A decorated University of Salford alumna and former lecturer of 20 years is set to launch her first major art exhibition this month.

Jo Clements’ stunning new exhibition Everyone In This Room is Connected To Everyone In This Room will open at The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery in Rawtenstall on Saturday 25 February.

The sprawling exhibition takes the visitors through a visual representation of the human brain through a colourful ‘Brain Garden’, constructed from a tangled web of velvet brains that can be interacted with through AI (augmented reality). The event will also feature the premiere of three new films that present ‘humorous and heart-breaking narratives’ and reflect psychological theories around the ‘strange unpredictability of human understanding.’

Jo’s groundbreaking production, which has been supported by Arts Council funding, will also host a one-day festival on Sunday 11 March called Festival of the Brain, which will feature a variety of guest speakers presenting different areas of expertise and viewpoints relating to aspects and ideas of the brain and how they have inspired the main exhibition. She will also hold a walkthrough talk of the exhibition and discuss its key concepts on Thursday 9 March.

The Salford graduate said:

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“I am very excited for this exhibition. The seeds of it have been a long time coming and I’ve been wanting to bring it to life for ages.

“The underlying thing that flows through it all is learning and intelligence. What we value and what we don’t. I’m very interested in that and the Brain Garden was inspired by the works of Merlin Sheldrake who talks about how the roots of trees and plants talk to each other.

"As an artist, I like to work theatrically and truly believe there’s nothing understated about the exhibition. It shows that I’ve got a theatre prop maker’s brain as I really just wanted to put on a show that people would come from all over to see.”

 

The concept of the exhibition was inspired by Jo’s personal anxieties around the pursuit of knowledge and how we are defined by the knowledge we take in and accrue from the world around us.

Jo graduated from Salford in 1998 with a BA in Visual Arts and Culture before going on to do an MA in Contemporary Fine Art and then a PhD. She worked at the University from around 2000 to 2020 and lectured on the MA Contemporary Arts, MA Creative Education and MA Fine Art programmes. She picked up the Greater Manchester Art Prize in 2018 and was awarded an AI fellowship with BeFantastic Bangalore on machine learning in 2020.

Her exhibition at the Whitaker was one of 166 proposals submitted and was given the green light in October 2021, giving Jo just under 18 months to pull it all together.

Gaynor Seville, Creative Director of The Whitaker and fellow Salford BA Fine Art graduate said:

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“I am utterly delighted to be welcoming Jo Clements and Everyone In This Room Is Connected To Everyone In This Room to The Whitaker. I have known Jo for a long time and watching her work evolve and develop has been a privilege. In this new work created especially for The Whitaker, Jo explores the science and art of the brain with her trademark playfulness and humour. I can’t wait for visitors to enter Jo’s world of handmade velvet sculptures, sci-fi stories and contemporary concerns about AI and machine learning.”

Following its opening, the museum will be at the Whitaker until Sunday 7th May. More information how to book onto its associated events is here. 

Kids Planet Salford Quays has once again entered the Business Challenge Mega Duck Race, to raise money for children’s charity Med Equip 4 Kids.

In front of a keen audience on Good Friday 7th April 2023 at the Helly Hansen Watersports centre, Kids Planet will join other businesses in the race of the branded ducks. The ducks will also be on display on the day with prizes presented for being fastest and the ‘best dressed’.

Money raised from the event will go towards helping MedEquip4Kids provide vital medical equipment for hospitals across the UK, and in particular here in the North West, a cause close to Kids Planet’s heart.

On the day, there will also be a community race, where members of the public can race ducklings, there will be family friendly entertainment, delicious food, face painting, prizes and much more!

Gemma Corpe, Nursery Manager at Kids Planet Salford Quays, said:

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“We are delighted to get involved again this year with this local initiative. The Quays is very much water based and there are lots of water activities, so it’s a great way to connect and give back!

Last year was a great fun day out for families and it was lovely to get our parents involved; we had lots of positive feedback from parents.

The children enjoy taking part too by helping us with designs and ideas for how to decorate the duck, alongside their families. We even align this with our preschool curriculum to look at colours and patterns with the children.

This year I am glad that the ducks have been recycled from the previous year, which avoids plastic waste. It’s great to know our duck has been used and got a good bath before coming to a new home to be used again!”

 

University of Salford has agreed an institutional partnership with British University Vietnam (BUV), marking the union with a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) ceremony. The Institutional Partnership Agreement will enable students and staff at both institutions to capitalise on trans-national opportunities, including experiential learning abroad and collaborative shared learning experiences, while joining forces on research, enterprise and projects.

Salford and BUV, which is Vietnam’s first university to be awarded a prestigious and globally recognised five-star excellent rating by QS World University Rankings, agreed the partnership to enhance the student experience across both institutions and improve student and staff mobility by bolstering international study and work opportunities. The partnership will also strengthen the scope for staff to work more collaboratively with their international counterparts.

Professor Janice Allan, Dean of Salford Business School, comments:

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“During the visit to BUV, we were struck by how closely their mission, vision and pedagogy aligns with our own; industry collaboration and real-world learning are as central to BUV as they are to us at the University of Salford. This is an exciting opportunity for both the University as a whole and, most immediately, Salford Business School, and I’m very much looking forward to working with them.

“Cultural awareness – the ability to view events and issues from different perspectives – is a key employability skill and enhances graduates’ career capital. We have no doubt this partnership will present such opportunities for students at both institutions.”

 

University of Salford’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Helen Marshall, Business School Dean, Professor Janice Allan and Associate Dean Academic – Student Experience, Professor Vish Maheshwari, were joined by BUV’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Ray Gordon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rick Bennett, Chief Academic Officer, Chris Jeffery, International Office Manager, Hien Nguyen and Registrar, Tony Summers for the formal MoU signing at BUV’s state of the art campus - a modern educational complex located at Ecopark Township, Vietnam, to officially commence the partnership on the 13 January 2023.

