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BGU graduate sets up supercar charity business
Recent Bishop Grosseteste University alum Laurent McCready is supporting important causes through fundraising efforts and charity supercar events. Initially conceived as a business venture, LincsAutoClub aims to create a community of local people with an interest in supercars – luxury and performance – as well as classic motors. Alongside Co-Founders Will Hunter, Blake Keal, Sam Fearn, and Will Johns, Education Studies graduate Laurent was keen to collaborate with other small businesses by hosting events at local coffee shops, country parks, and even the bomber command centre. After a few successful events, the team saw an opportunity to use their time and efforts to raise money for good causes. Since then, LincsAutoClub has supported a variety of charities including Cancer Research UK, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, and Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes Service. The team also like to get out and about in the local area, taking part in the annual Santa Fun Run and using money raised to provide meals to vulnerable people over winter. According to Laurent, the team is not only driven by their shared love of cars, but by their desire to give back to the local community. He said: “We have an amazing community of guests supporting LincsAutoClub who all enjoy the fundraising events. “I just want to help other people and the charity work we do enables us to see the difference we make first hand.” Click here to learn more about LincsAutoClub. -
Lincolnshire Research Centre wins venue award
Lincolnshire Open Research and Innovation Centre (LORIC) has won Venue of the Year at The Growth Community 2023 Awards. The Growth Community's Erin Newberry presenting the award to LORIC Data Analyst Mateusz Marek Founded in 2017, LORIC is part of Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) and works to promote a different way of thinking about data for businesses across Greater Lincolnshire and level the playing field for small businesses. At the centre, University researchers and data experts are on hand to guide businesses through using data and Open Data to grow and innovate. The centre is based in the renovated St Hughes building on Newport, Lincoln which has been designed to provide a high tech collaboration space for researchers, organisations and local businesses. LORIC hosts The Growth Community's fortnightly meetings, where local business representatives and entrepreneurs can attend for free and identify opportunities to work collaboratively with other attendees. The high standard of facilities and extra support the LORIC team offered set them apart from the other award nominees. The Growth Community's Founder Nicky Thomas said: “Finding a venue that recognises the value they can get by partnering with a networking organisation, like The Growth Community, is harder that you would imagine. LORIC from the start became active members of our group. Committed to building relationships and helping each other to grow. "They have never just been ‘room hire’; they have supported our members and guests and played a massive part in the success of the Lincoln group. We are so grateful to have had them along on our journey.” Linette Wallace, Business Development Officer at BGU said “When I was introduced to Nicky Thomas from the Growth Community, she was looking for some urgent corporate venue space to host her bi-weekly networking events. I was delighted to offer not only the space in our beautiful building, but to provide direct business development support to group members. "It has been fantastic news to learn that we have won “Venue of the Year” award, as we have always strived to welcome and assist the Growth Community members at every opportunity, also with bespoke consultancy support through the LORIC initiative." The group meet Fridays, 10-11.30am every 2 weeks at LORIC, for further info: E: loric@bishopg.ac.uk -
My Roman Adventure
Student Voices - Blog Post -
International students share traditional dinner with University representatives
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) recently held a dinner party for its first-year international and Erasmus students at the university's urban diner, The Refectory. The students in attendance were from all over the world, including some from India, Germany, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, USA, Ghana, and Switzerland. At the event, everyone was able to enjoy a traditional fish and chip supper and spend the evening getting to know each other better. The university hosts a series of meals throughout the year, with Christmas, March, and summer being the usual times for the events. The dinner was an excellent opportunity for the students to meet with different people from across the university, including representatives from senior leadership, admissions, faculty, marketing, international team, and the Students' Union. International Manager Wayne Dyble welcomed the students to the dinner, highlighting the importance of the event in helping them integrate and feel at home in the university. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Scott Fleming also joined in, showcasing his linguistic skills by greeting the students in many different languages. "We are thrilled to host events like this for our international students. It's a great way to help them feel welcome and supported while studying with us" said International Manager Wayne Dyble. There are currently 80 international students enrolled at BGU. The University is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for its international students, and this dinner was just one of the initiatives in place to achieve this goal. Lehr Bhargava from Singapore is studying SENDI and Drama and also acts as the Students' Union's Racial Diversity Officer. She said: "Because of events like these, I've been able to create a community of people who are in the same position as me. The support here has been great." -
