Success comes in all shapes and sizes LINK ED7 Where are you now?

UCS Alumni Association Welcome to the 2015 edition of the UCS News Highlights Alumni Association magazine, Linked. UCS has had a busy year. Below is a brief highlight of some of the stories that we thought would be of most interest to you. Regulars We have had an exciting 12 months and I am very pleased that the focus of this You can read the full articles on our website and find out what else has happened this year at www.ucs.ac.uk/news 01 / News highlights the next year promises to be even more issue is on your achievements. Looking 02 / An update from the Alumni and Development Team transformational for the history of higher at all the stories you have shared with 08 / Careers and Employability education in Suffolk. us of where you are now has been UCS awarded singer songwriter Dr Rowan Williams gave UCS announced its partnership 20 / Noticeboard inspiring and encouraging. We continue Ed Sheeran an Honorary a lecture at UCS with Ipswich Town FC by In November we took a significant further to be proud of all your professional and Features step to becoming an independent personal stories, and are privileged to Doctorate unveiling a suite of new 03 / Where are you now? university after being granted Taught share some of them with the whole of the Former Archbishop of Canterbury, sports-related degrees. 06 / UCS Union: Now and then Ed Sheeran attended UCS’ graduation Dr Rowan Williams presented the Suffolk 10 / Making an impact with research Degree Awarding Powers (TDAP) by the alumni community. 14 / The UCS Foundation Board Privy Council. This means the institution ceremony for the Department of Arts Theology Forum Lecture. Dr Williams UCS is adding to its sports related 16 / Business and Enterprise is able to award its own undergraduate We are always keen to hear from you and and Humanities to receive an honorary spoke about Theology and the Edge of degree programme by offering several 18 / In profile: Sharon Cudworth and taught postgraduate degrees and, share your news and stories. However doctorate. Words in the final UCS Academy Lecture new courses specialising in football sport crucially, is able to apply for University you choose to keep in touch with us we of the academic year. science and coaching, in partnership with Do you share your Linked? Title. We are extremely proud of value everything you share. If you share an address with a fellow the Ipswich Town FC Academy. graduate and are happy to receive just achieving this next step in our journey to one copy of Linked please let us know. becoming an independent university.

Stay up-to-date With the progression towards To ensure you get the latest information, independence and on the back of the please make sure your contact details launch of our first fundraising initiative, are up-to-date by visiting Giving to UCS, we have created a www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni Foundation Board to lead and support

our philanthropic work. I am delighted that Celia Edey, Deputy Chair of the Alumni and Development Team UCS Board, has agreed to Chair Richard Lister E: [email protected] the Foundation Board and lead our Provost and Chief Executive T: 01473 338833 fundraising efforts. You can read more UCS about the Foundation Board on page 14.

LINKED7 LINKED7 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 01 Why ‘Where are you now’? ELLA DAVIES ANNIE HOPKINS DANIEL MEASOR DipHE Operating AND ADAM DALBY BA (Hons) Graphic The Alumni and Development Team you. This is why we decided to dedicate Department Practice BSc (Hons) Design have been astounded by the feedback, this edition of Linked magazine to sharing Class of 2008 Business Management Class of 2009 comments and suggestions shared by your successes with each other, within BSc (Hons) Acute Class of 2011 and Class members of the Alumni Association this our community. We haven’t been able to Healthcare Practice of 2012 year. One of the things that we have been include everyone in these pages, and for Class of 2013 I now live and work as a Graphic Up date most delighted to receive are your profiles those we haven’t we apologise but we We met in the third year of our Business Designer in Switzerland. I have been here detailing your personal and professional hope this edition of Linked inspires you all. Since I qualified in 2008 I have Management degrees at UCS Ipswich. for four years and am currently at a start up journeys since you graduated. It became Please carry on telling us what you have been working at West Suffolk NHS Our paths crossed in a romantic research agency called Equipe - www.eqp.ch very clear that UCS graduates are working gone on to do. Foundation Trust. In December 2014 methods lecture in 2011. We are due to internationally, are making a real impact on I was selected to become the Trust’s marry in March 2016. Adam continues to society and that we should be shouting as As mentioned in Richard’s welcome we first Physician’s Assistant (Anaesthesia). attend evening lectures to complete his loudly as possible about your successes. have achieved Taught Degree Awarding This is a relatively new role in the UK (10 Masters degree (he graduates next year). REBECCA COLE Powers and this is a huge first step in our years) in which non-medical practitioners We welcomed our baby daughter Eva into BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies from the Alumni and Our new Head of Marketing and journey to becoming independent. We will undertake extensive training to enable them the world. Juggling a baby, assignment Class of 2012 Communications, Blair Campbell, has Development Team keep you updated on this journey. UCS will to independently administer an anaesthetic deadlines and careers definitely hasn't been recognised this; joining UCS in August from hopefully become the University of Suffolk under the supervision of a consultant. easy but we still can't quite believe how fate After graduating I joined an agency to UEA he has been working tirelessly since which means the Alumni Association will Without the support of some fantastic brought us together. work within a nursery setting. I was soon to promote the successes of our graduates. transition and change as well. All updates faculty at UCS over the years I wouldn’t have taken on full-time as a nursery practitioner He has recently launched the #UCSGoFar and changes will be shared with you via our been able to undertake this exciting new and was then promoted to room leader. I promotional campaign using profiles of social media platforms, the website and our challenge. have recently taken a promotion in a new Alumni and Development Team our graduates to promote our courses and regular e-newsletters. setting as third in charge and am also E: [email protected] facilities. undertaking my Early Years Teacher course. I T: 01473 338833 We hope you have a fantastic next would like to thank UCS for helping me grow This made the Alumni and Development 12 months and look forward to talking to in confidence giving me the opportunity to be /UCSAlumni Team realise that we do a lot of sharing of lots of you over the coming year. WHERE where I am now. /UCS_Alumni your stories with potential students and

