Leeds Beckett University alumni magazine Issue 18

leedsbeckett.ac.uk/alumni facebook.com/LeedsBeckettAlumni @BeckettAlumni From our Vice Chancellor WELCOME I was delighted to visit campus recently to award this year’s Sir Bob Murray Scholarships to five very deserving first year Beckett As we come to the close of students who are just starting their another academic year, we are journey with us. celebrating the achievements of another cohort of graduates. After I became Chancellor of in 2013, I pledged to give £30,000 to students over six years to help those that Chancellor Sir Bob Murray with four of the five recipients of this year’s Sir Bob Murray Scholarships need a bit of extra support to achieve their goals. I’m sure you remember your graduation great impact, with more students accessing values of our University and inspire our This year, Billy Haigh, Louise Wade, Saeed day – the sense of pride and achievement, their support and also dropping in to chat students and graduates. Muthana, Jugraj Singh Bhadal and Jamie the hope, the aspirations. It is such a about university life. I really enjoyed sitting Howarth received the scholarship award to life-defining moment for so many. It down with them myself and hearing more Having met a range of exceptional people help support their studies. Congratulations gives me great pleasure to preside over about the work the wider team does in through the Foundation of Light, the to them all! It is very rewarding for me to be these ceremonies and this year shall be representing students. charity I founded when I was chairman of particularly special to me as these are able to give something back to my university Sunderland Football Club and still chair the final graduations before I retire in by supporting these hard working, talented I also had the pleasure of attending our today, I’m pleased to be able to use those September. students. I hope the scholarships will make University’s Long Service Awards for staff – contacts to nominate some outstanding a real difference to them and I wish them congratulations to everyone who has served individuals and organisations worthy We have had quite a year at Leeds Beckett every success in their studies. 25 years or more at our University this year. of the accolade in order to expand our University. We have continued to build There is a real sense of occasion as these I met with the Students’ Union president, University networks, foster relationships our international profile and extend our colleagues meet to share their memories of Jay Malpass-Clark, when I was back in and ultimately create new and exciting reach overseas with delegations to India our institution over lunch and it’s an honour Leeds and had a tour of their new premises. opportunities for our staff, students and and China where we met senior figures to be able to help them celebrate their There have been several transformations of alumni. and graduates in those countries. The commitment to our University, students reputation of research at our University our estate in the last few years, directly in and colleagues. Congratulations to all of this year’s continues to grow. We demonstrated response to student feedback. Moving the graduates. I hope their studies give them advancement in a number of areas in the Students’ Union to a location more visible to Finally, Graduation 2015 is upon us and the confidence and ambition to achieve our students is just one of the ways in which Research Excellence Framework which I’m looking forward to congratulating our their goals and succeed in their chosen is used to assess university research we are working to enhance our student first Leeds Beckett University graduates as careers or whatever they choose to do next. activity, and we launched our fourth experience. I know from speaking with well as awarding honorary awards to those Research Institute focused on retail Union officers that this has already had a whose work and achievements reflect the Sir Bob Murray CBE just a couple of months ago. We have celebrated the Professorial Inaugural Lectures of seven new professors: David Hello from Leeds Beckett University. Academic. Professor Cardew was formerly Carless, Martin Samy, Simon Gardiner, Pro Vice Chancellor, Academic, at London This edition of Momentum marks a Alan Simson, Alex Nunn, Teresa Stoppani South Bank University and holds a significant anniversary - it’s 10 years since and Sue Backhouse. We also celebrated first-class BA (Hons) in English from the our alumni magazine was launched. a high-profile guest speaker programme University of Southampton and a PhD from which you may have attended, retained This is our 18th edition, but in issue one we the . It has also been an the annual Varsity trophy for the 10th featured alumnus Ricky Wilson and caught exciting couple of months for the Alumni, consecutive year in a day of sporting up with the lead singer of the Kaiser Chiefs Partner Engagement & Events team. In contests against the University of Leeds, ahead of the band’s European tour and March, our 14 Bright Futures scholars and we were recognised in the Stonewall performance at Glastonbury. Issue one also were announced, coinciding with our Workplace Equality Index at number included the story of our University’s India Spring Alumni Calling Campaign, which 51 this year – a rise of 117 places from Office launch 4,000 miles away in Delhi. you can see featured on page 4. last year – showing our continued We are very pleased to say that our India commitment to the lesbian, gay, bisexual Office is still going strong today and it also This issue also features alumni in our and transgender agenda. recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. If Where Are They Now? article. We had an overwhelming response on our Leeds These are just a handful of the anyone has a copy of Momentum issue one, we would love to hear from you. Beckett Alumni LinkedIn discussion achievements during the last 12 months – asking for alumni to share their success I could fill this magazine with many more! 2015 has been an exciting year for our stories. A few are included in this issue Whatever your relationship with us, I University. We have entered the Stonewall and you will see more in issue 19. We love would like to wish you the very best for From the Editor Top 100 Employers, ranking at 51st place. to see, read and hear what our alumni the future, and please do keep in touch This reflects our inclusive community and are doing now, so please keep your with us. also the sustained energy and enthusiasm success stories coming in. Joe Taylor for promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual and Professor Susan Price, BA (Hons) Sports Marketing transgender issues across our University. Once again, it’s been a pleasure to edit Vice Chancellor & Public Relations (2012) We have also welcomed Professor Phil this magazine and I hope you enjoy Cardew as Deputy Vice Chancellor, reading it.