Bishop Grosseteste University shortlisted in three categories for Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) is delighted to announce the University has been shortlisted for the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023 in three different categories. These include student support, halls and accommodation, and career prospects. The Whatuni Student Choice Awards is an annual event that recognises and celebrates excellence in higher education. The awards are based on feedback from thousands of students across the United Kingdom, who rate their universities on various aspects such as quality of teaching, campus facilities, student support, and accommodation. Collected on campuses across the country and on the Whatuni website, these reviews bring valuable insight into the institutions and make the WUSCAs the largest exclusively student-voted awards in the UK. The university has been shortlisted in the student support category, which recognises institutions that go above and beyond to support their students during their time at university. The halls and accommodation category acknowledges universities that provide high-quality accommodation options for their students. Finally, BGU has also been shortlisted in the career prospects category, which recognises universities that help their graduates to secure employment after graduation. Bishop Grosseteste University Pro Vice-Chancellor Rob Boast said: “We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for three categories at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023. As an institution that puts students at the heart of everything we do, it is incredibly rewarding to be recognised for our commitment to providing an exceptional standard of student support, accommodation, and delivering excellent career prospects. “These nominations are a testament to the collaborative hard work of all our staff and we take great pride in knowing that our students have a positive and fulfilling experience at Bishop Grosseteste University.” The winners of the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023 will be announced at a ceremony in London in April 2023. BGU will be hoping to add to its previous success in the awards, having placed second for Student Support in 2022. -
BGU Students visit the National Civil War Centre
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) Archaeology, History, and Military History students recently embarked on a trip to the National Civil War Centre. Located in the heart of Newark, the centre features interactive exhibits, immersive displays, and a vast collection of historical artefacts. Visitors can learn about the causes of the conflict, the key events and battles, and the impact the war had on society and culture. During the trip, the ten students had the opportunity to handle various artefacts and objects from the British Civil War, which provided them with a hands-on learning experience outside of the classroom. The fully-funded trip is part of the subject provision that Foundation Year students receive, and it serves as a highlight for them to celebrate completing Semester one. Dr Erik Grigg led the excursion and - having spent a decade working in heritage - recognises the value of the hands-on learning that museums can provide. He said: "Trips like these are incredibly valuable for students as they provide an opportunity to get out of the classroom and engage with history in a more immersive and tangible way. "The National Civil War Centre is a fantastic resource, and being able to handle artefacts and learn from knowledgeable guides brings the subject to life in a way that traditional study might not." -
BGU lecturer explores The Ruskin Speech in new research article
A publication written by James Silverwood, Senior Lecturer in Business at BGU, and his co-author, Peter Wolstencroft of Liverpool John Moores University is now free to read on the website of the British Educational Research Journal. The journal article ‘The Ruskin Speech and Great Debate in English Education, 1976-1979: A study of motivation’ reignites debate about the intentions behind the intervention into educational by James Callaghan and his Labour government starting with the Prime Minister’s speech at Ruskin College, Oxford in October 1976. There is good reason why Callaghan’s speech remains lodged within the popular consciousness amongst educationalists, it been possible to trace forward integral aspects of the speech into controversial elements of education in England in the present day. Foremost among them been the concentration of regulatory power within a national body, Ofsted, the centrality of a national curriculum within educational provision, and the firmly link education with the delivery of employability. Consequently, the Ruskin speech is often conceptualized as a ‘turning point’ within English education leading inexorably towards the modern English educational system. As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of Callaghan’s Ruskin speech in 2026, it was time to engage in retrospective, something James and Peter’s paper achieves by critically inspecting the speech in the context in which it was delivered, rather than with the benefit of hindsight of knowing the subsequent trajectory of the English educational system. Conducting documentary analysis of archival material held in the National Archives, Kew Gardens, the authors conclude that the motivation for Callaghan’s speech at Ruskin College was to support the ideals of the comprehensive educational system, rather than institute widespread educational reform. This is in contrast to the common understanding of the Ruskin speech within English educational history as delineated above. Dr James Silverwood Speaking about his research, James Silverwood, said: “There is no doubt that the Ruskin speech is a seismic event in the history of education in England, but perhaps not for the reasons currently considered. “We found no evidence in the archives to suggest that the motivation of Callaghan and his Labour government was to implement widespread educational reform. Much the opposite, evidence suggested they were motivated to support and defend the comprehensive educational system from attack by political opponents who would seek to reform it. Where subsequent governments have referred back to the Ruskin speech as justification for educational transformation away from comprehensive ideals it to imbue the Ruskin speech with motivations that were not shared by Callaghan and his Labour government.” You can read the journal article here. -
BGU alum Pete Wharmby launches new book on life with autism
