The magazine for Friends of Coventry University

Spring/Summer 2011

Career ladder
Graduates reveal their employment stories

Three steps
to growing a successful graduate business

win

olate Choc s and ie good offers book 7 for

3 page s See re detail o m

Global networking Coventry reunites with graduates overseas

Behind the headlines

Graduate and former Sun newspaper editor David Yelland reveals how his passion for journalism began in Coventry

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Welcome
Getting your career off the ground after graduation can be a challenge. We have graduati stories from four very different graduates in this issue though who explain how they g where they are today. From got the 80s graduate who became a 80 Chocolate Maker to the Nurse who did a Choc professional Diploma in the 90s nd pro out how they achieved success by o reading their stories on pages 8-11.

We also have a special interview with former Sun newspaper editor David Yelland in this issue who talks about his days living and studying in Coventry on page 20. Its interesting to read about Davids view of the city back then and how he sees it today. This issue is also packed with your updates, letters, reunions and events so sit back and spend a bit of time catching up with your University.

32 9 28

Keep in touch Kristina

PS Were planning a fantastic Alumni Weekend in 2012 read pages 38-39 for more details.

The alumni team

Alumni Relations Manager Maria Haslam Alumni Relations Ofcer Kristina Anders Data Ofcer Katharine Beer Annual Fund Ofcer Brian Wilson Head of Fundraising Matt Feeley Development Manager Chris Smith

Contact us
Telephone: +44 (0) 24 7688 8589 Email: alumni@coventry.ac.uk Post: FOCUS, The Development Ofce, Alan Berry Building, Room 10, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB Website: www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni E-News: Subscribe to a free monthly alumni e-newsletter by emailing SUBSCRIBE to alumni@coventry.ac.uk Social Networking: Become a Fan and join the Friends of Coventry University group on Facebook, link up with the University and other professionals on the Linkedin website.

Credits:
This magazine is written and edited by Cheryl Liddle, designed by Rob Hearne for Coventry University, photography by Graham Harwood and printed by Emmersons Press. Cover photo by Charles Shearn. Special thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of evolve. Please keep sending in your stories.
This magazine is published twice a year for alumni of Coventry University. All letters, photos and news are welcomed but we reserve the right to edit any contributions. The opinions expressed in evolve are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reect those of the Alumni Relations Ofce or Coventry University.

www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

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contents
regulars
12 Get Connected
Find out what old friends are doing now.

Vice-Chancellor Madeleine Atkins explains how the University is embracing future challenges
I am delighted that 94 percent of last years graduates went into employment, further study or professional training. It is evident from the updates from graduates in this issue of evolve that many of you are using your experience at Coventry to move into senior roles or develop businesses of your own. All universities are faced with the challenge of setting higher fees in light of the Government funding cuts and while we believe we can offer rst rate value for money on all our courses, we recognise the concern of students. We are committed to providing a competitively priced, excellent academic experience with opportunities for international study and a strong commitment to the employability of our graduates. Some of you recently spoke to students as part of a call campaign to help raise funds for scholarships and bursaries as well as gather support for projects. Your eagerness to help out was overwhelming and were delighted that so many of you want to support your alma mater and its future students. Thank you for your ongoing association with Coventry University we really value your engagement with us.

20

18 My University
How two mature students graduated and set up their own business

24 Letters
Your views and opinions about Coventry

26 Lecturer in Focus
Graduates say farewell to lecturer David Browne as he retires from the University

34 Reunions
See who has been back on campus or reuniting around the world

36 Events
Find out about the latest events and activities on offer to graduates

features
08 Career Ladder
Four graduates reveal all about their career progression since Coventry

16 The Grand Challenge

7
competitions and offers
23 Book Prize
Win a copy of David Yellands book The Truth about Leo

Solving the worlds biggest challenges with a targeted approach to applied research

20 Headline Act
How one graduate became one of the most inuential people in the country

28 Changing Lives
How graduates support the University

30 Art Direction
What life was like studying at Coventrys School of Art in the 1950s

37 Chocolate Goodies
Win chocolate goodies made by a graduate and chocolate maker

32 Growing a Business
Advice for developing a new business idea

37 Benets and Services

Find out about all the discounts and benets of being a member of FOCUS

40 University Gifts
Buy Coventry University branded souvenirs to remind you of your student days

This magazine is available in alternative formats on request. Please contact via +44 (0) 24 7688 8589 or alumni@coventry.ac.uk