British University Vietnam

The partnership with Salford enables BUV students in Vietnam to earn a British degree with an international learning experience, thanks to a shared curriculum and staff. The University currently offers British undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as professional development and international education pathway programmes. Courses include BSc International Business Management, BSc Finance, BA Finance and Economics, BA Accounting and Finance, and MBA Business Administration, amongst multiple arts and media, plus tech courses.

(L-R): Professor Janice Allan, Dean, Salford Business School; Professor Helen Marshall, Vice-Chancellor, University of Salford; Professor Ray Gordon, Vice-Chancellor and President, BUV; Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice Chancellor, BUV

Professor Ray Gordon says, following the signing ceremony at BUV campus:

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“British University Vietnam is delighted to announce its partnership with University of Salford. In 2022, BUV became the first and only University in Vietnam to receive an overall QS 5-star rating (that is 5 out of 5 stars ratings). BUV is proud to be leading the way in the provision of quality high education and learning experiences in Vietnam.

“To achieve its mission and its broader commitment to the future of education in Vietnam, BUV will partner with University of Salford in both academic and non-academic areas, providing the opportunity for Vietnam students to study at UoS on a full transfer, a partial exchange or study abroad basis. UoS students also have the opportunity to study at BUV on the same basis and thereby enhance the international diversity and learning experience for BUV students. Both Universities will also collaborate in curriculum development, academic exchange and collaborative research endeavours.”

 

The agreement highlights University of Salford’s expanding international reach, following its partnership announcement with Robert Kennedy College in Switzerland, further affirming the institution’s place as a global higher education leader which aims to closely serve the needs of industry and drive the development of best practice in learning.

Main Image: (L-R): Hien Nguyen, International Office Manager, BUV; Professor Vish Maheshwari, Associate Dean Academic – Student Experience, Salford Business School; Professor Janice Allan, Dean, Salford Business School; Professor Helen Marshall, Vice-Chancellor, University of Salford; Professor Ray Gordon, Vice-Chancellor and President, BUV; Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice Chancellor, BUV; Chris Jeffery, Chief Academic Officer, BUV; Tony Summers, Registrar, BUV.

For more updates from the University of Salford, visit: https://www.salford.ac.uk/news.

National Education Union (NEU) members are out on the first of 7 planned strikes this morning, 4 of which are in the North.

The National Education Union, or NEU, is the UK’s biggest teaching union, many of its members are not only asking for a pay rise but are demanding better funding for schools from the government.

The union says that the decision to strike was not taken lightly with round 500,000 workers talking industrial action over disputes regarding pay, working conditions and pensions.

Talks held on Monday between Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and the general secretaries of unions representing teachers and headteachers, broke down after failing to find a resolution. 

Children who are due to take exams as well as those who are deemed to be vulnerable have been allowed in to most schools as a priority.

Not everyone is happy though as some parents have been forced to take unpaid leave from work, with many saying that they were only made aware that their children would not be in school at the last moment, leaving them scrambling to find cover.

Salford and Eccles MP, Rebecca Long Bailey, hit out at the government in a Twitter post in which she defended the workers rights to strike.

Rebecca, said:

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Solidarity with all workers on strike today in Salford and across the country. They fight for decent conditions, fair pay and the properly funded public services we all deserve

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has begun the search for stand-out school gardeners, as nominations for the 2023 competition open today.

The competition returns after a three-year hiatus, with the charity hoping to uncover the inspiring and innovative ways that schools have been growing before, during and since the pandemic.

Schools across the UK can now nominate their star gardeners in two categories:

RHS School Gardening Team of the Year: Celebrates an exceptional team of school gardeners who have made a difference to their school environment or local community.

RHS School Gardening Champion of the Year: Nominations open for a passionate, green-fingered adult who has championed gardening and growing in a school, demonstrating valuable gardening skills and inspiring pupils.

School Gardeners of the Year celebrates the many benefits of school gardening and outdoor learning, recognising the young people and adults who are championing gardening and are passionate about growing in their schools.

This year’s judging panel includes Frances Tophill, gardening presenter and author, Matt Willer, School Gardening Champion of the Year 2018 and George Hassall, RHS Young Ambassador and Young School Gardener of the Year 2014, as well as members of the RHS team.

The competition is open to any school registered to the RHS Campaign for School Gardening, which currently supports over 13,000 schools across the UK. The Campaign calls on every child to be given the chance to garden, to boost learning, hone practical skills and grow an understanding and appreciation for nature and green spaces.  

Frances Tophill, gardening presenter and author, and one of the judging panel, said: 

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“We’re not looking for perfect gardens, we’re looking for enthusiasm, creativity and a passion for growing things. Showcasing all of the hard work happening within schools year-round can act as a catalyst for others to create green spaces that not only benefit pupils, but wildlife and the local community too. I cannot wait to read all of this year’s entries.”

Alana Cama, RHS Schools and Groups Programme Manager, added: 

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“We know that school gardeners are harnessing the power of their plants in many ways, from providing habitats and food for wildlife to harvesting fruit and vegetables for their local community. There is huge potential for schools to use their growing spaces to tackle some of the biggest challenges we face. School Gardeners of the Year is an excellent opportunity for us to celebrate the hard work and dedication of all those passionate gardeners.”

Top prizes for this year’s winners include National Garden gift vouchers and patio glasshouses. Celebrations will be held at each of the winning schools to present the prizes and recognise their achievements.

Nominations can be made at https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/sgoty and the deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 27th March. The winners will be announced in June.   