MOMENTUM / 18 If you are interested in featuring in a future edition of Momentum, email [email protected] Momentum Leeds Beckett University alumni magazine Vice Chancellor appointment Contents Issue 18 University news announced Professor Peter Slee will be Leeds Beckett University’s new Vice Chancellor when our current Vice Chancellor, Professor Susan Price, retires at the end REGULARS of August this year. Professor Slee is currently the Deputy University news 2 Vice Chancellor at the University of Huddersfield where he has helped Events 3 drive major improvements in student satisfaction levels, research outcomes and Giving news 4 the university’s league table position. Ten things 5 Professor Slee has a wealth of experience in the sector and possesses an in-depth Research news 13-15 knowledge of the local and regional Alumni social media and competition 16 environment within which our University operates. He also has an excellent My room, your office 17 track record of senior leadership across similar institutions notable for achieving Postgraduate success stories 20 success and transformational change. Prior to taking up his current role at the Sports news 23 University of Huddersfield in 2010, he held a number of senior roles in higher Where are they now? 25 education management at Northumbria, Digging through the archives 27 Durham and Aston universities, and he 7 was also Head of Education Policy at the Confederation of British Industry. His leadership and vision will be critical in developing our next strategic plan. FEATURES

Our honorary graduates 7 Deputy Vice Chancellor appointed Each year, as well as celebrating In March, we welcomed Professor Phil the achievements of our graduating Cardew as our new Deputy Vice Chancellor, students, we award honorary Academic. degrees to inspirational people. 9 Professor Cardew was formerly Pro Vice Chancellor, Academic, at London South Bank University. He holds a first-class BA (Hons) in English from the University of Reach for the Sky 9 Southampton and a PhD from the University of Leeds. Prior to his role at London South Alumnus Stuart Payling recounts his Bank University, he was Assistant Vice journey from student at our University to Chancellor at the University of Winchester. Marketing Executive at Sky. Professor Cardew has also worked extensively for the Quality Assurance Agency in the UK and undertook institutional 11 12 reviews in Oman and Australia. Enterprise 11 Find out about the services our Commissioning Editor: Patsy Robertshaw Momentum is published for the alumni Enterprise & Innovation Academy and friends of Leeds Beckett University, Chair of the Board Leeds Beckett recognised in Research assessment outcomes Editor: Joe Taylor can offer alumni. Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds David Lowen has taken up the position Stonewall top 100 Our University is celebrating its growing Polytechnic, James Graham College, City Contributors: Darren Aldred, Penny of Chair of our Board of Governors Our University has been recognised for its reputation for research following its best of Leeds College of Education, Carnegie Brazier, Andrew Bush, Pete Butler, Kirstie commitment to promoting the rights of results from the Research Excellence Physical Training College, David knows Leeds well, having Frenneaux, Thomas Gadd, Sam Gibson, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Framework (REF). The REF is an assessment Training College, College of Enterprise success stories 12 previously lived in the city for 30 years. Emma Gilbert, Julie Harris, Mikaela Hulme, staff and students in the latest Stonewall of university research activity which is used to Education & Home Economics, Yorkshire He is a former Editor of Calendar Alex Keating, Thomas Lyon, Kiran Mehta, Be inspired by our entrepreneurial Workplace Equality Index. determine funding for universities across the Training School of Cookery, Leeds News and was a Director at Yorkshire Georgie Mills, Fern Pullan, Keith Rowntree, alumni. country in a range of subject areas. Joe Swan, Anna Towers, Julia Williams. College of Commerce, Leeds College Television for six years where he was We entered the top 100 British employers for of Art (pre-1970), Leeds College of responsible for network programme the first time in 51st position, a rise of 117 Professor Andrew Slade, Deputy Vice Correspondence is welcome and should be Technology (pre-1970), Yorkshire Training development and corporate places from last year’s ranking in Stonewall’s Chancellor for Research & Enterprise at addressed to: Alumni Team, Leeds Beckett College of Housecraft. development. David established and nationally recognised league table of gay- our University, said: “I am delighted to see University, Brontë G05, Leeds LS6 3QS Sport coaching goes global 21 was the first Chairman of Leeds friendly employers. improvements in quality in all areas compared The views expressed within this Media, the best-practice organisation to the previous research assessment in 2008. +44(0)113 812 3147 publication are those of individual Find out more about our partnership with for media companies in Leeds, and Vice Chancellor Professor Susan Price said: The results show that we are absolutely [email protected] contributors and do not necessarily the International Council for Coaching he was also previously Director of the “We are delighted to have been named committed to having world leading, practical leedsbeckett.ac.uk/alumni reflect those of our University. Excellence. Yorkshire Screen Commission (now in Stonewall’s top 100 and this outcome research, which underpins our teaching Screen Yorkshire) and Chairman of reflects a sustained programme of work and and delivery of our courses and this in Leeds Studios. continued activity around the LGBT agenda at turn provides an inspirational and dynamic our University.” environment in which our students can thrive.” 1 MOMENTUM / 18 Our Leeds Business School programme, which was sponsored by Yorkshire Bank, had a successful run of 12 speakers. Our most popular events were A New Era in Communication: The Science of Engagement, by PR guru Colin Byrne, and our annual Events Economic Prospects lecture, by Will Holman, Deputy Agent of the Bank of . Will delivered the lecture to an impressive 125 guests, and looked at the current global economic development and uncertainty and how this is likely to affect the UK and regional economy. It has been another great year for Carnegie Conversations, sponsored by FrontRow Legal, was also extremely well attended with a number of high-profile speakers from the world of sport gracing our our guest speaker programme. University. The series opened with Jamie Peacock and Jamie Jones-Buchanan in We welcomed 21 speakers to conversation with Tanya Arnold discussing My Journey is Your Journey – A Tale of Two Rhinos, closely followed by The Yorkshire Way, an evening with Dickie Bird and Andrew our University during 2014/15, our Gale in conversation with Dave Callaghan. highest number of speakers to Our newest addition to the guest speaker programme, the Faculty of Arts, Environment date. We saw the return of our & Technology had a successful start to the year with its first lecture attracting one of the biggest audiences across the 2014/15 series. Tracey Thorn is a singer-songwriter established Leeds Business School and author, best known for her work as half of Everything But The Girl. The event, Tracey Thorn in Conversation with Peter Mills, attracted more than 100 guests on the series and Carnegie Conversations, evening. and also introduced our first Faculty We are currently working on our speaker programme for 2015/16, which will be of Arts, Environment & Technology available to book via leedsbeckett.ac.uk/events in September. If you have any questions on our series or would like to discuss delivering a lecture yourself, please guest speaker programme. email us at [email protected]