Professor Madeleine Atkins Vice-Chancellor

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update
Writing on wall for graduates
wall of memories written by graduates made an emotional mark on graduation week in November last year. Hundreds of graduates and their families left messages of congratulations and thanks, as well as memories and sad farewells on a special wall in the Students Union (see box for an example of some of the messages). Over 3,000 graduates adorned their cap and gowns and walked through the Cathedral in honour of

The latest campus and graduate news

their hard work and commitment at the University during the special graduation week. The Alumni Ofce also asked graduates to vote for their dream job after graduation and the most popular roles were a Princess and a Ninja both with 25% of the votes each. Pirates and Chocolatiers came in joint-second with 20% of the votes and only 10% of those asked wanted to be a Magician. All graduates received a commemorative pin badge from

the alumni ofce and were invited to place their messages on the wall, and be entered into a prize draw to win chocolate hampers and other treats. Les Young was one of the rst to graduate from a course in Advancing Practice, Emergency Care and won a Green & Blacks chocolate hamper in the prize draw. Les said: Im thrilled to win a hamper I will now have a very happy wife! I am already working in my dream job as an emergency nurse supporting the troops. But I wouldnt mind being a Ninja! MEMORY WALL HIGHLIGHTS May this wonderful place of learning go from strength to strength. People have reached many goals. My daughter Naomi has enjoyed her time in Coventry and is now practising her midwifery in Swmelon. Thank you. My mommy is grajuwayting. When I grow up Im going to be a ners.

Professional development
raduates will now nd it even easier to continue their professional development at Coventry thanks to a new website and coordinated approach. Access to information and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses has been made much simpler and there are key contacts for businesses who want to nd out more

about bespoke provision. Statistics show that 80% of the 2020 workforce is already in employment, which will create a huge skills gap if employees do not update their training. Project Manager Sara Lines said: Investing in higher-level skills through CPD will ensure professionals remain competitive

in the global economy. The speed of technological, global and demographic change will leave some individuals behind if they dont upskill now. The University offers a range of courses in key industry sectors. Call +44 (0) 24 7688 7798 or visit www.coventry.ac.uk/cpd for more details.

www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

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SPEAKERS: (l-r) Peter Shillcock, Professor David Bailey and Martyn Hollingsworth at a recent event.

Global leaders inspire

A
lumni are inspiring postgraduates about global leadership as part of a new programme. The Global Leaders Programme, which started in 2010, gives postgraduates the opportunity to enhance their leadership potential for global organisations. Graduates with experience of working in multi-national companies have been offering their expert advice to students on the Programme. Among the presenters at recent events have been graduate Peter Shillcock, Chief Operating Ofcer for Manganese Bronze Holdings and Martyn Hollingsworth, Director, Vehicle Evaluation from Jaguar Land Rover pictured with Professor David Bailey. The University launched the programme in response to demands from employers for individuals with the skills to work in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary teams. www.coventry.ac.uk/glp for more information.

Opportunities at Jaguar Land Rover

www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com for more information.

aguar Land Rover is looking for experienced graduates interested in a career change. The global organisation is looking to recruit graduates with commercial skills to join its market-leading Purchasing team. Jaguar Land Rover contacted the alumni ofce to target Coventry graduates with the opportunity to apply for positions and the vacancies were rst posted on the FOCUS Linkedin page and in the alumni e-newsletter.

The opportunity will mean putting commercial skills and purchasing, sales or project management experience to the test to drive Jaguar Land Rovers ongoing growth and help create some of the most desirable, innovative and exhilarating vehicles in the world. John Beck Senior Buyer at Jaguar Land Rover said: While we are advertising for Purchasing careers, the experience is not so specic. The company is looking for a whole range of disciplines.

Recognition for lecturers

T
wo of the Universitys lecturers are celebrating recognition in very different elds. Keith Burnham, Director of CTAC and Associate Head of Mathematics,

Statistics and Engineering Science, received an Honorable Mention Award at the centenary celebration of Technical Universities in Poland. This prestigious award is one of only ten to recognise the scientic contributions made to the Wroclaw University of Technology by someone outside of Poland. The award recognises the benets from synergies between control engineering and computer science which have arisen over the years at Coventry and Wroclaw, such as the launch of the common Masters programme in Advanced Informatics and Control which will recruit its rst

cohort this year. Meanwhile, John Beech, Head of Sport & Tourism Applied Research, has won the Football Supporters Federation Writer of the Year award. Johns blog, Football Management (http://footballmanagement. wordpress.com), follows the nances and other management issues of football clubs, including the high level of insolvency in the English game. Malcolm Clarke, Chairman of the Football Supporters Federation came to Coventry (pictured above left) personally to give the award to Dr. Beech in front of his colleagues from the Business School.

