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LORIC Legacy Project celebrates its first anniversary
July 1st marks one year since the end of the initial ERDF funded Lincolnshire Open Research and Innovation project, which saw the renovation of a Grade II listed building on Newport in Lincoln into a multipurpose hub for researchers and Greater Lincolnshire SMEs. The project also involved supporting small and medium sized enterprises to implement data driven innovation in their businesses, and helped them to bring new products and services to market. Since the ERDF funding ended, the LORIC project has been developed by Bishop Grosseteste University into a commercial enterprise, with data consultancy available for all organisations in Greater Lincolnshire and beyond. Contracts Over the last year, LORIC has worked with a number of locally based organisations, including the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Lincolnshire County Council and the NHS Neighbourhood Teams in order to work on varied research projects and to provide expertise on the use of Open Data. The team has also been successful securing a bid to lead on a project as part of Defra’s Future Farming Resilience Fund, which is researching the impact of Farmer Support Networks on the mental and physical well being of farmers and land managers. This project is due to continue until October 2020. A successful bid to Research England’s Strategic Priorities fund allowed the team to provide support to enable collaboration between researchers and policy makers and to host workshops on subjects such as GDPR and bid writing. LORIC are also delighted to announce the renewal of their ongoing relationship with the The National Centre for Rural Health and Care for 2020/2021, with LORIC staff supporting the Centre with its research and membership co-ordination, and the building itself playing host to the registered office of the Centre. LORIC Retainer Scheme As well as larger contracts, LORIC also launched its “retainer” scheme, whereby organisations can sign up to receive 2 days of data support, and then enjoy reduced rates on further days’ support, and on our other services, such as digitisation. In line with the ethos of the LORIC project to make services as affordable as possible, a staged scheme of membership is in place, with rates varying depending on the size of organisation supported. Staffing Over the last year we have said goodbye to our initial LORIC project co-ordinator, Laura Spencer, who has moved on to work on a project with the University of Lincoln. We have also supported a Lincoln College student to complete her extended work placement with us as part of the Extended Industry Placement Programme. We have welcomed to the team Carole Tondeur, our new project administrator and receptionist, and Eleanor Mould, a part-time data analyst. The last year has also seen Katya Bozukova, the LORIC Open Research Fellow awarded her PhD for her work on the role of trust and risk in social media, and data analyst, Kay Purle, embark on an MSc in Mental Health, Resilience and Wellbeing here at Bishop Grosseteste University. If you would like to discuss how we may be able to support the data needs of your business, we’d love to hear from you loric@bishopg.ac.uk -
The Greater Lincolnshire LEP Employment & Skills ESF Grant Programme
The Greater Lincolnshire LEP Employment & Skills ESF Grant Programme is funded by the European Social Fund and available to third sector and other small organisations who meet the eligibility criteria. Preference will be given to projects which support people who are long-term unemployed (although any length of unemployment is permitted) or who are distant from the labour market and face multiple disadvantages and profound barriers to work. Projects will help participants to move towards or into employment or into learning. Grants are available up to a maximum of £20,000 per project. -
How collaboration across Bishop Grosseteste University is supporting students to adapt in uncertain times
By Cassie Rainey - BG Futures Administrator Covid-19 has transformed the world we live in, pushing us to adapt to a ‘new normal’. One aspect of this ‘new normal’ is the way in which graduates will have to navigate their transitions into the labour market. At Bishop Grosseteste University, the support of academic and professional support teams is more vital than ever to students and graduates. Last month, the Primary and Early Years ITE team and the BG Futures: Careers, Employability and Enterprise team collaborated to deliver a virtual session for students across programmes on the format and logistics of online interviews. The sessions incorporated information on best practice, tips for different video calling platforms and guidance on possible interview questions. The sessions included a Q&A from a recruitment industry expert and BG Futures tenant with questions put forward by students. Sarah Howe, Senior Lecturer on the PGCE Primary programme said: “The Covid – 19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the job application process for some of our students and trainees. Lecturers in the Primary and Early Years ITE Programmes turned to the Careers, Employability & Enterprise team at BG Futures to ensure that support offered at our institution, met the needs of our students and trainees. Several on-line workshops and personal tutorials have taken place with encouraging feedback.” Emma McCarthy, Co-Director of McCarthy Adams Recruitment Specialists, a tenant within the Business & Enterprise Centre in BG Futures, was on hand to provide expert tips to succeeding in online interviews and assisted with a video Q&A for the session. Andy Wright, Careers, Employability & Enterprise Coordinator at BG Futures commented: “This has been a great partnership between teaching staff, BG Futures, students and one of our own tenant businesses. We’ve been very excited to extend our reach to those students who are not able to access face-to-face support at this time, and we have been delighted with the results.” George Rhodes, BA (Hons) Primary