Search University Campus internally to current staff and students, but Suffolk Alumni Association we haven’t really shared many of them with UCS Alumni and Development Team

LINKED7 ARE YOU NOW? LINKED7 02 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 03

WHERE ARE YOU NOW? WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

Co-Founder and Head Coach at Personal JEMMA LYNCH Trinity Park and the experience I got from of the University’ Award in 2015. I recently JESSICA BROWN STEVEN BA (Hons) Graphic Design Best Soccer in Norfolk and am also First BSc (Hons) Criminology working there - all thanks to Laura Locke graduated from the Eastern Enterprise SCHWARTZ Class of 2014 HND in Business Studies Team Coach at Dereham Town Football Club. Class of 2015 and the Event Management lecturers for Hub Entrepreneur’s Programme with the with Financial Services helping me get this opportunity. aim of building my existing practice as a After graduating, I flew Class of 1999 TUGBERK KAYA Since graduating I Psychotherapist, Counsellor and Passion over 4,800 miles to China for an eight week BA (Hons) Business secured the position of for Life Coach, working with GPs and other internship. Having successfully been awarded I got involved with the Students’ Union and Management with FGM Project Coordinator for Suffolk Refugee DANIEL BRADLEY specialists in the Health and Wellbeing a Generation UK scholarship, I joined the Max was a member of the executive committee. Marketing Support, this is such a big current issue BSc (Hons) Operations field. Life is for living. It’s not the things that Designs team in Zhuhai, South China, as part This was extremely important to the Class of 2012 and is therefore a position which brings with Engineering happen in life, but how we deal with them of a British Council initiative. After returning introverted and depressed 18 year old me. it a lot of responsibility. Hopefully, I will be Class of 2013 that makes the difference to our overall to England, I was offered another internship I was later elected as Vice President. After I moved to the UK from Cyprus to study standing for County Council in 2017. I have enjoyment of living. in London with The Idle Man and my time graduation, I returned home to Cardiff and at UCS. After graduating I continued my also been awarded a scholarship at UCS Since graduating from working in their creative team confirmed my started my career in the financial services studies at Kingston University completing to undertake my MA Childhood and Youth UCS Lowestoft (where I actually started on unabashed bias for digital and web design. sector. Mental health issues could have held an MSc Information Technologies and Studies. I am a single parent and it has been a GCSE Engineering course in 2003), I have MARIA ARAOS Around this time I begun to work closely with me back but I have a fulfilling career and Strategic Innovation with Management hard to juggle everything but I think mine’s worked in Aberdeen, Qatar and currently MASON Pop My Mind and joined the team as their a happy life. I want all students and recent Studies. Since October 2013, I have been a story that shows what you can do if you reside in Azerbaijan. I currently work for BSc (Hons) Psychology freelance lead designer, helping to shape graduates to know that if you ever feel you undertaking PhD studies considering work hard and put your mind to it. Amec Foster Wheeler supporting brownfield and Criminology the platform conceptually. I am now part of cannot cope to speak to someone. Innovation and Knowledge Management modifications on BP’s Azeri assets. Class of 2014 alongside lecturing at the Faculty of LOUIS SHORTT Azexis as their Graphic and Web Designer. Economics and Administrative Sciences at BA (Hons) Event After I graduated I went on to do an Near East University. I am now Corporate Management ANNI MEEHAN information, advice and guidance course STEPHANIE TOM PARKE Certificate in Education Communications Manager for the Can Kid Class of 2014 BSc (Hons) Psychology whilst volunteering with young people. I am PHILLIPS DipHE Operating Class of 2014 project, as well as a member of the board and Sociology delighted to now be working as a Youth Department Practice of the Knowledge Management Research I am currently working Class of 2013 Engagement Officer at the YMCA. It is Class of 2008 Centre and Cyprus Green Action Group. as Events Executive for Novus Leisure in exactly the job I was hoping for. I am also I have set up a soccer education scheme in their Tiger Tiger venue in Portsmouth, and Since graduating I was employed for almost going to be completing a teacher training After I graduated from UCS I used my Norfolk and we have had excellent success I think one of the main reasons I managed two years as a Student Adviser at the UCS qualification in the