Tracey Thorn, Colin Byrne, Chief Executive, Will Holman, singer-songwriter and author Weber Shandwick Deputy Agent, Bank of England Date: 15 October 2014 Date: 11 November 2014 Date: 13 January 2015 Lecture: Tracey Thorn in Conversation Lecture: A New Era in Communication: Lecture: Economic Prospects Giving news with Peter Mills The Science of Engagement

At Leeds Beckett University, we make real improvements to people’s lives. With Our March 2015 calling campaign raised more than £10,000, equating to another 10 a long and proud history of raising aspirations and achievements, we can make scholarships to be awarded in the future. higher education accessible to those who may not have considered it. Bright Futures Scholarship recipient Aidan Hall, who is in the first year of a March 2015 saw the return of our Spring Jessica Swain, a student caller who is in BA (Hons) in Social Work, said: “This Alumni Calling campaign. the final year of a BA (Hons) in Education scholarship means a great deal to me Studies, said: “The calling campaign as it has given me the opportunity to Since 2013, our University has been able donations really do make a difference to express myself academically and helped to award 40 Bright Futures Scholarships disadvantaged young people. It gives them me out in areas where I would otherwise of £1,000 each to talented undergraduate the chance to fulfil their potential. One of have struggled. It gives more people a students who might otherwise have been the best parts of being a student caller was fair chance at succeeding and can allow unable to afford a university education. the conversations with alumni; learning our University to unearth talents that These scholarships are funded by generous about their time at our University and what would have been missed without this donations from our alumni. Each campaign, Dickie Bird and Andrew Gale they have done since they graduated. One financial support. I would personally like Alan Crane, construction Derek Redmond, a group of student callers from Leeds particular conversation that always sticks to say a massive thank you to the alumni in conversation with Beckett University take to the phones, industry adviser and consultant British athlete with me was with an elderly man who had of our University who donated towards Dave Callaghan contacting up to 10,000 alumni over a four to Date: 17 February 2015 Date: 15 April 2015 spent a lot of time volunteering in Africa this scholarship. What you have done is six-week period. Date: 4 February 2015 Lecture: Culture of a Future Integrated Lecture: Sport is a Journey teaching orphans.” fantastic.” Lecture: The Yorkshire Way Industry – What Can Education Provide? of Physical and Mental Challenges

3 REGULAR MOMENTUM / 18 MOMENTUM / 18 REGULAR 4 Ten things

to support you after graduating Networking events We host a number of networking events and lectures throughout the year to help you 1 keep in touch with our University and help you grow your professional networks. 10% discount on courses* 3 Whether you’re interested in career progression or a career change, we have a course that’s right for you. Degree certificates 2 and transcripts We can supply a copy of your degree certificate, a letter of verification, a diploma supplement or a copy of your transcript.

Enterprise & Innovation 4 Academy mentoring If you are a recent graduate, we offer a one-to-one mentoring service to ensure you get the best possible information and guidance for your business. Global volunteering projects Our international volunteering projects MyHub 9 are open to alumni and can enhance your 10 You can access MyHub online job adverts personal and professional development. for five years after you graduate. Library membership For an annual subscription, you can enjoy 24-hour access to the libraries at our City and campuses. 5 Gym membership Jobs and careers support If you are after some of the best facilities Enterprise & Innovation Our jobs and careers support services can provide you 6 with free career advice and guidance, including how 8 in the region for recreation, fitness or Academy start-up funding competitive sport, our Community Sports 7 to write your CV, developing your interview skills and Membership is available. We can help you with the difficult task of sourcing nurturing employer engagement. and applying for external funding for new businesses.

5 REGULAR MOMENTUM / 18 MOMENTUM / 18 *Terms and conditions apply. Please visit our website for further details: leedsbeckett.ac.uk/alumnidiscount REGULAR 6 BRIT Award-winning band Rudimental Piers Aggett and Kesi Dryden, of chart toppers and BRIT Award winners Our honorary graduates Rudimental, returned to Leeds Beckett in 2014 to receive honorary degrees. Piers and Each year, as well as celebrating the achievements of our graduating students, we award Kesi graduated from our University in 2008 having studied BSc (Hons) Creative Music honorary degrees to inspiring people who have made a significant contribution to their field. and Sound Technology.

Those receiving awards at this year’s Comedy legend ceremonies include the 8th Earl of Barry Cryer Harewood, David Lascelles, architect and Barry Cryer, one of Britain’s most successful and long-standing television presenter George Clarke and writers and performers, received an honorary Doctorate of Arts in former Leeds Beckett student and rugby 2013. Barry – who has written union World Cup winner Emily Scarratt. material for household names including and Wise, , and Other notable individuals who have Billy Connolly – has contributed to the UK’s entertainment industry received honorary degrees from Leeds for more than 50 years and was Beckett include: awarded an OBE in 2001. Emmerdale actress Gaynor Faye Leeds-born actress Gaynor Faye currently plays fiery businesswoman Megan Macey in Emmerdale and previously played Judy Mallett in Coronation Street. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Arts in 2013.

Harry Potter actor Matthew Lewis Matthew Lewis is an actor who portrayed loveable northerner Neville Longbottom in all eight Harry Potter films. Matthew, who was born and bred in Leeds and recently starred in the primetime BBC One series The Syndicate alongside Timothy Spall and Joanna Page, was awarded an honorary masters by our University for his significant contribution to the arts and charity work.