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London Campus opens

oventry University ofcially opened its new London Campus (CULC) in December 2010 and its rst students have started a range of MBA programmes and topup undergraduate programmes. Situated in the centre of Londons nancial district, just 250 metres from Liverpool Street Station, CULC has already attracted international students from countries such as China, India, Nigeria and parts of the Middle East. It boasts state-of-the-art facilities that include a unique fully simulated nancial trading oor to enhance business teaching and learning at the campus. The CULC courses have been developed in consultation with

Commonwealth Gold
hysiotherapy graduate Nicky Hunt won two gold medals for archery at the Commonwealth Games in October 2010. Nicky, who graduated from Coventry in 2006, won the womens individual compound gold and was also a member of Englands three-strong team along with Nichola Simpson and Danielle Brown that came rst in the womens compound event. While Nicky studied at Coventry she was also a recipient of a sports scholarship for her archery. These scholarships are given to students who have achieved excellence in a sporting performance. Vince Mayne, Deputy Director of Student Health and Well Being said how impressed the University was with Nickys success. We are all very proud of Nicky. Her dedication to her sport has truly paid off and Im sure I speak on behalf of her former lecturers in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences as well where Nicky is remembered as a popular and committed student. The University gives the sports scholarships to student athletes to support them with costs such as tuition fees, accommodation, sports services, books, equipment and travel. They are a bonus for student athletes to help them reach their sporting potential. Nicky has achieved gold in India and now we will all be rooting for her in 2012 to do the same in London at the Olympics, said Vince. Visit www.nickyhunt.co.uk.

business leaders and prospective MBA students. Janet Hannah, Director of CULC, said: CULC gives the international student the opportunity to learn about business and to study and work in one of the worlds leading nancial markets, London. It is the ideal setting for international students to immerse themselves in both the academic and practical side of the business world. CULC is at the very heart of Londons nancial district and is an exciting place to be. For more information about courses and facilities visit the website www.coventry.ac.uk/ londoncampus.

Volunteering case studies

VOLUNTEERS: Students enjoying the annual Big Challenge Project

he Students Union is looking for graduates who were involved in volunteering activities while they were students. CUSU Volunteering and Employability (formerly Horizon Volunteering) is an award-winning service and wants to use the case studies to promote the benets of volunteering to students. Volunteering & Employability Manager Corrine Gordon said: Its your views on your experience that makes the difference! We know that many of you had a fantastic time whilst volunteering, and gained skills and experience to help you develop your career so please volunteer to write a short case study to tell us all about it!

Graduates who want to write a case study should include the following information: Where you volunteered and what you got up to? The benets to you both personally and professionally. If it helped you with your career development and how? Anything about your experience you think potential volunteers would like to know. Any photos of your volunteering experience that you would like to be featured with your case study. Email Corinne Gordon at c.gordon@coventry.ac.uk with your case study or call +44 (0) 24 7679 5210.

www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

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Memory Bank
Graduates remember their favourite lecturer
Dr Adrian Wood and Dr Sue Charlesworth (Geography lecturers) were by far the best lecturers I have ever come across. Both very knowledgeable, inspirational, supportive and always willing to share a joke! Thanks to both for being part of the happiest days of my life. Kiren Rana, (Geography, 2006) My favourite tutor was Senior Lecturer Alistair Gray. He was down to earth, knowledgeable, interested in his students and caring. Kimberley Hughes, (Nursing and Paramedic Science, 2008 My favourite tutor was Jon Baxter, he introduced me into the CAD/CAM world in a very practical and learning by doing way. It was the starting point in my career to become a computer aided design expert! Alejandro Robledo Gallo (European Engineering Studies, 2007) My favourite tutors were Dr Khalid Abdullah and Dr Jonathan Salked. Fully specialised in their areas, brilliant presentation skills. Very focused and excellent practical knowledge. Abdul Saboor (Innovative Management, 2009) Steve Foster and Nick Squires were both totally committed to making a success of the law faculty in the period following conversion to University status. Nick is utterly charming and kindly and Steve is the epitome of tough but fair. A great combination of educators. Charles E. Shepherd (Law, 1994)