lifelong learning sector qualification as an Operating Department rates and reached a national cup final. I am to secure this was due to an internship at Student’s Union, and received the ‘Heart with UCS shortly. Practitioner to emigrate and create a new life the Academy Coach and Course Tutor at with my family in New Zealand. Dereham Education and Soccer Academy, LINKED7 LINKED7 04 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 05 Ben Adofo Andy Speed President 2013-2015 President 2009-2011 Clubs Officer (part-time) 2008– 2009 Looking back at my UCS Union journey, it was Non-Portfolio Officer (part-time) 2007–2008 UCS Union a steep learning curve. UCS Union was a great training ground for my career. After I left, I decided I was involved with UCS Union from my second week at UCS, holding to have some respite from academia and travel three different roles. UCS Union shaped every aspect of me, my Now and then Megan King around Europe for two months. I’ve recently career, aspirations and character. I moved to Durham University Vice President 2015 commenced my new role of National Networks Students’ Union (following a number of months working in America), @UCSunion_VP for Collaborative Outreach (NNCO) Project to review and address their stuttering representative structures. The Linked introduces Jordan Bambridge [email protected] Manager at the University of Westminster. I’ve been working with a culture shock between UCS and a Russell Group institution was President 2015 number of businesses developing outreach and widening participation incomparable, the whole thing was completely different and at first you to the new UCS @UCSunion_Pres Being a sabbatical officer is activity within Greater London and beyond. I am still a reviewer for the appeared very much out of my depth. I soon realised the stuff I got [email protected] a huge honour and privilege. Union President Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and I am also studying involved with whilst with UCS Union was very relevant and informed It is not only an opportunity Chinese. I have been doing part-time volunteering, mentoring 11 to 19 a lot of thinking and rationales behind changes at Durham. Since and Vice President, I knew when I got elected that to represent students but to year old males from deprived areas in London. then I have gone onto become a ‘student engagement consultant’ for our students the physical grow and develop personally and catches up with for the Student Engagement Partnership within the National Union of things; facilities, teaching in the knowledge that you are making someone’s Students. I have a dedicated remit to address student engagement. rooms and study space are some of our past experience here more enjoyable. When I joined Chris Mitchell very important, but we often UCS I had a difficult time adjusting to life living away Vice President 2013-2015 officers to find out don’t hear from them. I am now focused on trying from home, and was set on dropping out within to increase engagement from all our students the first month. Without the support I received where they are now. The job of being a sabbatical officer is unique and Howard Woldsmith around UCS, helping to get more voices heard and from societies, my course rep and my Sabbatical nothing can really prepare you for it. The Union was President 2007-2009 making sure they know they are being listened to. Officers, I wouldn’t have stayed. I want to offer that definitely two of the best years of my life and We want to give people the confidence to speak support back to current students. This year I would I would highly recommend anybody who ever gets Howard is now Senior Business Analyst at Suffolk County Council. up. It would be great if you could get involved with like to double the number of societies and provide the chance to do it to give it serious consideration. He has also held the position of Operations Manager at Gateway that, relive your UCS experience and communicate increasing support to join them. I want to work on Since leaving the Union I have moved from Ipswich Qualifications and was Operations Manager for gapyear.com. Howard with our current students through social media. our sport provision and the welfare of our students. to South London and have begun a new job with has previously worked for the Quality Assurance Agency as an auditor We would love to hear your views as alumni on We plan to develop our engagement and would love Capita on their 2015 Lead the Way graduate programme. It is very different and also owns Red and Black Casinos, which provides fun casino hire what would have helped you to be more engaged. to hear your views as alumni. to Higher Education and a big challenge but one I am embracing and one I for all occasions. am grateful to UCS and UCS Union for preparing me for.