MOBO founder Kanya King True Blood star Alexander Skarsgård Kanya King, the founder and chief executive of the MOBO Awards, was awarded an Leeds Beckett alumnus Alexander Skarsgård is a Hollywood actor, ex-Marine and honorary degree by Leeds Beckett in 2009 star of the hugely successful series True Blood and Generation Kill. He has acted in recognition of her contribution to the in blockbusters such as Zoolander, Melancholia and a remake of the 1971 classic music industry. As well as being the driving Straw Dogs, featuring Kate Bosworth. Alexander studied English at our University, force behind the MOBO Awards, Kanya is Legendary cricketer Geoffrey Boycott renting a basement flat in Otley Road, before moving to a New York theatre school an internationally recognised entrepreneur and becoming an actor. Geoffrey Boycott was a leading light in English cricket for a and innovator and in 1999 was awarded an quarter of a century, making over 48,000 runs and scoring 151 MBE for her services to the music industry. first-class hundreds in his career with Yorkshire and England. He ended his playing career in 1986, was awarded an OBE by the Queen in recognition of his services to cricket, and has 7 FEATURE MOMENTUM / 18 become an often controversial commentator on the game. Reach for the Sky Stuart Payling graduated from our University in 2012 with a BA (Hons) in Sports Marketing & PR. Here he recalls his journey from fresher to Marketing Executive at Sky.

1st day of Believing in Better My first day at Sky as a Marketing Graduate was possibly one of the most exciting of my life so far. Joining a company full of brilliant people renowned for pushing every boundary was the best way to have a first tilt at Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. 2nd year as a student One thing I didn’t expect to learn during a Marketing and PR degree was Swedish, but having the opportunity Sky Atlantic and Sky Arts to work with IKEA in my second year I look back on the six months I spent working on Sky Atlantic and was testament to the University’s Sky Arts in my second year as a Sky Marketing Graduate as the connections, which was another reason experience that showed me I’m advertising at heart. why I chose to study here. Few things left me as star struck as sitting opposite Stephen Fry and Kiefer Sutherland in a tiny church as they read through their 1st day at University script for the Christmas special Marked, although taking a seat on the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones is well up there. Headingley Campus was one of the things that convinced me to study at Leeds Beckett, but walking across the lawn on my first day was still daunting.

2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2015 1st year at University 2nd Year at University 3rd Year at University 1st year at Sky 2nd year at Sky 3rd year at Sky

Print it one-sided to make it feel heavier This was some advice given to me at University for my dissertation, which was then 105 pages and 24,000 words long. No doubt, every graduate will agree there aren’t many better feelings than handing a dissertation in. (Special thanks to Angela Green for being an amazing tutor on this work!)

Eight months into a career with Sky Sports Writing this in April, I’ve been part of the Sky Sports marketing team for eight months and can safely say pursuing this career has been brilliant. Managing our 2015 Masters golf tournament campaign was a highlight. I’m sure there’ll be lots more to come, but I’m in no doubt that where I’ve managed to get to is thanks to help from lots of great people at Leeds Beckett, so thank you very much. 1st day at Sky Bet 1st year as a student At the end of my first year I joined Sky Bet as a part-time marketing assistant. I’m in no doubt Leaving Leeds Beckett Looking forward I learned lots of things in my first that this opportunity was the sort of thing I Three amazing years at Leeds Beckett ended with year, but the one that stuck was needed, so thank you for putting me forward It’s getting close to the most exciting part of the year for Sky graduation in summer 2012. Being awarded a that advertising and sport were Angela, Mike and Kacy (BA (Hons) Sports Sports: our annual campaign for the start of the new Barclays first-class honours degree made all the hard work career paths I needed to follow. Marketing & PR tutors). Premier League season. It’s great to be right in amongst it at worthwhile, but a lot of the success was down to such a critical time for the brand and the business. help from the great people I met along the way.

9 FEATURE MOMENTUM / 18 MOMENTUM / 18 FEATURE 10 Enterprise GRADUATE ENTERPRISE Whether you are looking to start your own SUCCESS business, develop your product portfolio or simply enhance your Moo’d Cereal House enterprise skills, we can In February this year, Leeds Beckett graduates Jenn Gibb and Zoe Blogg launched help you reach your goals. Moo’d Cereal House, a bar-style café, in Headingley, serving more than 100 types of cereal from around the world. In developing their business concept, the entrepreneurial duo received support from t Leeds Beckett University, we recognise Leeds Beckett’s Enterprise & Innovation our role in fostering graduate Academy, including mentoring from a A employability and being a catalyst business adviser and a proof-of-concept for social and economic progress in our grant designed to help establish the region and beyond. Through our Enterprise feasibility of their business idea. Talking & Innovation Academy, we offer free skills about their experience, Zoe said: “Leeds is training and business advice to students and such an amazing city and full of independent graduates looking to start their own business businesses and exciting activities. We were or social enterprise. Engaging with us means really excited about launching Moo’d. It’s a we can help you recognise relevant funding, totally new concept for Yorkshire, but our training or networking opportunities, and mentor and business adviser gave us the connect you with the expertise appropriate motivation to make our idea happen.” to you and your business. Our students and graduates (up to five years after graduating) Response to Moo’d Cereal House has been can also access an entrepreneur boot camp, positive, and Jenn and Zoe have since won free Chamber of Commerce membership and the 2015 Business Concept of the Year award, free business start-up support, including a an annual competition open to Leeds Beckett business address for up to a year. students and graduates which offers a £1,500 prize to the best early stage business idea. Zoe Blogg (left) Jenn Gibb Our Enterprise & Innovation Academy also offers a variety of business premises and office services in Leeds and Wakefield at affordable and competitive rates. Our flexible packages are designed to suit your individual business needs; whether you are looking for a creative co-working space in which to collaborate and build connections or a professional space to Cadmaq hold meetings. Enterprise statistics For more details, visit our website Abiodun ‘Abi’ Yusuf studied an MSc in Advanced Engineering Management at leedsbeckett.ac.uk/eiabusiness Our Enterprise & Innovation Academy has: Leeds Beckett University and currently Kirstie Frenneaux lectures first-year engineering students in their computing modules at our University. • Helped create 166 businesses and 204 • Awarded five Vice Chancellor’s Enterprise jobs. Scholarships, worth a total of £15,000, to Alongside his lecturing, Abi runs his own students over the last five years. company, Cadmaq, which provides CAD- • Awarded 186 proof of concept and start-up based mechanical engineering systems Get in touch! grants worth £220,000. • Provided £111,000 of European Regional design consultancy to a wide range of Development Fund support to 29 individuals • Provided £30,000 of support for social industries. Cadmaq is almost a year old and helped create 11 businesses over the enterprises. and is an Enterprise & Innovation Academy leedsbeckett.ac.uk/alumni last five years. client. Abi wants to grow Cadmaq into a LeedsBeckettAlumni • Delivered 1,658 mentor appointments. leading systems-development company in • Recently partnered with local law firm the flight simulation and training industry, @BeckettAlumni Lupton Fawcett Denison Till to provide a ensuring pilot training simulators are year’s free legal support worth £30,000 to For more information, please visit preparing pilots for real-world operations. six of our fledgling businesses. leedsbeckett.ac.uk/eiastudents