For more information on the competition and advice about school gardening visit the RHS Campaign for School Gardening website: https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk

An innovative training solution from Siemens and Salford University has achieved a major milestone by upskilling its 100th engineer. The one year ‘top up’ degree programme gives young and experienced engineers a BEng Hons (Bachelor of Engineering) in Control and Automation.

Launched in 2017, it was co-designed and co-delivered by Siemens Digital Industries and the University of Salford and uses a block delivery model combining academic modules in automation, robotics, and embedded systems, Siemens S7 Certified PLC programmer training and accreditation, and a workplace project to solve a real-world problem.

It has now upgraded the existing qualifications of 100 personnel from within Siemens and 38 global companies and SMEs from various industry sectors in the UK, including Jaguar Land Rover Ltd, Wessex Water Services, Nutricia, Muller Dairies, Costain, Unilever, GSK and Amazon UK.

Among them is 26-year-old Dom Phillpot, a recently qualified Amazon Degree Apprentice from the 2018 cohort who is now an Automation Engineer at their fulfilment centre in Rugby.

Dom said:

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“I had tried out University, but it wasn’t for me. However, when the opportunity presented to be an apprentice and earn a degree in engineering my prayers were answered.

“Whilst I enjoyed both working and learning I feel I have surpassed what I set out to achieve. I achieved the highest possible mark in the degree and within that became a S7 certified programmer.

“In March 2022 of my final year, I made the big step to move to a site where the automation engineer was leaving. This was a site where there was only one engineer, and I was moving from a site where there were three.  I knew this was going to be a massive step and whilst carrying out my studies alongside was going to be a challenge.”

“Having now been at this site for around nine months and graduated, I have been given a full-time role with the team and I couldn’t be happier with my achievements. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be in the position I am in now.”

 

Vince Goodall not only completed the top up degree while juggling work and family life but graduated with a First Class Honours.

He now works as a field-service engineer with Siemens’ Customer Service Motion Control in Manchester.

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“Balancing family life, work and studying at the same time was difficult at times,” he said. “I was also in the final year of my apprenticeship whilst completing the top up degree, so this was a very demanding year at work completing a lot of additional training and proving my competency in my future role.”

The top-up degree programme has evolved since its launch in 2017. When it was launched apprentices could take up the top-up degree in their final year but now there is a mix of degree apprentices and those taking the degree as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) exercise in academic upgrade.

Jason Phin, Training Solutions Business Manager at Siemens Digital Industries, said:

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“I am delighted we have reached such a major milestone. Our ambition was to create a degree programme that taught a range of practical skills and technical understanding fit for future manufacturing, not just for our workforce, but the wider industry.

“It’s fantastic that six years on there are 104 Industry 4.0-ready engineers embedding their new skills in workplaces across the UK.”

 

Professor Haifa Takruri, MBE School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford, said:

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“This is a great partnership and very rewarding for all companies who invest in their employees. The students who enrol on the BEng (Hons) Control and Automation work very hard, they value the university experience, the knowledge and skills they gain. They are committed to their studies and achieve excellent results. I am very proud of their achievements.”

Photo: Vince Goodall now works as a field-service engineer with Siemens’ Customer Service Motion Control in Manchester

Teachers in England and Wales are set to walk out on strike next month over disputes about conditions and pay.

They had been offered a 5% pay rise last year but the National Education Union (NEU) is seeking 12%, declaring that the 5% offer equates to a pay cut, because of high inflation rates of over 10%.

National strikes are scheduled for 1 February, 15 and 16 March. There are several regional dates in-between.

A total of 90% in England and 92% in Wales of NEU members said that they backed strikes, with 58% of members returning their ballot forms – more than the 50% turnout required.

Action will take place on the following days:

1 February: All schools in England and Wales

14 February: All schools in Wales

28 February: North and north-west England, Yorkshire and Humber

1 March: East Midlands, West Midlands, and the NEU's eastern region

2 March: South-east and south-west England, and London

15 and 16 March: Two-day strike of all schools in England and Wales

Young people aged 16-19 are set to benefit from a funding boost that will ensure they can continue to access high-quality education and go on to secure great jobs.

The government has today (Monday 9 January) announced increased funding rates worth an additional £125 million for schools, colleges and other providers delivering education to 16- to 19-year-olds next year (2023 to 2024).

The funding will mean young people, regardless of where they live or their background, will continue to have access to the courses and qualifications they need to build successful careers. These include T Levels and A levels and will also help meet the future skills needs of businesses and the economy.

Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said:

Our ambition is to transform young people’s life chances by giving them the chance to climb the education and skills ladder of opportunity.

That is why we are investing in resources and skills qualifications that will offer more learning for students and access to high-quality qualifications including T Levels, A Levels and technical qualifications.

The funding announced today will see:

• The national funding rate for students aged 16 and 17 and students aged 18 and over with high needs increased by 2.2% to £4,642. In addition, funding will continue to be provided for an extra 40 hours per student to support them catching up on time lost due to the pandemic.
• An increase in funding rates for engineering, construction, and digital subjects to help education providers with the additional costs of recruiting and retaining great teachers so young people benefit from excellent teaching.

The funding is part of the £1.6 billion for further education announced at Spending Review in 2021. It is in addition to the extra £291m announced for 16 to 19 education in 2021 to 2022 and the £400m increase in funding that the government provided in 2020 to 2021.

Pupils from Barton Moss Primary School and Salford City Academy were joined by special guests (Monday 5 December) at the launch of a new 'Park and Stride' scheme. It's part of a series of improvements to make the walk to school safer and more enjoyable.

The changes have come about after Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking worked with pupils from Barton Moss Primary School to assess the local streets to see what improvements could be made to make it easier for them to walk to school.