LINKED7 LINKED7 06 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 07 Careers and Employability

Amy Carpenter shares with Amazing opportunities Recruitment – and not Promoting your But how?

Linked her top three reasons In just one day, whilst writing this article, I had contact just finding organisation, and giving We’d love to hear from from four employers that wanted to offer UCS students you, and even if you’re to stay in touch with us. and graduates paid internships. It’s important to employment for yourself something back, all at not in a position to need remember that internships aren’t just for those that are the same time us at the moment, one of studying; they can be an amazing opportunity to ‘try If you’ve found your dream job or started your own us will always be around business (we knew you could do it!), you may be Amy Carpenter before you buy’ as a graduate. We are finding more and I’m not sure about you, but as a student, I found that – connect with me on more employers are offering internships with ‘a view for more interested in what we could offer your company LinkedIn, or email us at BA (Hons) Business Management or organisation. I am constantly promoting UCS to hearing from other UCS students that were perhaps the role to become permanent for the right candidate’, a year or two ahead of me, or, even better, had [email protected], and Class of 2015 and assuming that an internship wouldn’t be for you organisations around the country and encouraging them the Careers team or I will Employer Liaison Adviser at UCS to promote their vacancies with us, but there’s only one graduated, was extremely inspiring, and encouraged could mean a missed opportunity. me to have the confidence to think ‘maybe I could be more than happy to A UCS graduate once said to me that working in of me – and thousands of you! If you graduated from help. Don’t forget: not only UCS in recent years, hopefully you were a member of get that dream job after all’. As a member of the UCS I’d only been away from UCS for three months when roles with fixed term contracts had been advantageous Alumni Association, you are in the perfect position to can you use the Careers to them: the main reason being that it offered no space the UCS Job Shop, or even a member of our newer and Employability service I joined the UCS Careers and Employability team as LinkedIn UCS Job Club, and knew about the growing share your experiences and tips, and remind students the Employer Liaison Adviser, a role that seeks to for complacency. They had to constantly consider what that they are not the only ones to feel stressed and like for three years after their next move would be, and it provided numerous number of opportunities available. graduation, but you could forge great links with the business community and In case you were not, these resources provide a they will get to the end of their course. students alike. I always liken the basis and aims of my chances to try slightly different roles before identifying a If you have found your dream job or started your remain registered on the true passion. free and easy method to allow your organisation to Job Shop and a member role, connecting students and employers together, to promote the variety of opportunities that could well be own business, you are perfectly placed to talk about be similar those of dating websites – I’ve become a matchmaker, but without We are also often contacted by organisations how you got there, and anything you would (and would of the LinkedIn Job Club seeking to fill graduate level, permanent, full-time perfect for a UCS student or graduate. We can also offer for as long as you want. the slightly tacky or questionable website name (although I think ‘Plenty of you support and guidance if you have roles that seek not) do again. It could be in the form of a talk, attending positions. We’ve had roles in structured international Don’t assume that just Internships’ sounds pretty good personally!). Whether you wore the gown 2specific skills, or you are keen to work with particular a Careers or Volunteering Fair, supporting student graduate schemes, as well as local organisations seeking because you graduated just a few weeks ago, or a few years ago, becoming a UCS graduate means courses. Paid internships can be part-time alongside workshops, offering live projects, mentoring, or profiles you will always be a part of this UCS community. I actually only graduated a graduate that could progress to the very top of their for our website - so please keep in touch. before 2015, you can’t company. It is a testament to the growing and positive study or full-time in vacation periods, or for graduates. access the amazing from my Business Management course in October – the ink is still wet on reputation that UCS alumni are building that more and As UCS grows, we are going to become an even bigger opportunities that we my degree certificate, and my photos still haven’t arrived – but I’ve quickly community and network, and it seems crazy not to use realised how amazing it is to be able to call yourself a UCS graduate, and a more of these opportunities are being offered to us, so receive on a weekly basis. don’t think that, just because you’ve graduated, we don’t that to our advantage, particularly as it offers access to Stay in touch with us, UCS alumni. There are plenty of benefits that come from being a part of this so many talented individuals – including you. growing but still fairly exclusive group, and staying in touch. In the Careers and have an opportunity that could be perfect for you. it can help you as much as Employability team we think keeping in contact is particularly important. it can help us.