Rescue fellowship
ne graduate has been awarded a Winston Churchill Travelling Fellowship to do research in Canada and the USA about rescue teams who have attended large scale disasters. Ian Nuttall (Specialist Rescue Diploma, 2009), is a Leicestershire Fire Fighter and was a member of the 61 strong UK Fire and Rescue Service International Search and Rescue Team (UK-ISAR) that went out to New Zealand recently. Ian went over to Christchurch following the 6.3 Richter scale earthquake which caused widespread destruction and multiple fatalities in the city centre. The main aim of UK-ISAR is to help with rescue efforts in natural disasters and Ian is skilled in that area. It was a privilege to be able to use the knowledge and skills that I have learnt to benet both the New Zealand authorities and the families of the victims. I now aim to use

this personal experience of being deployed to a disaster to assist with my Travelling Fellowship. Ian will meet rescue teams and their members to share experiences from other large scale disasters, and to see what can be learnt from both attending these types of events as well as training for them. After graduating from his diploma at Coventry, Ian was chosen to be a member of Leicestershires contingent of the UK Fire and Rescue Services volunteer International Search and Rescue (UK ISAR) Team. The idea is to go forward and build on what I did at Coventry and what I am doing now with the Fellowship to progress in the world of disasters and helping others, said Ian about his Fellowship. For more information about the Fellowship visit the website www.wcmt.org.uk.

RESCUE: Ian in New Zealand helping after the earthquake and (inset) nding a dog among the rubble

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Career ladder
Four graduates reveal how their careers and lives have progressed since leaving Coventry

The business woman

LORNA MARSH (Dance and Professional Practice, 2006), was the rst woman in a wheelchair in the UK to graduate from a dance degree. She started her new venture Smooth Wheels in 2010. AFTER GRADUATION I have been teaching children with autism dance and drama for various organisations, the main one being ActOne ArtsBase. I was a head teacher there running regular classes. THE IDEA About three and a half years ago I wanted to go travelling but realised that most of the information out there was provided by people who dont use a wheelchair. I thought it would be great if there was a database of information (updated by members) full of accessible social venues, such as clubs and restaurants all over the UK. As well as travel information, I thought Smooth Wheels could offer a database of PAs/carers that people could turn to in an emergency or while travelling away from home. I was nding it difcult to nd the right type of person (PA/carer) for the activities I wanted to take part in and its extremely frustrating if your PA is off sick and you need emergency cover. Most disabled people I know have at some point had to cope without a PA due to sickness or an emergency. When you are disabled you are very dependent on a PA/carer helping you to get out of bed, for example. I am hoping that Smooth Wheels could be a comfort blanket in those situations. BIGGEST CHALLENGE Getting the website created was the hardest thing Ive ever done, much harder than the degree and I didnt think that was possible! When you have an idea in your head its so difcult to explain it to somebody else, especially if you are dyslexic and as particular as I am! It didnt help that the website designers are based in America but we got there in the end after a lot of stress. I am beginning to slowly feel proud but really need other people to get behind the whole concept and help Smooth Wheels develop. FUTURE AIMS I want Smooth Wheels to help disabled people in the UK by becoming a one stop shop; a network of information; a place to nd accommodation; PAs to go travelling with and places to go to while on the road. For more information visit www.smoothwheels.co.uk.

www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

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The Chocol ate

Maker

DUFFY SHEARDOWN (Politics, History and International Relations, 1980) used his degree to get a job in Formula 1 motor racing. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Duffy recently launched a new venture called Red Star Chocolate with a mission to create the best chocolate bars in the world.

AFTER GRADUATION I worked for a small breglass company during the summer to earn money for University and decided if I was going to work in that eld, I would look to the top end of the business Formula 1. I applied for one job with an F1 team and got it. There were very few people working with carbon bre at the time so the race teams had to train the technicians themselves. I used to take students from Coventry University on industrial placements when I managed a race car construction company called G-Force on the South coast. That put me in contact with Bernard Porter who was highly thought of by the students. A few years later I bumped into him at the Autosport Show at the NEC and he asked if I might be willing to share some of my experiences with students on the Motorsports course. I just do a few days a year rambling on about the old days. THE IDEA I heard a BBC Radio 4 Food programme which mentioned

that only Cadburys made chocolate from beans in this country. My racing approach made me think how hard can that be? I could do that, so I started looking into it. Id already done 25 years in racing by then, which felt like enough. I made chocolate at home for a year and then, when the race team I worked for closed, I took the plunge and rented a factory and bought the equipment. Red Star is a name I used in racing when consulting so I carried it over to the chocolate business.It hints at the ethical basis of what I am trying to do dealing direct with the cocoa farmers and paying over the odds for coca beans so that they can pay their staff properly. BIGGEST CHALLENGE I dont look at things in that way. Racing is a constant series of challenges, arriving one after another after another. You just get on with it and learn that change is the nature of the business. In chocolate I need more stockists but we are growing steadily.