Education student, who used this session to help prepare for an upcoming online job interview commented: “After being recommended by a fellow student, I joined an online interview support session which not only provided invaluable advice but also built up my self-confidence. I was successful in my interview, running against 90 other candidates, and I believe without attending the session with Andrew this may not have been the case.” Sarah Moseley, Enterprise Development Manager, said: “The BG Futures Business and Enterprise Centre offers 14 leasable office spaces for start-ups and is home to our Student Enterprise Club. With an emphasis on making a positive impact, we strive to attract tenants who will work collaboratively, to improve the lives of our students, bridging theory and practice. We are extremely thankful for Emma McCarthy’s time and input with this session” You can find out more about BG Futures here. You can explore our Primary and Early Years programmes here. -
Student Podcast Explores the Narratives and Cultural Impact of Video Games
Second year student Josh Sykes has launched a new podcast exploring the narratives of video games. Created as part of his work studying English Literature at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), the podcast offers listeners the chance to join Josh as he, and guests, discuss how settings and stories are shaped along with how games can offer explorations of topics such as war and mental health. Despite having no previous experience creating podcasts Josh explains what drew him to the project: “The English@Work module presented a unique opportunity to explore my own interests and hobbies whilst at the same time allowing me to discover how these interests can be applied to workplace scenarios. For me, I have a deep interest in the world of videogames including the way settings and stories are shaped to the way in which games can engage with the player through explorations of topics such as war and mental health. Thus, through the English@Work module, I could explore these topics in a greater detail whilst also illustrating how I can take the topic of videogames and apply it to any workplace situation. At the start of this project I was new to the world of podcast and audio production but through the progression of it I was able to develop a good level of knowledge in editing and recording of audio files whilst also developing a critical eye for what was best placed in the podcast. The experience of creating the podcast has been enjoyable and I am pleased with the final outcome and the feedback received has been positive, but I am also pleased that I chose to do the podcast project as it allowed me to meet a variety of people from experts on videogames to audio professionals as well as develop a variety of skills that I did not possess at the start of the project.” You can listen to the first episode of the podcast, where Josh is joined Esther MacCallum-Stewart, an Associate Professor at Staffordshire University and an expert in narratives in games, by clicking here. English@Work is a second-year module that focuses specifically on employability and opportunities to apply subject-specific skills and knowledge and develop an enhanced awareness of the transferability of those skills through project-based learning. In partnership with BG Futures team, and this module embeds students’ understanding of their transferable communication skills and information literacies in specific, employability contexts. Dr Claudia Capancioni, Programme Leader for English at BGU, praised both Josh and his peers for how they have embraced their projects despite wider international complications: “The sudden and unprecedented circumstances caused by Covid-19 had an immediate impact on the projects our students worked on this academic year but our students' reaction and resilience have given us fantastic stories of achievement. Colleagues from across BGU who have worked with the students, including our BG Futures team and Nikki Smith, Lecturer in Business, have been incredibly impressed with their efforts and particularly how successfully they have adapted and transformed their projects demonstrating incredible resourcefulness, and creativity.” For more information on how you can become apart of BGU’s learning community, visit our website, or speak to a member of our Enquiries Team. -
Martin Smith
Martin Smith joined BGU in 2016 and is the technician for Psychology. His main role is supporting staff and students with using the variety of Psychology equipment we have available in the department, such as the virtual reality headset and BIOPAC devices. Martin delivers a number of practical sessions across the degree to help support student understanding of psychological concepts. Martin also co-ordinates the SONA system, which is used to help advertise staff and student research projects. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Lincoln and completed a Research Master's looking at using Virtual Reality as a means of investigating how we use language for objects that are in motion. Martin is part of the Psychology, Health and Wellbeing Research and Knowledge Exchange unit, where he offers additional technical support for other members of the unit. -
BGU graduates amongst the most employable in the UK
Graduates leave Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) happy, successful and very employable according to the latest national surveys. -
Lecturer Helps Develop New Risk Assessment Tool for Animal-Assisted Interventions