LINKED7 LINKED7 08 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 1 3 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 09 Domestic Violence and Abuse and abuse through the development of a disorder, pro-self harm and pro-suicide Making an Tim Passmore, Police and Crime countywide Independent Domestic Violence websites. Commissioner for Suffolk, commissioned a Advisors service. UCS investigated the phenomenon of study of domestic violence and abuse in the The Marie Collins Foundation pro-eating disorder websites, blogs and impact with county, specifically investigating survivors’ Research by UCS on Safeguarding and online communities as part of a research experiences of the services and organisations improving the lives of children and young study funded by the Nominet trust. As a available to support and help them. This people continues to be highly influential result of that research Insafe, working under research research required a specialist team of nationally. The Marie Collins Foundation, the framework of the European Commission’s experienced researchers and a carefully the UK charity enabling children who suffer Safer Internet Programme to deliver a safer considered methodological approach. sexual abuse and exploitation via internet and and better internet, invited Dr Emma Bond, Over the past year the research The study identified that the support for mobile technologies to recover and live safe, Associate Professor at UCS to Vilnius, survivors of domestic abuse in Suffolk was fulfilling lives, has been able to develop a new Lithuania, to deliver the keynote speech and carried out by UCS has had fragmented and confused and that there training initiative for professionals as a result run workshops for helpline professionals significant impact both locally and were considerable gaps in the help available of a study conducted by UCS. across Europe on improving understanding nationally. We are very proud that to survivors, particularly in rural areas. of the risks posed by these websites to we have helped make a real difference Aside from the significant media interest, Digital Safety children. Emma has also delivered staff to people’s lives and that we have the findings of this research have made a Another example of the impact training workshops for NHS trusts across substantial impact on improving service research at UCS has had is in improving the UK at the Tavistock Clinic in London to contributed to improving service delivery in Suffolk, helping to improve lives understanding of how young people are increase awareness of these sites and how delivery in a number of areas. but also to potentially save them. Suffolk using the internet in potentially harmful ways. young people are using them. Constabulary have developed a new action Whilst UCS has undertaken different plan and are working very effectively to meet aspects of research into young people’s the recommendations of the study. digital lives online, there has recently Tim Passmore awarded a major grant to been increasing concern nationally and better support victims of domestic violence internationally into the use of pro-eating

LINKED7 LINKED7 10 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 11 “One of the Leading Scientific Journal Research into Patients’ Experiences of Hard Hitting New Research Published examples of abuse. This risks skewing At UCS we specialise Features Lecturer’s Work Inflammatory Bowel Disease Published About Those Who Experienced Childhood strategic responses to sexual abuse in the UK. in creative research A lecturer in Bioscience at UCS has had by UCS Academic Sexual Abuse Our Focus on Survivors report takes a major things that the underpinned by the rigour his research published in the prestigious Dr Will Thomas, Senior Lecturer at UCS and Suffolk charity Survivors in leap forward to addressing the striking lack of department does journal ‘Development’. Dr Christopher Suffolk Business School, has published Transition presented their research findings in robust research there is in this field. of scholarship to provide at UCS is to get Turner is a world-renowned cardiovascular research looking into the experiences of a report called Focus on Survivors: identifying The findings are important and disturbing. high quality outcomes for biologist. people diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease or barriers to accessing support for those who They highlight both the sustained duration statutory and non-statutory under the skin of His latest research identified two genes Ulcerative Colitis – two of the most common have experienced childhood sexual abuse. over which children are typically sexually agencies locally, nationally that when faulty lead to the development of forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The study, reported in the national press, abused and the lifelong impact of that abuse. and internationally. some issues that a range of congenital heart defects (CHDs). Around 625,000 people in the UK live is thought to be the largest of its kind in the As a society we clearly need to be more We have adopted a too many people CHDs are the leading cause of infant death with these lifelong conditions. The qualitative UK, taking in the views of nearly 400 adults strategic in tackling sexual abuse and we in the UK, affecting 1:100 live births. Dr research, commissioned by the Digestive who were sexually abused as children about are not doing enough to support survivors of transdisciplinary approach run away from.” Turner hopes that further research into the Disorders Foundation in Suffolk, aimed to their experiences of services. abuse.” and work with national roles of these important genes may one improve the understanding of the way that It gives further information into the nature Tim Passmore, Suffolk Police and Crime government, local authorities, Tim Passmore day allow for new tests, treatments and IBD affects the lives of those living with the of ‘typical’ childhood sexual abuse in the UK. Commissioner, said “One of the things that charities and private sector Suffolk Police and Crime eventually cures for CHDs to be developed. condition which is often diagnosed when the It found 70% of abuse happens within families the Department for Psychology, Sociology and companies. We focus on Commissioner Dr Turner also received the honour of having patient is in their late teens to mid-thirties. and 51% of survivors were abused by more Social Work does at UCS is to get under the an image from his study placed on the front than one person. skin of some issues that too many people run delivering high impact cover of the scientific journal. Professor Noel Smith, Head of away from”. research which makes a Department for Psychology, Sociology and difference and we have Social Work at UCS, said “The focus of high a passion for designing profile cases such as the Government’s robust, efficient solutions to independent inquiry, the Jimmy Savile scandal and the Rotherham inquiry is on less typical ameliorating social problems.

