like?
Organisations are already working with UWE Bristol expertise to tackle a variety of challenges.
“Working closely with ACT and receiving fast, bespoke tooling has been a breakthrough for our factory. It’s allowed us to explore new production lines, rethink manufacturing processes, and customise legacy equipment in way we hadn’t thought possible. The level of innovation they bring is truly exciting.”
“Working with the Health Tech Hub, we’re able to run checks and to develop our product without worrying so much about extortionate development fees. The Health Tech Hub also has a strong network and can help to expose your business to new opportunities.”
“It was so lovely to have conversations with UWE and have a sounding board, different ideas and different approaches. It’s reinforced how we would approach images in the future for new exhibitions and how we can make use of our historic collection and photography collections going forward. So, working with UWE unlocked that.”
More than advice
Working with UWE Bristol can give organisations access to more than one area of expertise.
Depending on the project, consultancy can draw on research, specialist facilities, technical expertise and knowledge from across different disciplines.
And sometimes an initial conversation can open the door to other ways of working together, from research partnerships and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) to student projects and innovation funding.
Start the conversation
You don’t need to come to us with a fully developed project.
If you have a challenge you’re trying to solve or an opportunity you’d like to explore, talk to us. We’ll take the time to understand what you need and connect you with the expertise that could help.
Tell us about your challenge and explore consultancy at UWE Bristol.
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, Faatihah Niyi-Odumosu and Ifeoma Elizabeth Dan-Ogosi 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, 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, a national network launched at UWE Bristol in September 2026 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.
Prof 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.
Prof 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.
Dr Ifeoma Elizabeth Dan-Ogosi
Creating inclusive classrooms where students thrive
Ifeoma Elizabeth Dan-Ogosi is an Associate Professor in Public Health and Social Justice in UWE Bristol’s School of Health and Social Wellbeing, where she leads the MSc Leadership for Public Health and the Public Health Leadership and Management apprenticeship module.
After training in microbiology and working in sales in Nigeria, Ifeoma rebuilt her career in the UK through health research and higher education, completing her PhD in 2023 while working full-time. This journey informs her commitment to creating classrooms where every student can belong and succeed.
In May 2026 I gave the closing keynote at the Global Empowerment and Inclusion Summit at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. In September I gave a TEDx talk in Abuja. The title was: The Girl They Silenced, Built the Room Anyway. Neither of those stages was on anyone’s plan for me – including mine. This is the story of what I built when the system said no.
Across sixteen years of teaching and research at four UK universities, Ifeoma developed the Transformative Multicultural Classroom (TMC) model, drawing on Freire, bell hooks and Patricia Hill Collins to embed cultural and psychological safety in everyday practice. Modules taught through TMC achieve first-sit pass rates of 98.8–100%, with students from Global Majority backgrounds making up 60% of high performers. These results are proof that when belonging is embedded into the structure of education, outcomes improve for everyone. The University of Southampton has adopted the model within its Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, and it is also being implemented at the University of Gloucestershire, University Centre Weston and UWE Bristol. Ifeoma is now writing a book on TMC and co-editing Public Health Leadership: Learning from Experience in the UK for Policy Press.
Building networks and widening opportunity
Ifeoma co-chairs the Steering Board of 100 Black Women Professors Now, run by WHEN Equality, and brought the programme to UWE Bristol, where it has secured funding for a further three years. Four UWE Bristol participants have since been promoted: three to Associate Professor and one to Professor. Alongside Tinkuma, Ifeoma co-founded the Safe Space Initiative for Black Women in Academia, with the motto “Connected, supported, thriving”. She also leads InspireHerNow, a women’s empowerment initiative, and a Black and Menopausal group supporting Black women experiencing menopause.
I describe myself as a Positive Disruptor and a Relentless People Connector. I challenge what holds people back, and I never stop bringing people together, because I believe progress happens when people are connected, championed and lifted up.
Since 2018, Ifeoma has mentored more than 50 early-career academics and PhD students across six universities and serves on the steering board of PhD Beyond 50s, where she also contributes her qualitative research expertise to its seminars.