11 FEATURE MOMENTUM / 18 MOMENTUM / 18 FEATURE 12 Mark Cooke said: “We can assess the During the training, the Army team spent team’s responses in our environmental prolonged periods of time each day in our chamber where we can control the University’s environmental chamber, which environment and monitor how they simulates extreme altitude conditions. The respond, which in turn can help us to scientists tested the team both before and try and predict how they may respond after the training to measure effectiveness throughout the expedition. Many of the of the pre-acclimatisation protocol. team have got lots of experience of altitude Due to the tragic earthquake and exposure, so they’re quite comfortable avalanches which struck shortly after their with some of the symptoms which occur arrival in Nepal, the team were unable on exposure to hypoxic (reduced oxygen to complete the expedition as planned. content) environments. Certain individuals However, all the team have returned safely respond well to altitude and are efficient to the UK. Please consider donating to the in their adaptation. However, some Nepal Earthquake Appeal to help those individuals do not cope well at altitude affected. and are therefore more at risk of altitude- related illnesses such as acute mountain Photos courtesy of Corporal Michael sickness.” Strachan, Royal Logistic Corps, British Army.

“I think that this training will make us feel more prepared going to altitude. I think what we are doing here is amazing and that it’s going to be the future. It’s really quite exciting to be involved.” Dr Kirsty Watson, British Army team doctor. Leeds Beckett scientists prepare Army for Everest challenge

British Army soldiers were put and improve their chances of reaching the oedema (fluid on the brain), chest and skin top of Mount Everest. infections. I’m expecting to see all of these, through their paces by sport which is part of my duty of care.” Speaking before the team headed scientists at Leeds Beckett out to Nepal, Dr O’Hara said: “At high University as they prepared to altitude, pulmonary diffusion and oxygen transportation are limited, meaning the climb the North Ridge route of body is in a state of oxygen deficiency. Mount Everest. The body tries to compensate for this, and through acclimatisation the situation can be improved. However, at extreme altitudes such as on Mount Everest, the body cannot completely compensate, which team of six regular and reserve makes such a challenge very hard and soldiers, along with a team doctor, potentially life-threatening. Therefore, we Adeparted from the UK in April to hope this training prior to the expedition attempt to climb the world’s highest will help them acclimatise more effectively mountain. As part of their preparations for while on the mountain and enhance their the conditions they expected to face, the performance.” team took part in a research study led by Ahead of the expedition, Dr Kirsty Watson, Leeds Beckett PhD student Mark Cooke, British Army team doctor and an Army which was supervised by Dr John O’Hara, Reserve officer with 208 Field Hospital in Reader in Sport and Exercise Physiology, Blackpool, said: “My role is to keep the and Visiting Professor Lt Col David Woods. team alive and well on the mountain and Our University experts put the team bring them home again! The injuries that through a pre-acclimatisation protocol, you see tend to be injuries from falling, allowing the expedition team to experience problems with their teeth, lots of altitude and acclimatise to the physiological sickness, pulmonary oedema (the build- Dr Kirsty Watson challenges of climbing at extreme altitude up of fluid within the lungs) and cerebral

13 REGULAR MOMENTUM / 18 MOMENTUM / 18 REGULAR 14 ALUMNI SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMPETITION

Thanks to all of our graduands who have been tweeting about Graduation 2015. Below is a selection of our favourites. Don’t forget to post your graduation pictures and tag us in them. We’d love to see some photographs of our graduates enjoying their special day.