LINKED7 LINKED7 12 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 13 The UCS Foundation Board Celia is joined by three independent Find Out More members, Katherine Riddell, Barry Chevallier Guild and Judi Newman. If you are interested in finding out more about the philanthropic With the progression towards Katherine is an extremely activity at UCS please email FUTURES FUND [email protected] or visit the In 2014 UCS launched our first fundraising initiative called Giving to independence, UCS has created a successful digital entrepreneur, business consultant and is giving pages on the UCS website UCS. With generosity we were able to create the Futures Fund Class charitable Foundation Board to help currently Managing Director of www.ucs.ac.uk/giving of 2014 which supported a wide range of student and staff initiatives. develop and grow our philanthropic Digital Tomorrow Today Ltd, activity, hopefully enabling us to which is based in Suffolk. Please consider making a These included: make transformational financial donation to your institution. You can give online or complete We are delighted that Celia Edey, who is Deputy Barry is Chairman of the hugely • Providing financial support for humanities students to produce contributions to our students, staff the donation form included with Chair of the UCS Board, has agreed to Chair the successful Aspall, a company an anthology of poetry and short stories. and facilities. The newly established that has remained in the same this magazine. Even the smallest Foundation Board. Celia has a wealth of experience donation could change the life of Foundation Board is a vehicle to in the philanthropic sector and is a dedicated family since it started and is now • Funding an additional learning visit for science students whilst exporting globally. a current student or group co-ordinate the raising of supporter of UCS. Celia has said “I would like to of students. on a trip to Switzerland. philanthropic funds for UCS. It encourage all alumni to let us know if they have any should be able to open doors, and to thoughts or suggestions about how the Foundation If you know anyone who would • Helping to cover some of the cost of printing a record of 10 Board can best achieve its aim of raising money Judi has worked for the past like to support us please innovative exhibitions by fine art students using one space over persuade new donors - individuals, to support and enhance the student experience, twenty years across the charitable encourage them to get in touch. 10 weeks. business sponsors and Charitable to increase research or workplace opportunities, and public sectors in local, national Donations can be made online Trust Funds - to give generously to to enable potential students with real financial and international organisations. at www.ucs.ac.uk/giving or • Supporting the photography degree show. hardship to pursue their dreams, or even build UCS. It met for the first time at the She is a philanthropy advisor and by contacting the Alumni and new buildings to accommodate a growing and an Honorary Fellow of UCS. Development Office, • Making a contribution towards the costs of hosting a paint end of November. expanding institution.” [email protected] symposium. Foundation Board members The board is delighted to be joined by a member As a member of the Alumni of the Alumni Association, Ben Adofo, former We are delighted to have been able to help these students achieve Association we welcome your UCS Union President. Ben, who is now working feedback, ideas and thoughts on and deliver more during their time with us, expand opportunities and in London, will help to ensure the work of the raise the profile of UCS, however we want to do so much more. what we should be raising money Foundation Board meets the needs of current for, what would have helped you students and improves the institution for the do more and achieve more as a Foundation Board widest audience possible. student. Please let us know.

LINKED7 LINKED7 14 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 15 Business and Enterprise