At UWE Bristol, Ifeoma contributed to the anti-racism strategy and champions student success, disability access and widening participation. She also initiated and co-led the African Cultural Showcase, (with Dr Chizoba Esio-Bassey, Diana Peprah and Chinedum Ekene Samuel, supported by Dr Eugie Ntekor, Isaac Anaquador, Bea Payne, Mo Ebengo and Olabimpe Adegbuyi) which brought together more than 170 staff, students and members of the wider community. She received five awards in 2025 – three for equality, diversity and inclusion, and two recognising her community service, teaching and learning, and research. Subsequently she has been named a Role Model Future Leader in the INvolve People Awards.
What connects all of this is a single conviction: the system changes when the people it excluded come back and build the room anyway. That is what I am doing. And I am just getting started.
Together Professors Edafioghor, Ndosi, Niyi-Odumosu and Dan-Ogosi 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.
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
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
The programme will run over 6 weeks, with participants attending one full day per week at Bristol Robotics Laboratory.
This intensive 6 week programme provides a practical introduction to AI and robotics for modern manufacturing, combining technical learning with hands-on experience using industrial robotics technologies.
Throughout the programme, you’ll develop skills in industrial and collaborative robotics, beginning with robotics fundamentals, safe operation and programming before progressing into areas such as robot communication, sensors, machine vision and multi-robot systems.
You’ll gain practical experience working with UR5e and KUKA iiwa collaborative robots, exploring robot programming and control, movement sequences and pick-and-place applications. You’ll also investigate how robots communicate with external systems, access and interpret live robot data, and explore technologies including ROS2, RTDE and OPC-UA.
The programme will introduce sensors and machine vision, including force-torque sensors, cameras and environmental sensors, and explore how these technologies can be used for inspection, monitoring and other manufacturing applications. You’ll also consider how different robotics platforms can work together and how robots, sensors, machine vision and communications technologies can be integrated within a manufacturing cell.
Alongside robotics, you’ll explore the growing role of AI in robotics engineering and manufacturing. This includes an introduction to agentic AI and the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and how AI tools can support technical documentation, robot programming, diagnostics and process monitoring.
Through practical activities, you’ll explore using natural-language instructions to generate robot code, reviewing and validating AI-generated outputs against technical and safety requirements, and connecting AI tools with robot and sensor data. You’ll also investigate how AI can support the identification of production issues, diagnostics, maintenance and operational decision-making.
Throughout the intensive programme, you’ll have opportunities to bring these technologies together through practical manufacturing scenarios, combining robotics, AI, sensors, machine vision, communications and system integration. You’ll consider how AI-enhanced robotic systems can be programmed, monitored and diagnosed, while exploring responsible deployment and identifying opportunities for applying these technologies within your own organisation.
Cohort dates
Intensive – Day 1
Monday 11 January, 09:30-16:30
Intensive – Day 2
Monday 18 January, 09:30-16:30
Intensive – Day 3
Monday 25 January, 09:30-16:30
Intensive – Day 4
Monday 1 February, 09:30-16:30
Intensive – Day 5
Monday 8 February, 09:30-16:30
Intensive – Day 6
Monday 15 February, 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.
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.
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.
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 wonthe 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 EnginuitySkills 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.
Lynne Fernandes Optometrists is a highly skilled, national award-winning Optometrists founded by Lynne and Gerard Fernandes. It is one of the most respected and trusted UK independent opticians, with highly qualified optometrists and industry-leading technology. Their innovative eye care and exemplary customer service is continuously improved by investment in equipment and products to provide personalised eye care and vision correction of the highest standard.
The Knowledge Base team was made up of Mario Vafeas, Michelle Jackson, and Mary-Ann Sherratt. Professor of Marketing, Mario Vafeas teaches undergraduate and masters; he is involved in Knowledge Exchange Projects with SMEs, and research in the field of buyer-seller relationships and value co-creation. Michelle Jackson is a Senior Lecturer in the Business School, teaching at undergraduate and master’s level and is an experienced marketer and marketing manager. Mary-Ann Sherratt was the Workforce Development Portfolio lead, and Clinical Lead for Optometry and is now Head of Optometry and Consultant Optometrist at Bristol Eye Hospital.