On another note, Graduation @leedsbeckett is booked Rich B Graduation tickets, mortar board & gown, photographer So all being well, I’ll officially @BURGESSOFFICIAL all booked ready for graduation graduate on Tuesday 21st @leedsbeckett lets just hope I July at 5pm! #leedsbeckett pass! @PBCoachingLeeds Hope I get one of them graduation dresses!! Booked my graduation Margaret Inglesant Lunch box research provides tickets! @leedsbeckett Adz @Marg_Inglesant Amanda Champion @AdzRichBarr food for thought @mandachampion Graduation gown, hat, hood, Just got a save the date for photo and first two tickets graduation #itshappening booked #leedsbeckett @leedsbeckett Charlotte Rose With healthy eating and childhood obesity regularly featuring in the news, › More than half of parents said their Ellie Shackleton @Charlie_Rose93 research by Dr Hannah Ensaff, of our University’s Faculty of Health & child’s packed lunch contained a @Ellie_Shack savoury snack, with potato crisps Social Sciences, has helped lift the lid on the contents of school children’s (19%) and potato starch snacks, e.g. lunch boxes. Hula Hoops (12%), accounting for most of these. › Six out of 10 parents included Hannah and project researcher Katie a packed lunch or otherwise, what they confectionery. A chocolate covered Mahoney surveyed more than 1,000 parents chose to include in their child’s most recent biscuit bar, e.g. KitKat, was the most of primary school children in England to packed lunch, and how they chose the foods popular (14%), followed by cereal bars find out about the content of their children’s they included. (11%) and cake (10%). packed lunches. They wanted to reveal WIN AN IPAD MINI parents’ motivations for sending their › The overwhelming majority of parents children to primary school with a packed Key findings included a drink; the most common lunch and explore what parents chose to drink was tap water (38%), followed by We are giving you the chance to win an Apple iPad Mini. include. diluted squash (27%). › 88% of lunch boxes contained sandwiches. Describe our University in three words. Entries will be judged on originality and creativity. The “Our initial results gave us a real insight › The mean number of fillings in a Hannah said: “Packed lunches can play winner will receive an iPad Mini and their entry will appear in the next edition of Momentum. into parents’ perspectives when it comes to sandwich was 2.2 and the most popular an integral role in children’s diet, and providing a packed lunch for their children Complete the competition mailing form included in this magazine. Fold the form over and return fillings (excluding margarine / butter) this is particularly important, not only in primary school,” said Hannah, who led were ham (44%), cheese (26%) and because a large proportion of children it free of charge to us in the post. the research. cucumber (20%). take a packed lunch to school, but also “Dietary habits and food preferences because of the Universal Infant Free Competition rules: › The majority of parents (92%) included established during childhood are likely to School Meals initiative which came into a piece of fruit in their child’s lunch box, 1. The competition is only open to Leeds Beckett alumni who provide their name address or email. continue into adulthood. Parents’ viewpoints effect in September.” with grapes (39%) and apples (34%) being 2. Only one entry per person will be accepted. are therefore critical; they directly influence The survey was split into four main parts: food availability and diversity for children.” the most popular. 3. You will need to describe our University in three words. Packed Lunches; Your Child’s Most › 4. The competition runs from Monday 20 July 2015 to Friday 2 October 2015. The Alumni Team at Leeds Initial findings from the study showed Nearly half of parents (47%) also reported Recent Packed Lunch; Packed Lunches parents predominantly provided their including a vegetable / salad snack. and You; and Packed Lunches and your Beckett University will judge all the entries and will decide the winner. children with packed lunches in order to › 70% of parents included a yogurt / Child’s School. Other questions related 5. The winner will be announced on Friday 16 October 2015. ensure their child had enough to eat, to fromage frais item. to the Universal Infant Free School Meals 6. The winner will be contacted using the details provided. track their food intake and to provide a initiative and packed lunch policies at 7. The winning entry will appear in the next edition of Momentum. healthy and high-quality lunch. › Cheese snacks were also included in schools. The online survey was open more than a third of lunches, with Babybel during May and June 2014, and 1,291 For further details about the competition, email: [email protected] In the survey, researchers asked parents (15%) and Cheestrings (12%) being the parents took part from across England. for their views on packed lunches, why they most popular. chose to send their children to school with

15 REGULAR MOMENTUM / 18 MOMENTUM / 18 REGULAR 16 My room, your office

In April, we welcomed alumna Vivienne Lindsay to our Headingley Campus to reminisce about her time at our University. Vivienne was a student here more than 50 years ago, and recently came back to visit her old bedroom in Macaulay Hall, which is now an office.

fter graduating from our teacher imposing and inside there was an elegant candlewick bedspread, a Dansette record training programme in 1968, entrance hall, with period fireplaces, player, magazines about , The AVivienne became a teacher, holding furniture and paintings, flanked by a large Rolling Stones (or whoever she had watched various management roles in primary common room and dining room.” on Top of the Pops in the common room that schools in Leeds and Edinburgh. In 1986, week) and other artefacts which would now she returned to Beckett Park, where our “I loved my cosy room, particularly the fact be considered retro or vintage chic. Headingley Campus is based, to join the that it was in a quiet wing and had dual- Today, Vivienne’s old room has been staff in Primary Teacher Education at Leeds aspect wooden sash windows that rattled”. transformed into an office, home to Global Polytechnic as a Senior Lecturer. Vivienne Vivienne’s recollection is of a narrow, Lingo, an external company offering retired from our University in 2005. In rather drab room with wooden floors, dim professional translation and transcription October last year, she organised a reunion conical ceiling lights and “ancient” solid services which also has offices in London, of our University’s 1964 to 1968 cohort as oak furniture, including a dresser with Singapore and Romania. they celebrated 50 years since beginning shelves and cupboards, a less than useful their university journey together. The office is now used for meetings and corner wardrobe and a desk with a section conference calls. Stephanie Amirak, Vivienne lived in Macaulay Hall from her which lifted up to reveal a mirror. But these Translation Operations Director at Global very first week as a student. She said: “The were the 1960s, so the room was softened Lingo, said: “We’ve been in our office now exterior of Macaulay Hall seemed very and personalised with a bedside lamp, a for 18 months. It’s a really nice office space and has a cosy, comfortable feel.” Global Lingo moved into Macaulay in October 2013 and Stephanie recalls the room was a blank canvas. “There was no furniture, no colour, the walls were blank and it had no personality,” she said. Global Lingo has transformed the room into a fresh, vibrant space, painting one wall of the room green – its corporate colour - with the remainder given a lick of white paint. The office now features a wall-mounted TV, a large conference table, chairs, a storage cupboard and various modern ornaments, including a lava lamp and a silver piggy bank.

If you would be interested in “?????” featuring in a future edition of My Room, Your Office, email [email protected]

17 REGULAR MOMENTUM / 18 aduat tgr e c RAISE YOUR s o Charlotte Morris o u P r Senior Media Manager,

s Joseph Rowntree Foundation f e PG o

s Chartered Institute of Public r Relations Diploma

o u * r s SUCCESS “I was keen to advance my r te career in PR and get a good ec a grounding in the subject. In this GAME e du industry, you learn a lot on the nt gra STORIES job, but the diploma helped me understand the foundations behind my day-to-day work. Two years after finishing my course, I was named in PR Week’s top list of up and coming people Take your next step with us Share your working in PR.” Congratulations on achieving your postgraduate degree. Find out how a postgraduate success stories qualification with us can help you reach even greater heights. by emailing our Learn more at team leedsbeckett.ac.uk/takethenextstep [email protected]

Andy Crump Regional Operations Director, Punch Taverns MSc Multi Unit Leadership, 2014

“My tutors encouraged me to pick a topic for my dissertation which would make an immediate difference to my company. My research on recruitment and selection of successful area managers has already changed the way I manage my team and, in light of my findings, Punch Taverns are evolving their hiring policies.”