The Alumni and Alumni Business The company, based in Lucky and his business partner have Deborah Scott companies in the world and never settling for Worcestershire, has achieved global both won several prestigious awards FdSc Species second best, we embarked on a journey of Development Team are success after being published in including Best Digital at the 2014 Lloyds and Conservation scientific exploration. working closely with the Profiles Since SKN-RG’s debut we have won household magazines such as Vogue, Bank Enterprise Awards, Midlands Management Business and Enterprise countless beauty awards and business GQ, Esquire, Square Mile and Glamour. Young Entrepreneur of the Year and BA (Hons) Business Team to promote the Its popular range of watches and Midlands Exporter of the Year. Management awards featured in publications such as successes of our bracelets has built an impressive “UCS was not my first choice Class of 2009 Vogue, Glamour and Red. Runner up for The following on social media, with a University and I applied through Robert Scott One competition in 2014, Awarded “Essex entrepreneurial alumni. combined total of 445,000 across clearing. I decided to go to UCS as I BA (Hons) Photography Innovation” programme by Essex County Facebook and Instagram. saw it was a fairly new and growing Class of 2010 Council and UK Trade and Investment If you have started a programme. We have recently returned from Company co-founder, Lucky, who institution and it had a formidable business we would love to our first overseas Trade Show in Sweden has just finished his undergraduate reputation in the short time it’s been So where can life lead you after hear from you. We could Lucky Nwosu degree in Sport and Exercise Science, operating. UCS enabled me to mix graduating from UCS? For us, our where the reception for SKN-RG was BSc (Hons) Sport and said: “We are so pleased with how far with individuals with different cultural incredible. mutually benefit from Exercise Science we have come in the past year. Franco backgrounds as well as improve my journey has been very exciting. Robert is still a practicing photographer sharing your business Class of 2015 Florenzi has really taken off and we are organisational and time management specialising in commercial work, which is details on our website, so thankful for all the support we have skills, which has allowed me to be Creating our own ethical skincare company called useful for SKN-RG. Deborah still looks at or you attending our the Marshlands local to where they now When Lucky co-founded a jewellery received.” successful in pushing my business SKN-RG. We take the finest natural and certified organic Enterprise Day event or He went on to say: “I originally forwards as I was able to prioritise my live and remembers those days of transect ingredients and using a special technology created by us, business breakfasts. business almost a year ago, few could started my company as a way of earning time more efficiently. It was a great called SKN-RG Quanta Technology, we breathe life back work and meeting her husband at UCS. Her have predicted its success. some extra income to support me environment to be a part of.” into those aforementioned certified organic and natural dissertation on “ethical consumerism” has through my time at university. I’ve always ingredients to create unique products. come in quite handy. Franco Florenzi has quickly developed a reputation for had an interest in design and fashion so The creation of the technology was a convergence innovative and creative designs, generating a remarkable over time it grew from just a part-time Franco Florenzi of many ideas; our years at UCS gave us the foundation SKN-RG Performance Skincare turnover of £500,000. interest to a full blown passion.” www.francoflorenzi.com upon which to build one of the most unique skincare www.skn-rg.com

LINKED7 LINKED7 16 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 17 live in Kesgrave with my husband I Paul and three beautiful daughters, went away to North Norfolk for a girly week people be themselves, together as families. I I would love to bump into her today. We all IN PROFILE: Yasmin, Ellie and Amelia. I am a Midwife which is a week I will always treasure. try to capture the emotions and little details. have the ability to be something you just have at Ipswich Hospital and I have my own During my third year of training. I really I recently went to the South of France to to believe it. Sharon got into Instagram. Taking photos of my photograph a wedding and it was the most photography business. My main interests children and the ‘every day’, I found I was beautiful setting. I loved every Cudworth are photography (obviously), being documenting the beauty of my own little minute of it. I have five weddings creative, home interiors, shopping and life. Paul bought me my first DSLR as a gift booked for 2016 already and I spending time with my family. for qualifying as a midwife and I self taught simply cannot wait. myself using online tutorials, YouTube and My next venture is to merge Pinterest to really get to grips with the art my two jobs and introduce Birth and technical sides of photography. This is Photography to local couples. I chose to study at UCS because it was local to but I do want to see that they tried their best. the first similarity I noticed between midwifery Being familiar with the progression me. Being a mum to three girls, I had to carefully My husband, Paul, supported me in many ways and photography; both of these vocations of labour and being comfortable balance my time as a full-time midwifery student, throughout my course. Between us, we juggled require life long learning and I truly believe within the delivery room, I am keen working long shifts, studying and being there for childcare whilst both working full-time. We were that you can never know enough. Continued to photograph those moments as my girls. UCS gave me the opportunity to follow a great team and we continue this approach now. learning is key to progression and success. beautifully as possible. I am hoping my dreams. This doesn’t always allow us to have a great deal After several months of enjoying one of my colleagues will volunteer Being a mature student certainly made me of time together. However, we ensure that at the Instagram, they contacted me asking if they for me so that I can add this to my portfolio. You can view more of Sharon’s work on determined and driven to succeed. The hard weekends when we are all together, we go out could feature me for Mother's Day as an For anyone reading this that may be her Facebook page: inspirational account for other mothers. I now thinking they're not sure how to take the work paid off as I achieved a First Class Honours and spend quality time as a family. Search: Sharon Cudworth Photographer degree; something I never imagined would have My midwifery lecturers were so have 64,000 followers on Instagram. Since first step into their chosen career, or feeling been possible after only achieving pretty average supportive; they were always available and very then, it has gone from strength to strength overwhelmed at the prospect of a long road Instagram ID: GCSE results. I truly believe that if you have a approachable. This was not only recognised by and I am now able to capture other people's of hurdles to reach their desired goal in life, Poppyseedhouse passion for something and you give it 110%, you me but all of us as a cohort. Talking of them, I families exactly how I started out with my own. just remember; if you believe in something will succeed. This advice is something I tell my must also add, that I had an amazing cohort and I would describe my photography style and believe in yourself, you will achieve it. I am currently having a website built but in children on a daily basis as I want them to know we continue to try and meet up whenever we can. as light, natural and honest. I often wait for I still remember the words of a school the meantime you can contact me via the pages above or email me at: that it doesn’t matter what they achieve in life In fact, the week we completed our course we the moment, being unobtrusive and letting teacher saying I wouldn’t be anything in life. [email protected]