FUTURE AIMS Duffys Chocolate needs to be available in more delis and specialist chocolate shops so I will be concentrating on that this year. I am about to introduce another two single-origin bars to the range plus bars incorporating avours a milk chocolate with cocoa nibs and salt, and a dark chocolate with cocoa nibs and coffee. Quality has to be kept at the highest level. Its already the best chocolate in the UK and so I have to aim to make it the best in the world. As for motor racing we shall see it is our rst race this weekend and that should give us a baseline and show us how much faster we need to be. It will be the usual things some aero improvements, lose some weight and get the mechanical grip to the highest possible level whilst keeping reliable. It sounds easy if you say it quickly enough! Visit Duffys website at www.redstarchocolate. com to buy the bars or turn to page 37 to try and win some!

Pictures courtesy of Martin Christy

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The Sportsman
SAMSON LAM (Sports Management, 2002) only took two weeks to nd a job after graduation and is still working with the Hong Kong Cricket Club and learning about the game. The Club is steeped in history and was one of the rst Cricket Clubs to launch outside of England. AFTER GRADUATION This was my rst job since graduation I started out as the Clubs Recreation Assistant and am now the Assistant Sports and Events Manager. I remember nding the vacancy in the Classied Post. I was quite lucky back then as I only sent off three application letters for different job vacancies and got accepted. It took me about two weeks to nd my rst job. THE IDEA I always wanted to work in the sports and recreation eld so it is ideal for me to be working for this Club. Although I did not know anything about Cricket before working here and I am still far from fully understanding the game! I mainly deal with anything related to sports within the Club. It is a members Club, so I deal with members enquiries, comments and complaints. The Club also offers a variety of sporting facilities including tennis courts, squash courts, gym, golf simulators, swimming pool, TenPin bowling alley, indoor cricket centre and multi-purpose sports hall. My team and I ensure the daily running and maintenance of these facilities. We also assist different sports teams with their participation in the local leagues and social events. I also assist in running various clubs or private events (mainly sports related) for Club members. BIGGEST CHALLENGE There are always new requests from our members and we also need to constantly come up with new ideas to please members. The most recent challenge for me has to be taking up part of the responsibility of building a close relationship with China Cricket in developing a new sport in the country. My work had previously always been inside the Club, so it is new and exciting for me to be working on something external. FUTURE AIMS To continue to develop and increase the standard of Hong Kong Football has always been my long term goal; so hopefully I will have the chance to achieve this at some stage in my life. To nd out more about the Hong Kong Cricket Club visit http://www.hkcc.org/ and for information on Sports Management courses visit www.coventry.ac.uk/pg/sport.

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www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

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The Nurse
JAYNE ARMITAGE (Specialist Professional Practice, 1997) has been nursing since the 1970s and returned to Coventry in the 90s to top up her skills in Orthopaedics. Jayne has continued to further her career with extra qualications and says being a nurse is her ideal job. AFTER GRADUATION I rst did a nursing qualication in 1977 at Warwickshire School of Nursing. Id always had an interest in orthopaedic nursing, which is why I decided to do the diploma. Having the orthopaedic knowledge gave me more condence and when students came on to the ward I was able to be a mentor and assess them. I could also explain to patients about the surgery and answer any questions that they didnt feel they could ask the doctor. I work in Rugby St Cross, which is part of University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (UHCW), in Orthopaedic Pre-Op Assessment. I see anyone who is admitted for routine surgery to do a health screening to make sure they are well enough to go on the waiting list and for anaesthetic. THE IDEA I always wanted to be a nurse from when I was very young. I dont know why I just knew it was something I wanted to do. You see people come in quite poorly and its so good to see them going out looking pain free. Its not just the patients; its the families as well. They become friends. Some people will come back and let you know how they got on in surgery. Its good to see that they do remember you. I went on to get an MA in Health, Law and Ethics in 2006 from the University of Wales, on a distant learning course, as I had always been interested in the law and how it ts in with nursing. BIGGEST CHALLENGE Being able to carry on my career, have a family and still be in a position where you can continue to learn and keep on top of things is a challenge! I have two daughters and when they were both young, nursing enabled me to escape the nappies and the children routine for a while. My eldest daughter was very young when I was studying for my diploma, which was hard work. Id had my youngest daughter when I went on to study for my MA. The MA made me think about my practice and what a ne line there is between right and wrong. You have to put aside what you believe in yourself and concentrate on what the patient wants. Its a challenge but its something I enjoy passing on to students now too getting them to think differently. FUTURE PLANS I dont want to do any more formal qualications as I cant go any further without going into education full time. Im a hands on nurse so Im not interested in moving into a management role as I would miss the patient contact. Im happy doing the role I do now. To nd out more about nursing courses visit www.coventry.ac.uk/hls

Thank you to everyone who has updated the alumni ofce with your career details. The information is so important for the University to get a clear picture of the kinds of careers graduates are moving into. Your stories are inspiring students about their future careers. Please email alumni@coventry.ac.uk with your information. You could also win a 25 voucher for your efforts!