Pupils noted that some road signage needed replacing and zigzag lines needed repainting. A much safer route, starting at Roosters Rugby Club and going via an underpass to the estate where both schools are situated, was also discovered.

Living Streets worked with the schools, Salford City Council, ForHousing and Salford City Roosters Rugby Club to act upon the pupils' recommendations. As well as the new road markings and signage,a new 'Park and Stride' scheme has been launched, which allows families from both schools to park at the Salford City Roosters Rugby Club and walk the rest of the way along a marked route - reducing the traffic, air pollution and road danger around the school gates.

Pupils from Barton Moss Primary School and Salford City Academy were joined by guests including, Tracy Kelly, Deputy City Mayor, and Living Streets' mascot, Strider at the launch of the Park and Stride.

Chris Irwin, Salford City Roosters Rugby Club said:

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"We are delighted to be able to open our facilities up for such a fantastic initiative.  The Park and Stride scheme fits perfectly with our plans on our clubhouse being utilised as a Community Wellbeing Hub, a facility that can support local residents and services.  As well as opening our car park up for parents, we will ensure our clubroom is available for parents and children to grab a warm drink and maybe a bite to eat to start the day!"

Dean Khaled, Kickstart Managing Director and WOW Lead at Barton Moss Community Primary School said:

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"It's great to be able to launch the Park and Stride facility at the Roosters Rugby Club. This provides a much safer walking route to both schools and means children don't have to try and cross the dangerous Junction 11 roundabout of the M60. It will also help to reduce traffic congestion around the estate and encourage children to get some morning exercise. A great initiative made possible from the excellent support of all partners."

Martyn Hague, Executive Director of Customer at ForHousing said:

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"At ForHousing we're passionate about improving people's health and wellbeing and doing all we can to protect the planet. Walking to school is an easy way to fit exercise into our daily routines while helping reduce the number of cars on the road causing pollution. So it's really great to see how the community has come together to make the walk to school for local children safer."

Barton Moss Primary School takes part in WOW - the walk to school challenge from Living Streets. WOW is a pupil-led initiative where children self-report how they get to school every day using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker. Pupils who walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or Park and Stride at least once a week for a month are rewarded with a badge.

A generation ago, 70 per cent of primary school aged children walked to school, now it's less than half[1]. However, in WOW schools, walking rates typically increase by 23 per cent with a 30 per cent reduction in cars driving to the school gates.

Nationally, 43 per cent of 5–10-year-olds are driven to school. However, just 17 per cent of journeys recorded this academic year on the WOW Travel Tracker by pupils at Barton Moss Primary School are car trips all the way to the school gates. Living Streets hopes that these new changes will help even more families walk to school.

Dan O'Connell, Project Coordinator (Manchester), Living Streets said:

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"Walking to school helps children and their families stay healthy and happy, while reducing congestion and cleaning up the air for the whole community.

"Families at Barton Moss Primary School and Salford City Academy can now safely walk to school in a refreshed environment. We hope to see reduced congestion on the local estate and lots more families feeling happier to walk to school, rather than drive."

 

[1] 47% of children in England currently walk to school. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-travel-survey-2020

The Woodland Trust is urging schools and community groups across the north west of England to get their free tree-pack applications in quickly with just over a month left until the spring delivery closes.

Applications for spring, for delivery in March 2023, are currently open, but only until 11 January.

The last round of the ever-popular free tree-packs scheme was the Woodland Trust's biggest-ever single send-out, with 4,625 organisations across the UK taking advantage of the scheme.

A total of 64,035 schools and community groups in Cheshire, Manchester, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside took delivery of their trees from the end of October to 11 November.

In the north west, 60,525 trees were sent out to 458 organisations:

15,210 trees to 110 organisations in Cheshire

2,775 trees to 22 organisations in Manchester

15,600 trees to 131 organisations in Greater Manchester

20,865 trees to 138 organisations in Lancashire

6,075 trees to 57 organisations in Merseyside

The figures for the north west of England were part of a bumper autumn delivery which saw 740,970 saplings finding homes the length and breadth of the UK, bringing the annual total to a record-breaking 1.3m trees for 2022.

Woodland Trust senior project lead Vicki Baddeley said there is no time like the present to sign up and take advantage of the scheme.

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"With Christmas looming and National Tree Week upon us, now really is a good time to get those applications in and ensure you don't miss out," she added.

"We still have lots of trees available but with schools breaking up before you know it, and the hectic holiday period around the corner, it makes sense to get organised nice and early and avoid a last-minute rush in early January.

"Planting trees is such a simple action, but the collective impact can make a huge difference. It's a great way for schoolchildren and community groups to learn about nature and the environment and, at the same time, embrace a "Green Christmas".

"Planting trees has so many benefits, from combatting the effects of climate change, helping support wildlife, to greening up local spaces and boosting well-being.

"The desire to plant trees is growing all the time and I fully expect demand to reflect that in the coming weeks, so I would advise any interested groups to apply sooner rather than later.

"The application process to secure your saplings is quite straightforward, just visit https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/schools-and-communities/ to get started."

 

The Trust's tree packs have been generously funded by lead partners: Sainsbury's, Lloyds Bank, OVO Energy, Bank of Scotland and Sofology.

Baddeley added:

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"As ever, the support and generosity of our funders is invaluable and we simply couldn't do this without them.

"The help each and every one of them provides is hugely appreciated and helps to ensure we can provide and deliver our saplings in such huge numbers."

 

The Woodland Trust's autumn delivery:

England: 615,720 trees to 3,982 schools and community groups

Scotland: 77,940 trees to 428 schools and community groups

Wales: 47,310 trees to 215 schools and community groups

The University of Salford has announced Professor William Swan as their Director of Sustainability.

