Latest news with #KeeleUniversity
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Black Country Museum among regional winners at Visit England awards
The Black Country and Living Museum has been crowned the best large visitor attraction in the was among several West Midlands tourist destinations that celebrated gold medals in Visit England's annual awards on Court Country House Hotel and Spa in Warwickshire was named large hotel of the year while Keele University's won business events venue of the year.A further seven places in the region won silver and bronze medals. The museum saw off competition from Liverpool Football Club Tours and Experiences and the National Space Centre to claim the top spot, describing it as "a moment of real pride not just for the museum but for the entire Black Country region"."To take home the gold is a proud moment for us all and a well-earned recognition of the passion and dedication of our staff and volunteers," director and CEO Andrew Lovett said."I'm thrilled we can now celebrate this with our visitors, who are such a vital part of our story."The museum said its staff and volunteers were at "the heart of this success" as their "passion, knowledge and care bring our site to life every day". The attraction recently added an industrial quarter to the site which features buildings and characters from the 1950s, a 1960s high street and numerous other recreations reflecting 250 years of local than 1,800 entries from across the country were whittled down to 52 national finalists judged by tourism industry experts at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange, the museum of Wedgwood in Staffordshire won silver in the International Tourism category, which councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, described as an "amazing recognition"."It's great that on the first ever Stoke-on-Trent day, we can further spotlight the very best our city has to offer in tourism and show people what a wonderful part of the country this city is to explore and enjoy." Other regional winners included: Self Catering Accommodation of the Year (silver) - Trevase Cottages, HerefordshireB&B and Guest House of the Year (silver) - Abbots Grange Manor House, WorcestershireAccessible and Inclusive Tourism Award (bronze) - The Courtyard, HerefordshireTaste of England Award (bronze) - The Riverside at Aymestrey, HerefordshireUnsung Hero Award (bronze) - Andrew Hurley, Avoncroft Museum, Worcestershire Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Set up universities in towns and small cities
An MP has called for universities to be established in smaller cities and towns in order to drive Norman, Conservative MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire and shadow leader of the Commons, said he had identified 50 places which lacked a said he believed setting up the new campuses could be a catalyst for economic first students graduated this year from Hereford's New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, he said, with the "hands-on skill of an apprenticeship, but also the rigour of a master's degree". Mr Norman said he believed smaller institutions, which were more "agile", had been lost from the university landscape."It highlights what I think could be considered a lack of ambition in the way we've thought about higher education as a country over the last 50, possibly even longer, years," he said there was a huge need for specialist science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills, and that his proposal could help plug the gap. Job cuts His calls come against a backdrop of difficulties for the university sector across the university bosses have announced redundancies in recent months as they attempt to reduce University announced earlier this week that it would cut 150 jobs, the University of Nottingham announced 258 job losses in April, while in Scotland the University of Edinburgh said 350 jobs would be week the government announced it was considering a 6% levy on international students, which industry body Universities UK said could negatively impact student MP and Commons leader Lucy Powell said Mr Norman's suggestion sounded "like a really very important and good innovation to provide technical education and engineering pathways, particularly for people from backgrounds that might not otherwise access such education." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'I'm running the London Marathon after paralysis'
"The charity came at a time when I really needed them and pulled me out of what was a really bad situation." Spencer Wadsworth is preparing to run further than he ever has before at the London Marathon on Sunday, a challenge in which he will raise money for the organisation that helped him. The 20-year-old, who grew up in Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, suffered a life-changing injury while playing in a rugby match for Keele University in October 2023. He said he decided to take on the marathon to give something back to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Injured Players Foundation, which helped him realise his injury "wasn't the end". Mr Wadsworth's right arm was paralysed following damage to his brachial plexus, a group of nerves that sends signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand. He said the charity reached out after it heard about his injury and helped him to change an "unhealthy mindset". "They bring people with similar injuries together and when you come into contact with these people you start to realise 'oh I'm not the only one'. "It's a really positive, uplifting environment," he said. Mr Wadsworth added that the charity also planned to fund a modified car so he could continue to drive. "I can't think of any charity that would make me run a marathon other than this one," he said. He has already raised more than £2,500 for the cause and said he hoped to raise £4,000 by Sunday. He will wear a specialised sleeve during the race to keep his arm close to his body and prevent it from "dropping out of its socket". "I've never been much of a strong runner, but I'd like to think I've seen a lot of progression since I first came out of hospital and I couldn't walk. "I always say it's a privilege to run and I've been consistent in my training so I am quietly confident," he added. The 20-year-old said the technology to restore the feeling to his arm was not currently available, but added "we're not losing hope". "I'm still doing lots of physio with the hope that the nerves could re-grow and the technology in prosthetics is moving quickly. "But it is something you have to come to terms with, you can't live every day and hope it's just going to get better, you do have to come to terms with it." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Mental health support drives marathon runner Woman, 73, runs marathon 38 years after first race Student's rugby paralysis inspires marathon goal RFU Injured Players Foundation
BBC News
23-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Keele student to run London Marathon for charity after paralysis
"The charity came at a time when I really needed them and pulled me out of what was a really bad situation."Spencer Wadsworth is preparing to run further than he ever has before at the London Marathon on Sunday, a challenge in which he will raise money for the organisation that helped 20-year-old, who grew up in Stretton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, suffered a life-changing injury while playing in a rugby match for Keele University in October 2023. He said he decided to take on the marathon to give something back to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Injured Players Foundation, which helped him realise his injury "wasn't the end". Mr Wadsworth's right arm was paralysed following damage to his brachial plexus, a group of nerves that sends signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and said the charity reached out after it heard about his injury and helped him to change an "unhealthy mindset". "They bring people with similar injuries together and when you come into contact with these people you start to realise 'oh I'm not the only one'."It's a really positive, uplifting environment," he said. 'No other charity I'd run for' Mr Wadsworth added that the charity also planned to fund a modified car so he could continue to drive. "I can't think of any charity that would make me run a marathon other than this one," he has already raised more than £2,500 for the cause and said he hoped to raise £4,000 by Sunday. 'It's a privilege to be able to run' He will wear a specialised sleeve during the race to keep his arm close to his body and prevent it from "dropping out of its socket". "I've never been much of a strong runner, but I'd like to think I've seen a lot of progression since I first came out of hospital and I couldn't walk."I always say it's a privilege to run and I've been consistent in my training so I am quietly confident," he added. The 20-year-old said the technology to restore the feeling to his arm was not currently available, but added "we're not losing hope". "I'm still doing lots of physio with the hope that the nerves could re-grow and the technology in prosthetics is moving quickly."But it is something you have to come to terms with, you can't live every day and hope it's just going to get better, you do have to come to terms with it." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Japanese ambassador honours university blossoms
A university has been honoured by the Japanese ambassador for its collection of cherry blossom trees. Keele University was officially awarded a certificate of commendation by ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki on Wednesday. Mr Suzuki visited the Staffordshire university to hand over the certificate in a ceremony also attended by the former British ambassador to Japan, Paul Madden. The university's collection of flowering cherry trees, one of the largest in Europe, will soon be in full bloom and are free-of-charge to visit. "It is remarkable that this collection has been built over decades by Keele's experts through their continuous efforts to gather Sakura cherry trees from Japan" Mr Suzuki said. The ambassador was given a tour of the collection, which contains more than 300 trees, comprising more than 200 different varieties – including some species that have become extinct in Japan. "I would like to express my deep appreciation to everyone who has contributed to building this exceptional collection," Mr Suzuki added. "I am convinced that it will continue to flourish in the years to come as a symbol of the enduring friendship between Japan and the UK." His visit marks the third time in two years that officials from the Embassy of Japan in the UK have visited the university to see its collection of cherry trees. The arrival of cherry blossom in spring is a significant event in Japan, with many festivals held and daily coverage on national news. Keele's 600-acre campus has contained flowering cherry trees since the first ornamental grounds were laid out in the 1940s. Dave Emley, a former geology technician at Keele and one of the curators of the university's cherry tree collection, said it was a huge honour to be recognised by the Japanese ambassador. "It's always a fantastic feeling to see people enjoying them," he said. "It gives people a taste of Japan in spring here in Staffordshire." Keele's collection of cherry trees is spread across its campus, with the aptly named Cherry Tree Walk, next to the university's chapel, and the Memorial Garden, providing two of the most Instagrammable locations for visitors. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. In pictures: Beautiful displays as spring blooms Cherry blossom tree in bloom at Benthall Hall Keele University