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evolve get connected

getconnected
Graduated 1980s

Get back in touch with old friends. Coventry graduates reveal where they are now
Graduated 1960s Anna Phillips (nee Brian) Fine Art, 1966
I left Coventry College of Art and embarked on a teaching career, while also continuing to paint. In 1986 I had a picture hung in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and have shown there a number of times since. At present I have taken a new direction with print-making.

Jonathan Brew Business Law, 1977

I qualied as a solicitor in Oct 1980 and became a partner at Harrison Clark Worcester in 1985 and senior partner in 2003. The rm is a legal 500 rm and last year it opened a new ofce by merger with Jordans in Cheltenham. We have 160 staff and 20 partners.

Neelam Joshi Biology/ Geography, 1981

When I graduated, Britain was undergoing a recession (some things never change). After working on an organic farm in Devon, clerical duties at Everready Batteries for more than two years, I worked as a Stewardess for British Airways for almost three years before I met my husband while on holiday in the US. The same year we married I settled in New Jersey, US, and joined the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and got another degree in Interior Design after four years. I had my rst baby in the summer of 1991 the same year I graduated. I worked part time with designers for a while until deciding to open my own home based business in silver jewellery ve years ago. I import all my items from India, Israel and Turkey and sell through a number of stores and salons here in New Jersey. While I havent used my science degree per se, it was an excellent education. I have fond memories of the lectures in computer programming, our ecology eld trips on the beach in driving rain in Pembroke and staying in a beautiful house by the lake in the Lake District. The population studies we did in Cardiff, topography measurements in elds, scrumpy in Devon pubs...the list goes on. I made some of my best friends there who remain nearest and dearest to me still. Best years of self discovery and angst!

Graduated 1970s

Peter Helliwell Modern Languages, 1979 Alison Holden Applied Social Science, 1974
I took early retirement from the Home Ofce in 2009 at the age of 57. Not one regret! A satisfying career but great now to do what I like. I have taken early retirement after 28 years as a secondary-school teacher. I have a much-reduced income but my sanity is intact!

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www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

es updat il your issue Ema next for the lve to of evo try.ac.uk ven ni@co alum

evolve get connected Keith Guy Social Work, 1988

I have just completed a BA (Hons) Counselling at Plymouth University in one year (2010 full time) because of my CQSW at Coventry University. I am now a Clinical Director at the Red Poppy Company.

Graduated 1990s

Simon Kirk Fine Art, 1999

After graduating, I moved to London. High rents and long working hours meant I had little time to pursue my art career. Just over two years ago I moved back to my hometown of Leigh-on-Sea, which has a thriving art community. I became self-employed, started a website and this year had work in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. I am gradually building up a client base, name recognition and gallery interest despite tough economic times. Please visit www.simon-kirk.co.uk or www.facebook.com/simonkirkneart for more information.

Maureen McNall Modern Studies, 1990

After graduating, I worked as a Fundraiser for a Marine Charity in Coventry, I also carried on with my role as Jazz Correspondent for the Coventry Evening Telegraph and other publications. On moving to Ireland, I wrote a short book on the Social History of my family. Ive done some broadcasting on local radio and read articles I wrote for our Arts Festival. Im also involved with our local Heritage society. In recent years Ive become very interested in Classical Civilization and have visited many of the ancient sites in Greece, Cyprus and Italy, as well as read much on the subject. Im currently writing a novel set in the rst part of the 20th century. I keep up to date with whats going on in Coventry through my family (my daughter is a teacher) and news. Taking a degree course is one of the best things Ive ever done. Ive been recommending it to young people ever since.

Stella Coote Occupational Therapy, 1992

I retired from the National Health Service as an Occupational Therapist in 1996 due to a back injury. In 2006 I was awarded a BSc at Wolverhampton University in Health Studies. In 2007 I was awarded a PGCE. I taught students with learning difculties at Wolverhampton College and in 2010 I was awarded an MA (Special and Inclusive Education) at University of Worcester. I am now continuing my academic studies.

Ahmad Faisaluddin Business studies, 1997

Since graduating, I have been involved in Malaysias (my home country) Oil and Gas industry. My area of specialisation focuses on Project Management (for both the onshore and offshore sectors of the industry). It has been hard at times but it is quite rewarding, and has enabled me to travel and work in various parts of the country. I plan to continue to enjoy it more (and probably get a chance for an international posting in the future).