About the KTP Associate:
David Todd worked as a Marketing and Business Change Manager with Lynne Fernandes Optometrists and UWE Bristol. He holds a Master’s degree in Strategy, Change and Leadership, as well as Business Administration. During his time on the KTP programme, David benefitted from extensive training, including a course at Ashorne Hill on Strategy and Innovation, and studied for a Diploma in Digital Marketing.
When asked if he would recommend the KTP Associate role, David shared:
“I would thoroughly recommend the programme to other graduates. You quickly gain knowledge and experience that can make a positive difference to the organisation you work with. You will always have problems, and I have found on several occasions talking to the right people makes a tremendous difference – people want to help. I feel that it is a springboard to a successful and interesting career. The programme gives you the tools and knowledge to progress and enables you to be an asset to your organisation. It is just a pity that more people do not know about it!“
Photo: David Todd, KTP Associate
About Innovate UK:
Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. Their mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.
The Challenge the KTP Addressed:
The KTP project set out to address the follow aims:
Repositioning and relaunching the EyeSense subscription
A key challenge for LFO was to fundamentally reposition and successfully relaunch its EyeSense subscription, clearly articulating its value proposition and differentiating it from traditional eye care offerings in a market dominated by large competitors.
Introducing performance standards and monitoring
LFO faced the challenge of introducing consistent performance standards and robust performance monitoring across the business, in order to enhance patient experience while simultaneously improving eyecare outcomes.
Scaling the business and workforce
Another significant challenge was increasing the number of LFO practices on the high street and expanding the workforce within a year of project completion, requiring scalable systems, leadership capacity, and sustainable growth processes.
For Lynne Fernandes Optometrists (LFO), continued growth, competitiveness, and resilience in the face of the ‘big three’ presented a clear challenge. Competing on price was neither viable nor desirable; to prosper, LFO had to differentiate itself by delivering demonstrable added value to customers.
This made the expansion of its EyeSense subscription service not just an opportunity, but an imperative. However, scaling this service posed a significant challenge: it demanded management capability, alongside robust clinical and business systems and processes that the company did not yet have in place.
Photo: Newly refurbished practice on Wells Road (Bristol)
The Solution:
To address Lynne Fernandes Optometrists strategic growth ambitions, they undertook a programme of organisational development, focusing on embedding new management practices, cultural change and leadership capability.
These changes were essential to enable the scalable relaunch and growth of its innovative EyeSense subscription service, which offers predictive and preventative eye care and differentiates the business from more reactive competitors. LFO had previously engaged marketing expertise where the understanding of the importance of care quality had been misunderstood. Similarly, it was difficult to find people with clinical expertise who understood business and marketing.
Facing challenges in aligning clinical expertise with business and marketing capability, LFO partnered with experts from Bristol Business School and Optometry to manage this growth period rigorously. This led to the embedment of these changes within LFO, ensuring long-term impact beyond the project’s lifetime.
Photo: Inside the Nailsea Practice
The Impacts/Benefits of the KTP
The KTP delivered clear benefits for all partners. For Lynne Fernandes Optometrists, it resulted in a defined positioning statement for EyeSense, and a marketing plan for EyeSense, providing a strategic framework for future communications. The project also introduced standardised operating procedures, a new patient record coding system, and an electronic questionnaire, supporting improved efficiency and consistency. In 2025, the LFO group achieved 10% growth – EyeSense revenue had increased due to a fee uplift. Retail performance had been particularly strong, which was an impressive result given the broader UK retail landscape and the challenges which faced optical retail.
For UWE Bristol, the KTP project generated both academic and practitioner-focused outputs, including data collection for two research papers, one of which examines how tensions affect resource integration and outcomes in a private healthcare setting, and, jointly with the Associate, the development of a teaching case study based on brand positioning and branding hierarchy in an SME. These outputs contribute to academic dissemination and strengthen the potential for a future REF impact case study.