Former Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) student, Pete Wharmby, has published his second book, "Untypical: How the World Isn't Built for Autistic People and What We Should All Do About It". The speaker and writer explores the topic of autism and the autistic experience. His work seeks to elevate the public's awareness of autism and highlight the unique challenges faced by autistic individuals in a world that does not always accommodate their needs. At the age of 14, Pete moved to Lincolnshire with his family. After completing his teacher training in English and Drama at BGU in 2008, he spent the next 13 years teaching, including at schools around Lincolnshire. It wasn't until 2017 that he received his autism diagnosis, which came as a turning point in his life. According to Pete, his diagnosis allowed him to finally understand why he had always felt different. He said: "It was a profound sense of relief to have my diagnosis confirmed. All the miscommunications and hyper fixations I'd had started to make sense. "I also realised that I had been able to connect so well with the autistic students I had taught because we had the same type of brain. I continued to teach with a renewed determination to create safe and welcoming spaces for my students, particularly those with autism." With a newfound understanding of his condition, he began to explore and share his experiences, which culminated in his first book, "What I Want to Talk About: How Autistic Special Interests Shape a Life" in 2022. The inaugural publication takes readers on a journey through his special interests, illuminating the challenges of autistic experience along the way. According to Pete, there's a significant lack of knowledge surrounding autism, and even well-meaning people can make common mistakes around communicating with autistic people. His second book, Untypical, seeks to shine a light on the condition for non-autistic people, offering suggestions of how people can better support the individuals in their life with autism. Preferring to offer a "warts-and-all" portrayal of autism, Pete promotes an authentic representation of what it is like to live with the condition, although he acknowledges that every autistic person will have different experiences. He aims to dispel myths and misconceptions and inspire open discussion around neurodiversity. Pete said: "It's actually quite handy being known as an autistic person, because I don't have to mask when I first meet people. "I did one public talk where I had an autistic meltdown just before I was due to speak. I could've cancelled it at the last minute, but instead I took it as an opportunity to share the experience with the audience; to speak about what had happened and the emotions I was experiencing." Pete regularly speaks at conferences and events, often as the keynote speaker, on topics such as autism in education, the experience of autistic students and teachers, the importance of monotropism and special interests and much more. Learn more about Pete and his work here. -
Business student completes placement with geocaching magazine
Bishop Grosseteste University student, Lewis Garrett-Pughe, recently completed a placement with PinPoint, a magazine which explores the hobby of geocaching. Geocaching is a real-world GPS treasure hunt game, where players use mobile technology to find containers hidden by other players. There are over 3.5 million geocaches and 350,000 players worldwide, in every country except North Korea! BA Business student Lewis was placed with PinPoint for the final dissertation module of his programme in the spring of 2023. He was involved in a number of tasks and projects during this time, including designing a readers' feedback survey, editing and proofreading, interviewing contributors and contributing to web design. PinPoint, the UK’s only print magazine about this game, was launched in spring of 2022 following a Kickstarter campaign by two lifelong friends, Jane Spencer and Andy Wright. Jane is a professional editor, proofreader and publisher, working with authors, publishers, businesses and organisations. Andy is a BGU alum and has also held a number of roles at the university, including Careers and Employability Co-ordinator. Andy said: "It’s been an absolute pleasure having Lewis with us these past few weeks. He’s turned his hands to such a range of tasks and has challenged us to think about the way we do a few things. He’s been a great member of the team." The final day of Lewis' placement was spent at 'London Calling' a large-scale gathering in Marylebone, London, known in geocaching as a Mega Event. The convention saw players and suppliers from across the UK and several European countries gather for a day-long jamboree of puzzle-solving, litter-picking, searching and trading, as well as several social activities in the capital. Lewis was involved in selling magazines, including subscriptions, interacting with attendees, engaging with potential contributors and networking with a range of suppliers and event managers. Reflecting on his time with PinPoint, Lewis said: "I am grateful for the placement opportunity with PinPoint over the last three months. "I have learnt a lot of new skills as well as developed my existing knowledge along the way with the help of the organisation. It's great to get an insight into how a small business operates." -
Aspiring teachers get creative
A cohort of future teachers recently had the opportunity to flex their creative muscles during a full-day workshop exploring creativity in education. The events of the day aimed to empower the soon-to-be educators with tools and techniques to integrate creativity into their teaching practices, enabling them to create a dynamic and stimulating learning environment for their students. The Primary Education students enjoyed workshops, group tasks, and open discussion about the subject. Guest speakers also shared their expertise on the module subject, which is all about the curriculum choices a school may make. Across the day, three speakers worked with the group, including actor, writer, and teacher Ben Keaton from Creativity Academy, an organisation that visits schools and delivers workshops 'to give primary school teachers and their students the joy of making things.' BGU Senior Lecturer Emma Rogers said: "I'm really grateful that Ben Keaton was able to join us for the morning to share the work on creativity that his Creative academy is doing in schools around Lincolnshire." The students also heard from Liam Bielby, an Assistant Mathematics Hub Lead from the East Midlands East Maths Hub. Liam shared with the students the work of the maths hub and how they work with schools in the local area and the support available for early career teachers Kateřina Dvořáková also visited the university from Czechia. As the Senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia, Kateřina specialises in pre-service training of primary English teachers. She said: "My stay at BGU was absolutely fantastic. I I could observe a number of lessons and the teaching practice of the TESOL students. "There have been several students from our university at BGU recently and more study visits are being planned. A semester at BGU can help our students improve their English and teaching skills and learn about Britain's culture and daily life." Kateřina gave BGU students a fascinating insight into teacher training in Czechia. Students heard that, in her country, it takes five years to train to become a Primary school teacher so all teachers have a Master's qualification. Emma Rogers added: "It was an insightful and productive day for students and staff alike. "Everyone really enjoyed hearing from all three speakers, who offered the students a diverse selection of different voices and experiences."
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