Dr Mirena Dimolareva, Lecturer in Psychology at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), together with colleagues and the University of Lincoln and Virginia Commonwealth University, USA has published a risk assessment tool for animal-assisted interventions in any settings. The tool is free to use for staff and practitioners nationally and internationally, in any setting (including education, nursing homes, hospitals) and aims to provide unified, standardised guidelines for animal-assisted therapy as well as animal-assisted interventions and activities. It is a comprehensive tool which takes into consideration the animal and human care and welfare. Speaking following the publication, Dr Dimolareva discussed what drove the research and what users could expect from the new tool: “Animal-Assisted Interventions in various settings have become extremely popular in recent years. Most often, therapy dog visits are organised for hospitals, nursing homes, schools and other educational settings with some scientific research showing beneficial effects. Other animals such as cats and reptiles also provide visits, but the beneficial effects are less known. As a new area of work and research there is lack of clarity around these visits and interventions. Furthermore, thorough risk assessments which consider all involved- the service users, staff, therapy animals and handlers are often overlooked. This free-to-use detailed Risk Assessment Tool was created to provide information on the risk related to Animal-Assisted Interventions as well as a Risk Assessment Template for any setting. The aim is to unify the field and thoroughly consider the safety and well-being of all involved. It is flexible and easy to use, providing the opportunity to incorporate procedures and protocols relevant to the different institutions hosting the animals and handlers.” The publication and attached tool is available for free by clicking here.. If you have a subject you’re passionate about exploring then BGU is perfect place for you to start. Find out about our supportive and collaborative learning environment, by visiting our website, booking onto one of our Open Events or by speaking to our Enquiries Team. -
BGU Master's Students Plan Expansion for Social Care Business
As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is reassuring to note that despite so much uncertainty and bad news some businesses are not only surviving, but thriving.EarlyBird Lifestyle Support (EBLS), an award winning, friendly well-being service, has found the pandemic presented the opportunity to expand their workforce and move into a larger office space within BG Futures Business and Enterprise Centre at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU). Originally based in a smaller unit within the Centre, EBLS, created and run by BGU students Damian Taylor (MA Health and Social Care Leadership) and Neil Martin (MA Education with TESOL) prides itself on striving to empower the most vulnerable in society to lead the life of their choosing.Damian expands:“We support people throughout the city of Lincoln and surrounding areas with tasks such as cooking, cleaning, collecting prescriptions and medication, food shopping, trips out, escorting individuals to appointments and more.We work with many groups left most vulnerable due to COVID-19, primarily our older clients but also younger individuals suffering from mental health or other disability related problems.Ultimately our team works to promote independence for vulnerable people, allowing them to lead their choice of lifestyle. That choice can be so easily lost at times like this and I’m proud to think we’re helping them to keep some level of freedom.”Damian explains that the success of EBLS is owed to his dedicated team of support professionals:“I’d like to thank all our staff for their hard work during this time. Their enthusiasm and professionalism haven’t dropped once. They’re truly the backbone to the business, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without them.We are also delighted to announce the appointment of Alex Aslan, who has also completed the MA Health and Social Care Leadership, as our new Care and Services Manager who has a wealth of knowledge in this field. This means our service can grow even bigger and reach a larger demographic of people within Lincolnshire and also supports us to now enter the world of running regulated services.”On moving into a bigger office space, Damian hints at EBLS’s next venture: “A larger office will allow us to expand our workforce, provide more support in the community and presents the opportunity to increase revenue and to create stronger connections in the network. The larger space provides practical solutions to social distancing guidance, so we are able to hold inductions and training sessions in a safe environment to ensure our service runs safely.We are almost at the end of the registration period for the Care Quality Commission which means we will be able to include other vital services to our remit. We are currently recruiting for a new apprentice administrator and applications are still open for support worker roles.”Support from EarlyBird is available to anyone in Lincolnshire and the surrounding area, to find out how they can help you can visit their website, or get in contact via email or phone on 01522 424161.Damian added:“The team at the BG Futures Business & Enterprise Centre have been such a vital service & support network for us. They really did go above and beyond to help us in our start-up journey and the most exciting thing is that we have been able to support the centres vision by incorporating our business to widen the support to students. We have supported the BA Health and Social Care with work experience placements and offer voluntary opportunities to all students who would like to get involved, we are also happy to offer mentoring to students seeking an insight into business and would strongly welcome any students of the University to come and get involved in what we do. For example: be it students from drama who would like to put on a show for our vulnerable service users or those in the field of social sciences wanting to further understand mental health, disability or aged care, we really do welcome and encourage collaborative working”Damian and Neil are the one of the many success stories to emerge from the BG Futures Business and Enterprise Centre at Bishop Grosseteste University. If joining our community of start-up businesses appeals to you find out more on our website or contact the BG Futures team.
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