The KTP Associate gained a professional marketing qualification and completed the Strategy Innovation course, supported the advancement of their research and strategic skills through interviews, customer research via customer survey and operational development. This fed into the development of a positioning statement for EyeSense, which will guide all future marketing communications, and also led staff training and the implementation of new procedures, contributing to capability building within the business. They also developed standardised operating procedures – supporting staff development, new ways of working and ran staff training sessions.
What the partners have to say…
“The KTP has been a challenging but supported way of increasing and learning from cross discipline collaboration to the benefit of Lynne Fernandes Optometrists. In turn this will benefit patients in our geographical area and potentially influence national eyecare.“
Gerard Fernandes, Company Chair, Lynne Fernandes Optometrists
Photo: Gerard Fernandes, Optometrist and Director, Lynne Fernandes Optometrists
What the Knowledge Base partners have to say…
Academic Lead
“From an academic perspective the KTP was an opportunity to apply research-based knowledge to real-world commercial problems. The two-year project generated teaching material and provided the academic team with data for a new research paper. Working on a multi-disciplinary project, which had full commitment from the firm’s leadership team, was a very positive and rewarding experience.“
Mario Vafeas, Professor of Marketing, UWE Bristol.
Photo: Mario Vafeas, Professor of Marketing, Bristol Business School, UWE Bristol
Academic Supervisor
““Being involved with a KTP reminds me of the importance for business tutors, like myself, of the benefit of practical, live, real-time exposure to actual businesses. Gaining knowledge and experience is incredibly valuable for students, as it enriches their understanding and provides a practical context to theoretical learning. When students can relate their studies to real-world experiences, it not only enhances their learning but also prepares them for future professional challenges.”
Michelle Jackson, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, UWE Bristol
Photo: Michelle Jackson, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Bristol Business School, UWE Bristol
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is celebrated annually on 23 June, and is a global celebration of the achievements, influence, and impact of women in the engineering profession. What began as a UK initiative by the Women’s Engineering Society has grown into an international movement with UNESCO patronage, bringing together communities, organisations, and individuals who are committed to shaping a more inclusive future for engineering.
The day shines a light on three core ambitions:
Inspiring future engineers – encouraging girls and young women to explore engineering pathways and helping address global skills shortages.
Showcasing women’s contributions – celebrating the innovation, leadership, and problem-solving women bring to the sector.
Championing equality – supporting women to thrive and promoting diverse, inclusive engineering workplaces.
A conversation about belonging, opportunity and change
At UWE Bristol, we’re marking International Women in Engineering Day with a special podcast featuring women at different stages of their engineering journeys. The discussion explores what representation means, how opportunities are created, and why engineering is a place where more women should feel like they belong.
Huge thanks go to our five brilliant panel members for talking so candidly and thoughtfully, and for sharing their experiences and insights:
Amelia Davies, Business Partnerships Manager for Advanced Engineering and Defence at UWE Bristol.
Emily Boys, Faculty Leader for Science at Cotham School.
Madeleine Starling, fourth-year Degree Apprentice at GKN Aerospace.
Alexia Williams, Chartered Engineer and Technical Lead at Rolls Royce. Alexia was recently named in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2026. She was awarded an MBE in recognition of her outstanding services to skills and education, her leadership in encouraging more women into STEM, and her commitment to closing the UK skills gap.
The conversation delves into the lived experiences and diverse pathways that brought each guest into engineering, highlighting the moments – both big turning points and quiet realisations – when they thought “yes, this is for me.”
The panel unpacks the persistent misconceptions that discourage girls from choosing subjects such as maths, DT and physics at school, reflects on early widening participation efforts in schools that can shift those patterns, and considers which mentoring approaches genuinely support women to thrive in engineering.
Throughout the conversation, several themes resonated strongly:
Representation matters – seeing women in engineering roles helps others to imagine themselves in those spaces and believe they belong.
Curiosity counts – problem solving, resilience, and a willingness to explore are often just as important (if not more important) than grades.