The role is a new position that will be focused on leading crucial activity for the future of the University as it deepens its commitment to addressing issues of environmental sustainability and achieving net zero carbon by 2038.Professor Swan said:

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“I am delighted to be taking up this exciting opportunity. As a University we have been engaging across the key sustainability issues, demonstrated by the excellent work from the sustainability team.

“We have aspirations to better link and promote all our activity as an institution to demonstrate that the University of Salford has sustainability at its heart, engaging and working with colleagues, students and external partners to deliver meaningful change.”

 

Will Swan has been at the University for more than 25 years and is currently the Director of Energy House Laboratories, a world leading research facility that develops and tests new net zero technologies for the built environment sector.  He will continue as Strategic Lead for Energy House Laboratories.

20 unique benches, designed to bring the magic of reading to children, will appear on the streets of Salford this summer as part of the Salford Literacy Trail.

From Thursday 14th July to Friday 9th September 2022, the bespoke ‘BookBench’ sculptures will be exhibited on the streets of Salford, created in a unique collaboration between local school children and artists.

The Salford Literacy Trail is a partnership between the National Literacy Trust and the Bupa Foundation. To create the benches artists will work with primary school children across Salford to design a bench that captures how their favourite books inspire them and make them feel.

The BookBenches will then be placed at key locations across Salford, including near the Blue Peter Garden and around MediaCity, and Salford Cathedral, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, RHS Bridgewater and Salford Shopping Centre. It is a unique opportunity for families to explore their local area, discover the benefits and joys of reading and engage with stories together.

The Trail celebrates the local community, providing an opportunity for families to come together, connect with each other and their city, and raise awareness of the positive links between reading and mental wellbeing.

Research from the National Literacy Trust shows that children who are the most engaged with literacy are three times more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing than their least engaged peers.

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“We want to create an environment where every child in Salford hasthe opportunity to engage with stories and books that reflect their lives, offer them comfort, or an exciting escape,”

says Mike Leyland, the National Literacy Trust’s Programme Manager for this project.

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“We hope that the Salford Literacy Trail starts conversations in families, at schools and in communities about stories that have affected them, or that have shown them a different view on life, and encourages an even greater love of reading in everyone who takes part. Our research has shown that during lockdown, 3 in 5 children said that reading made them feel better, and 3 in 10 that reading helped them when they felt sad. We want all children to have access to that comfort and support.”

Author, illustrator and creator of The Happy News newspaper, Emily Coxhead, is one of the artists involved in the project, and is designing and painting a bench which will be placed in MediaCity. 5000 copies of Find Your Happy will be donated to schools in areas of disadvantage that work with the National Literacy Trust.

Each BookBench is individually sponsored by local businesses and these sponsorships, alongside the Book Bench auction in the autumn, will raise vital funds for the National Literacy Trust to champion reading with local disadvantaged children. School closures in Salford and across the UK caused by COVID-19 disproportionately impacted children from disadvantaged backgrounds. As a result, the poverty attainment gap is expected to widen by as much as 75%, with disadvantaged children falling as far as 16 months behind their better-off peers. The National Literacy Trust’s programmes will allow these children to discover the joy of books, which will help them succeed at school, get a better job, and look after their health and wellbeing.

The BookBenches are being created by Wild in Art, a specialist organisation behind many other successful trails, such as Bee in the City, Elmer’s Great North Parade, and Walking with The Snowman.

Anna Russell, Director of the Bupa Foundation, commented:

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“We’re passionate about investing in positive ways to support children’s wellbeing and contributing to our local communities. So we’re delighted to partner with the National Literacy Trust and Wild in Art to encourage children in the area to get outdoors and be active, be creative and enjoy reading.”

Speaking of the health benefits, Dr Luke Powles, Clinical Director at Bupa Health Clinics, said:

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“Now, more than ever, it’s important that children participate in activities like the Salford Literacy Trail, enabling them to think, develop, learn and master new skills. These opportunities support their mental health now and allow them to progress through life as rounded, confident and healthy individuals in the future.”

Digital Schoolhouse, in association with Electronic Arts, is bringing the Festival of Play, a brand-new creative careers and computing conference for students aged 8-15 to innovation hub HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology. It will inspire students to turn their hobbies into highly skilled careers. 

Taking place for the first time at Salford-based innovation hub HOST on Wednesday 13 July, the Festival of Play will bring together students from schools across the North West. 

The festival will showcase the breadth and depth of roles available in the UK games industry. It will be packed with interactive workshops, inspiring talks and innovative games to spark young people's interest in the sector.  

The unique school trip will educate and empower students to get closer to the technology and tools used to make video games and develop their interest in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) subjects.  

The conference will also engage with teachers by giving them the skills to teach computing in creative and playful ways that bring the subject to life in the classroom while supporting continued professional development.  

Alongside a range of activities, live music and entertainment, the students will also get a chance to hear from and meet people who work in the games industry - encouraging them to think about how the skills that make games today can match up with the careers they may grow into in the future.  

Mo Isap, CEO of IN4 Group, operator of HOST, said:

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"We are honoured to welcome the first Festival of Play to the North West at HOST in MediaCity. The video games market is growing at an epic scale and the opportunities for developing the most in-demand digital skills are immense. By working closely with key partners like Digital Schoolhouse, Electronic Arts and local schools, we can offer even more opportunities to inspire young people, spark their interest in STEAM subjects and ensure they have fair access to technology careers." 