Olivier Descottes European Engineering Studies, 1995

I have been living in Argentina, Buenos Aires, since 2008. Ive created ACCS Iberoamerica (Air Conveyors and Consulting Services).

Stephen Hall Civil Engineering, 1992

I am an Associate Director for Arup, responsible for a series of major highway projects in Wales and Northern Ireland with a portfolio value of over 200m.

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Graduated 2000s John Findlay Automotive Engineering, 2003

After taking part in the TV show Robot Wars, I started my own company. After seven years of events, I secured a deal with a nancial investor for a large show at the O2 over Easter 2011. Along with my Robot Wars events throughout the UK, I am also heavily involved in running educational projects in schools across the UK promoting engineering and teaching robotics.

Daniel Dalton International Relations and Politics, 2003 Timothy Read Technical Communication, 1994 (MA Design and Digital, 2000)
I have great memories of time spent propping up the Mandela and Biko Bars in the Students Union. I certainly cant forget the massive food ght in Priory Hall refectory in 1989. It took the decorators weeks to chisel the custard off the walls! Ive got fond memories of living with Chris, Jason, Fish, Alan and Enzo the cat in my nal year. I moved house recently and found pictures of them all (some that cant be published) but we have now sadly lost touch. I worked for seven years in my fathers video production company before returning to Coventry to do my MA part time. I married my wonderful wife Elizabeth in 1998 and we now have two lovely boys Sam and Joshua. In 2001 I formed my own company specialising in Outside Broadcast camerawork. I currently work on the BBCs Antiques Roadshow and a wide variety of sports events including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Royal Ascot and Epsom Derby. Recent highlights include lming HRH Prince Charles and working for the BBC at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. I enjoyed my time at Coventry and it helped give me the condence to get out into the big wide world and make a life for me and my family. I currently live in Brussels. I got married this year and was a MEP candidate in the European Elections 2009. I am happy to come to speak to students about career opportunities in politics and European Institutions.

Mahir Gazdar Business Information, 2004

In addition to teaching Arabic at the City College, I teach at Coventry Muslim Resource Centre. I also do some casual interpretation across the city for people who cannot speak English. Apart from that, I have launched a website for teaching travel Arabic online: www.mahirteachesarabic.com

Lewis Green Business and Technology Management, 2006

I started work in 2006 for Morris / Kone Cranes as a Project Manager and was made redundant in late 2009 due to the economic situation in the UK. I started work again as a Project Manager for Flowserve in early 2010. I am still working for Flowserve currently.

Steven Hatcher Transport Design, 2006

I was a sales executive for the Ford Motor Company for eight months and then left to travel around Europe. When I returned I struggled to nd permanent employment in design but found freelance work designing public transport interiors. In May 2010, I secured employment with John Lewis as a Kitchen Designer.

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evolve get connected Chris Platt Motorsport Engineering, 2006

Following my graduation, I worked locally in Coventry for 12 months before being selected for a job in a Motorsport engineering rm (www.safetydevices.com) near Cambridge where I now live. During four years, I have progressed to become Design Engineer, improving and updating many of the existing product lines as well as being responsible for development of new products.

Ralph Solly Graphic Design and Illustration, 2008

Working as a graphic designer for a small studio called Fifteen65 outside Newbury, producing and designing limited edition books for music artists such as Pavarotti, Ronnie James Dio, Kiss, Jimi Hendrix with collectors vinyl. Also designing websites, brochures and brand identities for a variety of clients. In my freelance work I continue to design for three record labels among other clients. I run a record label and launched my website: www.HI-IM-RALPH.co.uk www.HI-IM-RALPH.blogspot.com

Paul Reilly Business Management, 2007 (and Joanne Slim)

In April 2009 I married another Coventry graduate, Joanne Slim, in Stratford-upon-Avon. In January of 2010 we started life in the Netherlands, having been moved there by the Dow Chemical company following their acquisition of my previous company (Rohm and Haas). It is a big change after twenty years of living in Coventry but we are both enjoying it immensely.

Mark Knechtle Electronics Technology, 2008

I worked for a year and a half as control engineer for ABB. Now I have changed to the E-mobility department within ABB.

Lydia Williams Physiotherapy, 2009

I am currently working for a private physiotherapy company called Physiotherapy Wales. I also work for the Cardiff Blues U18s rugby team and with the Wales Touch Rugby team for the 2010 European Championships and for the 2011 World Championships. We won the European Championships with the ladies team and the mens U35s team won a silver. I have been back to talk to third year Physiotherapy students about my work too and have been offered a modelling contract on the strength of the contacts I made at Coventry. Not bad as I only graduated in 2009!