LINKED7 LINKED7 18 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 19 ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD ALUMNI POSTGRADUATE NURSING RETURN TO IPSWICH HOSPITAL BUILDING OUR

We have been really pleased at the level of LOYALTY SCHEME PRACTICE COURSE ALUMNI COMMUNITY COMMUNITY

NOTICE engagement from so many of you over the past 12 months and we are considering creating a All members of the UCS Alumni Association A 15 week course combining theory and The Alumni and Development Team believe that We are keen to grow the Alumni BOARD virtual Alumni Advisory Board. We are keen to are entitled to a loyalty reduction on selected practice enabling experienced nurses who are in many large local organisations, like Ipswich Association as widely as possible. hear from members of the Alumni Association postgraduate course fees. For those who no longer practising to return to work in the Hospital, we have generations of graduates Our graduates and those from legacy who may be interested in being part of a virtual successfully secure a place on an eligible NHS. The course will develop an individual’s working together, as well as supporting our institutions are invaluable to us for support group to offer opinions, feedback, ideas and postgraduate course the following reductions knowledge base within contemporary current students. If you know of any groups of and feedback. Your experiences both support on a range of alumni related initiatives. will be applied to course fees*: healthcare in order to re-instate registration colleagues who this may apply to please let personally and professionally can help to with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. All us know. We are keen to build a community of shape us as an institution. If we become If there is a real interest in developing an • 20% reduction for UCS graduates fees are paid and in addition students will alumni within the hospital and at other sites. an independent institution we will have ATRIUM STUDIOS advisory board we may look to hold elections. (those who completed an undergraduate receive a bursary of £500 which will be paid achieved the long held ambition to have a Please contact [email protected] to register degree at UCS after 2007) after commencing in practice. The course is university in Suffolk. We want to share as Atrium Studios is a Creative Arts and Business your interest and to find out more. • 10% reduction for members of the available for study commencing February much about our journey to independence incubator which offers affordable office and Alumni Association who completed an 2016 and September 2016. NEW YEAR with our stakeholders as possible. studio space to start-up businesses from undergraduate degree prior to 2007 at all industries. Atrium Studios have recently THE MBA IS 30 YEARS OLD one of our legacy institutions in Suffolk POSTGRADUATE relocated to the UCS Library Building at the • A further 5% reduction will be applied LONDON ALUMNI GROUP for those alumni who apply for a place OPPORTUNITIES Ipswich Campus. For anyone interested in In 2017 the UCS MBA programme will be Alumni and Development Team on a postgraduate programme before E: [email protected] finding out more please contact celebrating its 30th birthday. If you are a graduate We are working with four recent graduates to 1 July before the course commences The MBA, MSc Business and Management and T: 01473 338833 Carol Gant, Arts Curator, from the course we are looking for success establish a London Alumni Group. If you are a Further details are available on our website MA Learning and Teaching courses at UCS offer [email protected] stories, business profiles and to share your graduate who is living in or around London and /UCSAlumni www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni February start dates, meaning you don’t have to memories. Please email [email protected] are interested in finding out more please get in /UCS_Alumni *subject to terms and conditions touch. We are hoping to hold a reception with wait until September to take that next step. Search University Campus members of the London group early in 2016. Visit www.ucs.ac.uk/PG to find out more. Suffolk Alumni Association

LINKED7 LINKED7 20 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni 21 LINKED7 22 www.ucs.ac.uk/alumni