Shahneila Saeed, Programme Director of Digital Schoolhouse, said:

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"We're so excited to bring the Festival of Play to life with the support of Electronic Arts at HOST Salford this summer. It's been a long-term dream of mine to run an event like this that translates students' fun and passion for play into practical opportunities for careers and skills development. It's important to us that this festival provides local schools with direct access to the video games industry, and I can't wait for us to get started." 

"Partnering with Digital Schoolhouse on its first Festival of Play was a no-brainer for us," comments Chris Bruzzo, Chief Experience Officer of Electronic Arts. "We're always on the hunt for innovative ways to help bridge the gap between education and industry. One way for us to do this is through partnering with fantastic programmes such as Digital Schoolhouse to inspire future generations from all backgrounds about the incredible journey that studying STEAM subjects can take them on." 

 

The free tickets have already been fully allocated for the festival at HOST with a waiting list for additional spaces. Further information about the Festival of Play can be found here: https://digitalschoolhouse.org.uk/events/festival-of-play 

The University of Salford will be offering degree scholarships to students from Bury College who are continuing their studies to undergraduate courses in selected science subjects.

The Al Habeeb Scholarship launches in the 2022/23 academic year and will offer students from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to pursue further education.

The scholarship is thanks to the generosity of Mohammad Habeebullah OBE JP, CEO and Trustee of the Al Habeeb Foundation, a charitable trust that provides for the less privileged and vulnerable member of society.

Both the University and Bury College are committed to improving social mobility at all levels of study and raising the aspirations of students across the city, regardless of their background. The Al Habeeb Scholarship has been designed to award students who successfully complete a HNC programme at Bury College before progressing onto Level 5 studies at the University of Salford.

Commenting on the Al Habeeb Scholarship, Mohammed Habeebullah OBE JP, said:

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"I am very passionate about enacting change in disadvantaged communities through further education and training.

"The Al Habeeb Scholarship was established to support and empower disadvantaged students to further their education and I am proud to support the University of Salford and Bury College in this new collaboration."

 

Scholarships provide invaluable opportunities for students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds, equipping them with the confidence and financial security to thrive. The Al Habeeb Scholarship will be awarded to students from low-income backgrounds, residing in Bury, who successfully complete a HNC programme at Bury College. Students will be able to take a number of routes, including HNC Applied Science with both a Biology and Chemistry route.

Paul Ward, Director of International and Regional Development at the University of Salford, said:

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"As a widening participation University, we welcome the generous contribution of the Al Habeeb Foundation to further support and enable students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access higher education.

"The partnership with Bury College will provide the opportunity for students from low-income backgrounds to access scholarships which will enable them to continue their study at the University of Salford. We look forward to welcoming the students to the University and to celebrating their success over the coming years."

 

Lisa Matthews, Director of Higher Education at Bury College, added:

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"This is a generous and most welcomed initiative, and we are delighted that our students are afforded such an opportunity. The College continues to make significant investment in its estate and teaching and learning resources to ensure that our students' experience is second to none. The Al Habeeb Scholarship takes this one step further. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of the successful scholars."

The Al Habeeb Scholarship will initially support three students over three years of study, with the first scholar being awarded during the 2022/23 academic year and the third during the 2024/25 academic year.

Salford graduate and Paralympic athlete Hannah Russell has received her OBE from Prince Charles in a ceremony at Windsor Castle.

Hannah was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours list, after she secured Gold and Bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

She said the occasion was, “Surreal, but amazing!”

Sir David Attenborough, Snow Patrol singer Gary Lightbody, actor Toby Jones and Olympic curler Eve Muirhead also received honours alongside Hannah.

Taking a break from her already intensive training schedule as the countdown to Paris 2024 begins, Hannah told us: “I’m delighted that my achievements defending my 100m backstroke title at the Tokyo Paralympic Games have been recognised in this way. To be awarded an OBE is an absolute honour. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, close friends and coaches at British Para-swimming for their continued support!”

Recalling the moment she found out she’d been nominated, she says: “I found out about the award back in November. I opened the letter with my immediate family, and (after celebrating with a glass of champagne!) we had to keep it a secret between my Mum, Dad, sister and I, until the official announcement on 31 December!”

Hannah was previously awarded an MBE back in 2017, and tells us the honours system is incredibly special to her. “To receive an OBE is very special, I was awarded the honour in recognition of defending my Paralympic Title in Tokyo; one of only three athletes to defend a title in British Swimming! I dedicate my honour to my family, who have been on the rollercoaster journey with me towards the Tokyo 2020 games!

“All my family and close friends have been so proud of my achievements in Tokyo. Even more so the resilience I displayed throughout a challenging year throughout the pandemic; and prior to this, my comeback after 2019.”

Hannah’s achievements come after taking some time away from the sport, where she completed a BSc in Sports Science at the University of Salford, achieving First Class Honours.
“I took a break from competing in 2019; I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and it was important to focus on my own mental health and well-being. To come back from this to defend my Paralympic Title is incredible. As a little girl, this is something I had dreamt about. 

“If I had one message to give to people, it would be to never give up on your dreams. Life can throw curve balls; you learn from setbacks; it’s how you bounce back which is important.”
Hannah previously competed in both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, winning a silver and two bronze medals at London 2012, and a further two golds and a bronze at Rio.

Back in July 2021, before Hannah set off for Tokyo, we chatted to her about life at Salford, how she combined studying with training, and her hopes for the Tokyo Paralympic Games. You can find the full interview here.

Innovation hub HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology in MediaCity, has been appointed as the North West delivery partner for a pilot of CyberFirst Schools, run by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), to champion cyber education in the region’s North West Cyber Corridor.

Through its flagship Skills City operation, HOST will deliver the CyberFirst Schools pilot over a one-year period to over 500 schools and colleges from across the North West to inspire more young people to explore careers in cyber security.