MOMENTUM / 17 *Terms and conditions apply. Visit leedsbeckett.ac.uk/alumnidiscountREGULAR for full details 19 MOMENTUM / 18 REGULAR 20 SPORT COACHING JULIAN NORTH SERGIO LARA-BERCIAL Julian North is a Senior Research Fellow in sport coaching. Sergio Lara-Bercial is a Senior Research Fellow in He worked for a number of national and international sport sport coaching. Before joining Leeds Beckett, Sergio agencies, including the Australian Institute of Sport, UK Sport, worked for Sports Coach UK. He is interested in the and Sports Coach UK, before he returned to higher education. He psychosocial development and welfare of children GOES GLOBAL is interested in player development, effective coaching practice and young people through sport, coach development and coach development and has led work with some of our major and effective coaching practice and spends a lot of Our Sport Coaching team are enhancing the reputation of Leeds Beckett national and international sporting partners. time on the road supporting our partners. He is also a basketball coach at both grass roots and performance University all over the world as they deliver exciting coaching projects across development level. Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia.

Our University serves as a hub for the International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE), a not- for-profit organisation which aims to lead and develop sports coaching across the world. Our Sport Coaching team’s partnership with ICCE has attracted around £500k in European Union funded work examining coaching networks and learning across Europe. This has taken the team to Finland, Germany and Poland and has led to some pioneering coaching systems development work. Senior Research Fellow Julian North has developed an excellent relationship with European football’s governing body, UEFA, and, together with other colleagues in the team, is working on elite player development systems in England, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. He and David Piggott are also leading a high-profile project for UEFA evaluating their Coaching Convention and coaching licences. The project has engaged with some of the leading names in football management, coaching and coach education across all 54 UEFA member countries. And that’s just for starters… see what other sport coaching projects we’ve got on the go with our world map.

WHERE IN THE WORLD? • Football Association, England and Wales Cricket • Badminton World Federation Board, British Athletics, British Gymnastics Player Development Study • UEFA Player Development Study • Football Coaching Research • Football Coaching Research & Exchange Group & Exchange Group

Coaching Children Badminton World Federation Workshops & Resources Player Development Study (also in Indonesia, Denmark and Spain)

• UEFA Player Development Study US Coaching System • Badminton World Federation • Core Coach Education Curriculum Player Development Study • Talent Identification Programme • Football Coaching Research • Coach Developer Academy & Exchange Group Philippines Academy of Sport Coach and Student-Athlete Training

Global Coaches House Rio 2016

• South African Coaching System • Coaching Children Course

21 FEATURE MOMENTUM / 18 Leeds Beckett sporting success Rugby league

Our rugby league team have always competed at the highest level and this Our first season under a new name year was no different. The team travelled to Loughborough for the final aiming to didn’t disappoint, as we continued to make it 10 trophies in a row. A decade of pursue sporting excellence both on dominance was sealed with a 24-6 victory over Northumbria. and off the pitch.

Hockey Netball First up we have our hockey club, with eight teams and more than 100 members. Off the pitch, the club was extremely successful, The day finished off perfectly with our earning the Contribution to Student Sport netball team thrashing Cardiff Metropolitan award at the Leeds Sport Awards. Over the 50-31. After a successful season, two last year, the club’s players raised more than players, Natalie Haythornthwaite and Sally £2,000 for charity by completing the National Butters, who also play for the Yorkshire Jets Three Peaks Challenge in 23 hours and 22 in the Netball Superleague, were named minutes. Apparently, this isn’t enough for our in the England Long Squad for the Netball hockey team; the next challenge is to cycle World Cup, which will be staged in Sydney, over 500 miles from Leeds to Paris and raise Australia, in August. £3,000 for Marie Curie. Natalie was also named Sky Sports Superleague Player of the Season. Rugby union

It’s been a successful season for our rugby union team. After losing out to Hartbury College last year at the BUCS Championships, the side pulled off the comeback of the season to beat Loughborough under the floodlights at Twickenham. Loughborough were leading 23-5 at half-time, but after a Alumni stories team talk from Head Coach Colin Stevenson the team managed to score 26 unanswered points. The success continued with five of the players named in the England Students squad and captain Will Cargill named BUCS Player of the Season. Tom Bosworth – Race walking record breaker

Leeds Beckett University alumnus Tom Bosworth is celebrating after setting a new BUCS Big Wednesday British 10km race walking record. James Machon – Tom, a BSc (Hons) Sport Performance Freestyle skiing success graduate, set the new record at the Molly Barnett Open & Winter Race Walk Challenge in Coventry. Tom recorded a time of 39 minutes and 36 seconds, smashing Chris GB Park and Pipe skier and Leeds Beckett Halfpipe World Championships. Football Maddocks’ 26–year-old record. Sport Performance graduate James Machon James represented Team GB in the achieved a career best this season, with Tom finished in 12th place at the 2014 2014 Winter Olympics and has won five an eighth place finish in the Ski Halfpipe at European Athletics Championships, making consecutive British Halfpipe Championships. The men’s football team joined in the the World Championships in Kreischberg, him the highest-ranking Brit in 32 years. He He is currently ranked in the top 15 in the celebrations by beating Bournemouth 3-1, Austria. He went on to compete on the has been training full-time at our University world by the Association of Freeskiing earning them back-to-back titles. slopes in Utah, USA, as he took part in since September 2009 and graduated in Professionals. 2013. the 2015 International Ski Federation Ski

23 REGULAR MOMENTUM / 18 MOMENTUM / 18 REGULAR 24 Where are they now? Alumni profiles

inda studied BSc (Hons) Safety, Health & Environmental Amy Frith › LManagement and was Zurich Shield Winner 2010 for best student. She undertook her qualification to underpin my graduated with a BA (Hons) in the work she was doing as Wellbeing