Engineering shapes the future – from healthcare to sustainability, engineers are tackling the world’s biggest challenges.
The overarching message was clear: engineering has space for everyone.
Building skills that empower women to thrive
At UWE Bristol, we are committed to creating pathways that support women entering and progressing through engineering careers. Our degree apprenticeships combine academic learning with hands-on industry experience, helping apprentices build confidence, capability, and a strong professional identity from day one.
We also work to create environments where women feel supported and connected. Mentoring opportunities link learners with role models across the sector, while award-winning initiatives such as Women Like Me amplify real stories and lived experiences that challenge stereotypes and open doors for the next generation.
By investing in inclusive routes into engineering and supporting talent at every stage, we’re helping to build a more diverse, skilled, and innovative engineering workforce for the future. And as our podcast guests reminded us, representation, curiosity, and community all play a vital role in shaping that future. When women see themselves reflected in engineering – and are given the space to thrive – the whole sector becomes stronger.
UWE Bristol’s Master of Architecture (MArch) students and local primary school St Michael’s CofE in Stoke Gifford have recently collaborated on an ‘Exploratory Design Studio’ community project to develop concept designs for a school building’s expansion.
Supported by Ann de Graft-Johnson, students Elliot Burningham, Craig Harding, Shahd Jabr, Huw Lansdowne, Charlotte Ongley and Daniel Pinto Rodrigues produced a series of designs for a new building to replace the school’s ageing ‘H-block’ and further expansion plans to include an onsite nursery and dedicated SEND facility.
What makes this project stand out is the depth of collaboration. Through consultation with staff and parents, and an engaging workshop with the school’s student council, they gathered insights from the people who know the site best. Pupils shared what excites them about learning spaces, while staff highlighted the practical needs of a growing school community. These voices became the backbone of the design process.
The resulting concepts place inclusion, sustainability and community at the forefront. Students explored ways to strengthen the school’s SEND provision, from acoustically considerate learning areas to dedicated spaces for extra provision sessions. Outdoor learning also played a central role, with ideas inspired by the forest school approach and a focus on creating more opportunities for children to learn and play outside. Several proposals also considered how the school could host community events more effectively, ensuring that new spaces feel welcoming and adaptable.
Pete Barnard, Headteacher of St Michael’s CofE School, described the students’ work with real enthusiasm:
“We were blown away by their professionalism and dedication to getting the designs right for all members of our school community. Their attention to detail and engagement of all stakeholders was exceptional, and our children have loved looking through the designs and choosing their favourites!”
Kay Confait, Pre-Award Coordinator at UWE Bristol, said:
“As a parent with children at St Michael’s Primary School, I have spent the last few years facilitating community outreach opportunities between the school and UWE. For this project our goal was to incorporate UWE architecture design expertise to develop concepts for new learning spaces, with a special emphasis on making the environments inclusive and adaptable for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
It was an incredible opportunity to bring MArch students on board. Over the last six months, it has been a true privilege to guide the collaboration from the initial briefing sessions and pupil engagement workshops to the final presentation of their outstanding concept designs.”
With the concept designs now complete, the school plans to present them to a local MP as part of its wider expansion ambitions.
The work will also be showcased during UWE Bristol’s annual Degree Show, ‘Showcase’. The Master of Architecture (M-Arch) cohort’s exhibition will be available for the public to view between Friday 7 June to Wednesday 10 June on Frenchay Campus (with the exception of Monday 8 June).
This partnership demonstrates the power of connecting academic learning with real‑world challenges. For the MArch students, it offered hands‑on experience in community‑engaged design. For St Michael’s, it provided a fresh, imaginative vision of what its growing school could become.
What does long-term business growth actually look like for SME leaders? For more than 330 participants on a high-impact leadership and management course at UWE Bristol, it has meant building stronger strategies, more resilient teams, and lasting peer networks that continue well beyond the classroom.