The collaboration will further increase fair access to technology careers, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented groups, including girls and young women. Female representation in the sector is considerably low, with women accounting for just 22 per cent of the UK’s cyber workforce.

HOST, operated by IN4 Group, will draw on its extensive local and national employer network to help facilitate engagement between industry and schools in the region. This will enable more young people to access opportunities, such as mentoring and work experience, outside the classroom and in the growing technology sector.

It will be working with leading industry and regional academic partners including BAE Systems, Raytheon, Siemens, AWS, University of Central Lancashire and University of Salford, to drive further investment into schools and future-proof technology talent.

The contract follows HOST’s successful delivery of three rounds of GCHQ’s Innovation Co-Lab – a programme which aimed to find innovative start-ups and small to medium-sized businesses in the North West. Successful companies took part in a 12-week programme to work with GCHQ technologists and industry experts to improve their products. HOST also held the first North West Cyber Summit in March to support the building of the Cyber Corridor.

The CyberFirst Schools initiative recognises schools and colleges across the UK that are committed to encouraging young people to develop cyber skills, with the NCSC awarding them with a gold, silver or bronze status.

Since the initiative was launched in 2020, 49 CyberFirst schools and colleges have been recognised, helping to develop cyber skills ecosystems around the country and addressing the industry’s cyber skills gap.

The 2022 CyberFirst Girls Competition final was also held at HOST in Salford and was focused on inspiring girls aged 12 to 13 to consider pursuing careers in cyber security.

Mo Isap, CEO of IN4 Group, said:

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“Being Blackburn born and bred, it’s fantastic to see these great prospects for Lancashire as well as Greater Manchester, and now we have a significant opportunity to inspire future generations into technology careers with the CyberFirst programme. This will have a huge impact on young people across the region, who are currently living in places like Salford, Accrington and Blackpool. The bringing together of education, skills, technology and industry is the key enabler to creating prosperity in the region.

“With the UK government’s investment of more than £5 billion into its new National Cyber Force in Samlesbury, Lancashire, the region is leading the way to establish further innovation and skills as part of the emerging North West Cyber Corridor."

 

Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Cyber Growth, said:

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“The NCSC is committed to providing young people with opportunities to excel in cyber security, and our work with industry plays a vital role in this.

“We are pleased that HOST will be piloting our CyberFirst Schools initiative in the North West on our behalf and welcome their support in developing the region’s cyber skills ecosystem.”

 

The CyberFirst programme offers a range of free opportunities aimed at providing young people the skills, opportunities and exposure they need to thrive in cyber security. 

More information about CyberFirst opportunities in the North West can be found on the HOST website. 

Entrepreneur and author Vikas Shah is to donate an archive of more than £1 million worth of world-leader, entrepreneur, celebrity, and sportspeople interviews to the University of Salford.

Vikas, 42, was born in Manchester and has his group of businesses based there. He is not a journalist, but since 2007 he has conducted over 520 interviews with the individuals shaping the century ranging from music icon Nile Rodgers to primatologist Dame Jane Morris Goodall, and philanthropist Melinda Gates. His interviews are published online, and in his book, “Thought Economics.”

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“Everything meaningful to our lives is the result of people with ideas, people who took a stand or followed the spark of inspiration to build a business or make a change. I’ve always been fascinated by brilliant people, how they think, and how they drive towards achievement,”

He said of the likes of interviewees Will.I.Am, Sheryl Sandberg, Maya Angelou, Matthew McConaughey, Usain Bolt, Ai WeiWei, Bear Grylls, Sir Richard Branson and Buzz Aldrin.

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"I think it's because I'm not a journalist so many of them have picked up the phone to me, or called me back when I've put a request in; it’s been one of the greatest privileges of my life to get time with these individuals, and nothing makes me happier than sharing these conversations.

 "For years, I have been thinking about the archive, and what to do with it. While I have published many interviews online and, in my book, there's a great deal more material in my archive. I know the impact this archive could have on students in disciplines ranging from business to journalism.”

 

The archive is estimated to be worth over £1.1 million in professional hours to reproduce. The interviews he has conducted span the past 12 years.

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 "I'll be creating the Vikas Shah Archive at the University of Salford to allow students and faculty to use these interviews as a teaching resource, and will be offering my time to bring the interviews to life through teaching,”

added Vikas.

Jo Purves, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Development at the University of Salford, said:

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“We are absolutely delighted with Vikas’ generous gift. At the University of Salford, our single strategic priority is to work in partnership with industry and this is a fantastic example of how such partnerships benefit our staff and students. Vikas’s contribution to the University of Salford, Greater Manchester and further afield in promoting thought leadership has been significant in recent years and this will give us a fantastic and growing resource to record that. Not only will the Vikas Shah Archive provide a wealth of primary material for researchers, both in business and in journalism, but it will also shed light on qualities associated with the entrepreneurial mindset that we try to develop in all our students, regardless of discipline."

Vikas added:

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"Amongst my broader interview learnings are such things as it seems 99.9% of great ideas from great people never see the light of day, and around 25% of successful people really do straddle the genius/madness borderline.

"And topically, forgiveness and perspective interfere with one another, and if we were better communicators and listeners conflict would be a rare thing."

 

Vikas Shah MBE DL is an entrepreneur, investor & philanthropist. He is CEO of Swiscot Group, a venture-investor, Non-Executive Board Member of the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and a Non-Executive Director of the Solicitors Regulation Authority, has an MBE for Services to Business and the Economy, and in 2021 became a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. He is an Honorary Professor of Business at The Alliance Business School, University of Manchester and Visiting Professor at the MIT Sloan Lisbon MBA.