Jim Walton › Language Studies in 2013. She now Programme Manager in our University’s Aworks as a Marketing Executive at Health & Safety team. Pelsis in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. Amy is able to apply the language skills she Linda finds her degree complements im graduated from our Carnegie learned during her degree to a job that also her career in HR in manufacturing College of Physical Education in provides opportunities to travel abroad. environments and commerce. Linda said: J1968 with a distinction in Practical “I would strongly encourage all those Teaching. He attained an MA in Education Amy recently visited Leeds Beckett seeking a career in HR to become dual from Michigan State University in 1970, an Angela Crossley › University to deliver an inspiring talk to qualified. The course offered by Leeds MSc in Applied Mechanics from Stanford final-year students about her experiences Linda Kitson › Beckett is organised so it is accessible University in 1976 and got his PhD in after graduating. even when people are working full time.” Physical Education from Pennsylvania State University in 1981. fter graduating from our University Since graduating from our University, Jim in 1973, Robert landed a job teaching has worked as a Teacher in Surrey and as PE at Tudor Grange School in Solihull. a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Stanford A If you are interested in He taught PE and chemistry for 27 years University. He now runs his own company, and then went on to teach ICT. While at 4D Video, and is based in California. featuring in a future Tudor Grange, Robert became Head of Year, The business provides products and College Pastoral Leader and finally finished services that employ image-based motion edition of Where are as the school’s Learning Gateway Manager. measurement and motion reconstruction. ngela graduated with a BSc (Hons) In 2012, Angela was awarded Coach of they now, email in Physical Education in 2008. While the Year by the Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Robert coached Warwickshire Schools In 1969, Jim was present at the launch studying, she completed her coaching Association (LTA) and in 2014 she was Hockey and Warwickshire County Hockey [email protected] of Apollo 11, the spaceflight that landed A qualifications through our Coach Education named Aegon LTA Club Coach of the Year. teams, and also played for local Old Sils the first humans on the Moon, from the programme and gained part-time work as a Her award was presented by Judy Murray, Hockey Club 1st XI between 1973 and 2000. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Jim said: tennis coach at our tennis centre. tennis coach and mother of Andy. “I was invited to watch the launch of Apollo After retiring from teaching in 2012, Robert 11 from the Vehicle Assembly Building just In 2009, she started studying part-time for In 2014, Angela gained her Coach started volunteering. Robert was lucky three miles from the launch pad. How I got an MSc in Sport & Exercise Psychology at Education tutoring qualification and enough to be selected as a torchbearer for there is a story in itself! Subsequently, I Leeds Beckett University. Angela started now tutors at Leeds Beckett University, the London 2012 Olympic Games and as saw two launches of the Space Shuttle, one working full-time at Tennis Club, delivering Level 1 Tennis Coaching Robert Ireland › a volunteer Games Maker for the London at night and one in the day.” near Leeds. qualifications. 2012 Paralympic Games.

25 REGULAR MOMENTUM / 18 MOMENTUM / 18 REGULAR 26 Digging through the archives MAKE A DONATION, Tracing Victoria’s Arch Visitors to our Headingley Campus are MAKE A DIFFERENCE surprised to find a commemorative arch concealed in the surrounding woodland, constructed on a natural viewpoint which in earlier times would have afforded views leedsbeckett.ac.uk/giving across the Aire Valley. This Grade II listed structure appears mysterious in its sylvan setting, evocative of ancient civilisations. The mystery continues when delving into its origins and purpose. The most popularly repeated narrative is that the arch was built by William Beckett, MP and Leeds banker, who had hoped Queen Victoria would stay at Grange during her visit to Leeds in 1858. In the event, she used Woodsley House, the home of Peter Fairbairn, the Mayor of Leeds. That the arch was intended as a commemoration can be seen from the tiled inscription on the monument’s architrave which reads: ‘To commemorate the visit of Queen Victoria to Leeds, Sept 7, 1858 for the inauguration of the Town Hall’.

An alternative account of the structure’s Another explanation for the origins of existing structure, we may never know origin is that Beckett added decorative tiles the arch is that it was constructed in the for certain, which preserves that air of to an existing arch, a folly or eye-catcher centre of Leeds for the celebrations to mystery still surrounding Queen Victoria’s erected sometime between 1626 and 1752. mark Queen Victoria’s visit and was later commemorative arch. However, an 1829 sales description of the transported to Queen’s Wood. Several Keith Rowntree, Archive and Special estate by George Robins, the celebrated commemorative arches were erected in Collections, Libraries and Learning auctioneer, failed to mention the arch. He the town, including one made entirely of Innovation was not averse to embellishing his property bread! A large triumphal arch was built descriptions and an existing folly would in Briggate, near Beckett & Co bank. certainly have been It is unlikely that this was the Queen’s brought to the attention Wood arch, but perhaps ideas or designs of prospective buyers. informed both. By 1885, the wood was named Queen’s Wood Taking all the evidence into account, it and by 1908 the avenue does seem that the present structure was was named Queen’s the work of William Beckett. Whether he Walk and the arch itself built it from scratch, cobbled it together was clearly shown in from other architectural elements photographs for the first close at hand, imported materials from Leeds Beckett University is committed to providing the highest quality time. outside the estate or even adapted an student experience and opportunities for talented individuals regardless of their background. Since 2013, with the support of alumni like you, we have been able to award 40 Bright Futures Scholarships. Bright Futures Scholarships offer a financial lifeline to gifted undergraduate students who might otherwise be unable to afford a university education.

We would like to increase this number in 2016, so please make a donation and make a difference.

For more information or to donate, please visit our website leedsbeckett.ac.uk/giving or call 0113 81 23145.

27 REGULAR MOMENTUM / 18 Correspondence is welcome and should be addressed to: Alumni Team, Leeds Beckett University, Brontë G05, Leeds LS6 3QS

+44 (0)113 812 3147 [email protected] leedsbeckett.ac.uk/alumni

facebook.com/LeedsBeckettAlumni @BeckettAlumni