The Help to Grow: Management Courseis a 12‑week, 90% funded programme that gives SME leaders the skills, confidence, and support to take their business to the next level. Delivered across the UK by Small Business Charter-accredited business schools, to date it has helped over 10,000 leaders strengthen their strategy, sharpen operations, and accelerate growth. With a mix of online and in‑person sessions, dedicated 1:1 mentoring, and practical, ready‑to‑use tools, the course is built to deliver real impact from day one.
At UWE Bristol Business School, the course is delivered by academics and industry experts, with a focus on strategy, innovation, digital adoption, financial management, and leading people.
This year marks a milestone for the course. Now entering its sixth year of delivery at UWE Bristol, the programme has so far supported 330 business leaders to complete the course – each bringing their own challenges, ambitions, and ideas for the future of their organisations.
Since 2020, we’ve welcomed SME leaders from across the region and from a huge variety of sectors. Some arrived from organisations of five people, others from organisations of more than 200. That mix has always been one of the strengths of the programme: leaders learn as much from each other as they do from the curriculum itself.
A network that doesn’t disappear after 12 weeks
One of the clearest signs of the programme’s impact is the strength of the community that has formed around it. With an established national and local Alumni Programme, participants are offered learning and networking opportunities through varied content and events once the 12 week course ends.
Individual cohort communities also continue to support each other – members of Cohort 8, who completed the course in March 2021, still meet every month for peer support sessions. They’ve spoken at alumni events, and two members of the group are now launching a joint venture together.
Members of Cohort 8 speaking at a Help to Grow: Management Alumni Event in March 2025
This particular group shows that what starts as a structured programme can become an invaluable ongoing source of support, accountability, and collaboration.
Real change inside real businesses
Over the years, participants have used the course to tackle some major turning points in their organisations. Some have been preparing for succession, others exploring employee‑ownership models. One business has since transitioned to full employee ownership, using the course as a springboard for that journey.
Many alumni have also stayed connected with UWE Bristol through other opportunities. One has taken part in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership, others have worked with our student consultancy teams, and many have joined additional funded skills programmes such as Skills Bootcamps, Made Smarter, and the Leadership Fundamentals Programme. A number have even returned as guest speakers, panellists, or case study contributors – helping shape the experience for future cohorts.
“From the first session, I felt less overwhelmed with my workload, and gained clarity on how I needed to structure my business, and remove myself from the day-to-day in order to focus on the bigger picture.
The course has more value than you could imagine – the advice, experience, insights, resources and the mentorship hours you get access to is so worth it. The peer group you graduate with is also an incredible resource. The company I started the course with looks quite different to the company I completed the course with.”
Lou Fitzpatrick, Director at PrePitched
Mentoring that makes a difference
Mentoring is a core part of Help to Grow, with each participant having the opportunity to access 10 hours of 1:1 mentoring during their time on the course – and it’s been a real success story. Our mentors bring a wealth of experience, and the relationships they build with participants often continue long after the course ends. One of our Help to Grow alumni was recently named as a finalist at the National Mentoring Matters Awards, and one of our mentors recently won a national award, crediting his success to the work he did with his mentee through the programme:
“For me, the mentoring element of Help to Grow is where the learning becomes real leadership – it’s the bridge between knowing what to do and actually putting it into action. I joined Help to Grow to give back, but mentoring has turned into an unexpected long term partnership that has added value to both of our businesses.”
Olly Reid, Co-Founder of HUM4NS and Mentor on the Help to Grow: Management Course
Looking ahead
Reaching 330 alumni is something we’re very proud of – not just because of the number itself, but because of what it represents. It reflects hundreds of hours of learning, collaboration, and problem‑solving. It reflects businesses that are more resilient, more confident, and better connected. And it reflects a community of leaders who continue to support one another long after the course has finished.
As we enter our sixth year of delivery, the programme continues to grow and evolve. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to supporting SMEs across the region and helping leaders build the skills, networks, and confidence they need to take their organisations forward.
We’re excited to see what the next year of Help to Grow brings, and to continue working with the businesses and people who make Help to Grow what it is.
We’re thrilled to be delivering a new Help to Grow: Management Course cohort, starting in July 2026.