Students from Backstage Academy, the Yorkshire-based industry-integrated higher education institution for the live events and creative industries, recently visited Salford City College as part of a nationwide tour to showcase what prospective students can look forward when they become undergraduates at the Academy.

The first leg of the tour, which took place on 13th June, saw final year students from Backstage’s various degree courses showcase their skills, share their higher education experiences and raise awareness of the incredible careers in the industry.

The event centred on the technical production of a live band, Listomania and focused on the core disciplines of lighting, sound, visuals as well as stage and production management.

The tour team showcased what students have learnt during their studies and gave prospective students not only the chance to get their hands on leading-edge equipment and technologies, but help produce the show as well.

Ben Evans, Teacher at Salford City College said:

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“The event, which was planned and executed by Backstage Academy students was phenomenal. It was truly inspirational for many of our own students here at Salford City College, as it gave them first-hand knowledge and experience of the tremendous opportunities available to them. Backstage Academy is an exciting university destination for our creative students.”

Lighting Designer, James Eccles, who attended Salford City College said:

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“My time at Backstage Academy has been brilliant. It is totally different from other universities. Backstage is much more career focused and there are lots of opportunities to get hands on with the kit. It’s been fantastic to have the opportunity to put what I’ve learnt into practice at my old college.”

Backstage Academy provides world-class training for the live events and creative industries. Located on campus at Production Park in Yorkshire, the world’s premier campus for live events, film and TV, it offers specialist undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, short courses, bespoke training programmes and e-learning for the live events and creative industries.

For more information visit https://www.backstage-academy.co.uk/

Experts at the University of Salford have published a new guide for business owners on the pros and cons of metaverses, as more and more SMEs consider harnessing these fast-developing technologies to innovate and grow their companies.

The 170-page book explores the workings of the virtual world of metaverses and how these can help tech-minded companies in a secure way, as well as highlighting the risks involved.

It has been compiled by Umran Ali, John O’Hare and Allen Fairchild from the Greater Manchester Cyber Foundry after the trio began analysing blockchain, crypto-currencies, virtual and augmented reality, non-fungible tokens and other aspects of metaverses for a business which had approached them for technical help.

Allen said their undertaking began as a technical paper, but grew and grew as the trio delved deeper into the subject at the GM Cyber Foundry’s virtual laboratory. Their book, Money in Metaverses, has initially been published online on the GitHub plat form as an open source guide which can be updated. It may be produced in print at a later date.

Allen is a GM Cyber Foundry analyst, developer and team leader working alongside Umran, a senior lecturer in creative media, and John, who is a Bitcoin researcher and the technical director of the Octave Lab, a multi-modal immersive research system at the University of Salford.

Lorena Gomez, the GM Cyber Foundry project manager, also contributed to the book.

Allen said:

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“At the GM Cyber Foundry, we have been collaborating with SMEs over recent years, responding to their questions about emerging trends.

“As part of this mission, we were asked about new developments in terms of the value and trust in metaverses.

“We were interested in researching this field, and our virtual lab has become bigger and bigger as new technologies have emerged, so it seemed a logical step to compile the book as a guide to businesses looking at ways to enter the metaverse world and capitalise on the opportunities available.

“The aim is to show how the technologies and software can help businesses to enable them to make an informed decision if they wish to get a foot in the door of metaverses on a global stage without compromising their cyber security.

“It looks at blockchain, Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, NFTs, Web3 and more. Metaverse technologies are extremely fast-paced, and many aspects and topics are enormously complex.

“We have exhaustively researched the emerging consensus narrative to try to figure out how these technologies might serve SMEs from a perspective of security best practice. We have also included a how-to guide to the software used in metaverses.”

 

Allen added that, while there are many advantages for SMEs in entering the metaverse world, there are also pitfalls of which they should be aware.

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“There are many ways to get the technology wrong,” 

The GM Cyber Foundry is a £6m scheme which helps innovative companies to develop digital products and services in a cyber-secure way.

More than 140 business have benefited from the initiative since its launch in 2018.

It brings together experts from Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Manchester, the University of Salford and Lancaster University to share their expertise with SMEs and help them to innovate and grow while defending data, systems and software from cyber-attacks.

In partnership with the GM Cyber Foundry, companies undertake research and development projects which are fully funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Photo: left to right: Umran Ali, John O’Hare and Allen Fairchild. 

Inevitably as more homes are built across Salford the demand for school places will see an increase in the worst affected areas.

In recent years the Weaste area has seen its fair share of new builds with developments upon former school sites such as Tootal Drive Primary and Hope High School, as well as upon the former grounds of Salford Red Devils ground (The Willows) and the site of the old Weaste Cricket Club to name just a few.

At time of writing, even more new homes are being added in neighbouring Seedley which will only add to the burden placed upon the local schools.

This has lead to a situation in which Salford Council is now having to take 'temporary' measures to keep up with higher demand for places from the influx of newcomers that have come to settle in the area.

In order to meet this demand for Year 7 places, All Hallows RC High School on Eccles Old Road is set to make alterations to the school to enable a 'Temporary' increase in intake from 125 pupils to 150 over the coming two years.

Internal alterations to the building are set to be made in order to accommodate the new intake.

Across Salford, forecasts indicate that a further 490 year 7 places will be required between 2023 and 2027.

As part of plans to accommodate this, the government has invested in a new 750 place academy school in Little Hulton which will add an additional 150 places by September 2023.

Meanwhile the council is looking to liaise with existing schools in order to identify way to increase capacity in other key areas.

Over the past 4-years, 457 year 7 places have been added already across the City in order to cope with demand.

With even more homes set to be built across the city in the next 10-years it is only logical to expect the demand upon not only schools but also local services such as doctors and dentists to have an impact, so it is also logical to start that investment now rather than later.