Hiten Dhillon Law, 2009

I am a Barrister for Boyd Jahani, Barristers & Solicitors Metro Vancouver, BC, Canada. I am a litigator with a focus on Family Law, Criminal Law, Immigration law and down the road some Real Estate law. The rm only consists of trial lawyers.

John Horgan Automotive Engineering Design 1993, MBA Engineering Management 2005
I am a Purchasing Manager at Jaguar Land Rover with responsibility for products built at our Halewood facility. I am currently part of the launch team delivering the new Range Rover Evoque.

Research shows these are the best read pages in evolve so why not share your news and updates with alumni in the next issue of evolve? Email alumni@coventry. ac.uk with 100 words or less giving an overview of where in the world you are now. Keep in touch!

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evolve grand challenge

Grand Challenge
rotecting the world and making it a better place for future generations is a collective responsibility. But tackling some of the major challenges that society faces now and in the future requires specialist expertise, experience and research. Its a critical role that Higher Education Institutions can perform and Coventry University has revealed its contribution to solving these global issues with a new research strategy. The plan is

The

focused on six Grand Challenge Initiatives areas where the University has identied its expertise can have a signicant impact. These research areas offer massive opportunities for staff, students, graduates and partners of the University to collaborate on projects. Interdisciplinary activity across the Universitys departments and faculties will be encouraged to involve a broad range of expertise and strengthen results.

These initiatives will enable the University to work more closely with external partners, enhance the student experience, build on its reputation for high quality research and, most importantly, address grand challenges on a global scale. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Marshall is leading the new research agenda and said it had charged colleagues, students and partners with a new energy and enthusiasm.

6 ways to change the world >

1
Integrated Transport & Logistics
Supporting the provision of better-informed, efcient and safe integrated public transport and logistics services. Increasing business and Government understanding of the design, provision and use of transport/ logistics networks with emphasis on linking to environmental and information technologies.

2
Digital Media
This challenge is focused on both technological innovation and novel, creative content to nd new ways to exploit digital environments.

3
Ageing Society
Supporting a growing population of older people from the provision of healthcare and design of equipment to the positive aspects of wellbeing and social inclusion.

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evolve grand challenge

The University is on a mission to help solve some of the worlds biggest challenges in a targeted new approach to its research projects
Coventry has always been focused on research that has real tangible gains, that makes an impact on society and improves the way we live. While we will still be working on a complete range of research projects, these Grand Challenge Initiatives will ensure Coventry University is focused on helping to shape a brighter future for us all. A range of projects are already underway for all of the challenges and you can read more about them in the Universitys applied research magazine Innovate or by visiting www.coventry.ac.uk/researchnet. There are also ways Friends of Coventry University (FOCUS) members can help the University tackle societys most pressing concerns. You may work in a business that wants support in diversifying to environmental technologies, or you might be developing a product that will support older people or those living with long term health conditions. Perhaps you are keen on nding out more about how accurate measurement techniques can be introduced into your business or interested in adapting your home to reduce its carbon emissions. Whatever your interest, if you would like to be a part of the Universitys exciting plans contact Andrew Tonks Andrew.tonks@coventry.ac.uk for more information.

4
Low Impact Buildings
Delivering practical solutions, knowledge and innovation to industry and the public sector. It will cover a wide range of aspects from construction materials and methods to intelligent monitoring and user experience of new technologies.

5
Sustainable Agriculture and Food
This challenge will be focused on areas of policy, social science and management associated with development of sustainable domestic and international agriculture and food systems.

6
Low Carbon Vehicles
Testing, evaluating and designing the vehicles and associated systems needed to establish low carbon vehicles as viable alternatives to traditional modes of transport.

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evolve my university

A chef changed our lives

Meeting at Coventry led to marriage and business success for graduates Rob Marchant and Pam Cain
Why did you set up your own company? Rob and I were mature students and met at Coventry while I was studying Geography and then an MSc in Rural Change and Rob was studying Automotive Engineering Design as a BEng and MEng. After graduation I worked for a local regeneration agency and then set up as an environmental consultant and Rob worked for local company Brose Ltd and then Bentley Motor Cars in Crewe before setting up as an engineering design consultant. On a weekend away in Harrogate in 2008 we met a chef who was a diabetic. He had developed an idea for an insulin injection pen that could record when you had an injection and remind you of the next one but he could not get anyone to help him develop it. We recognised it had a lot of potential so we set up Mediche Ltd in 2009 to try and market the injection pen, which is now a full diabetes management system, called Mediche LifeOne.

Q A

How successful have you been so far? We won the Lord Stafford Award for Impact Through Innovation in 2009 for Mediche LifeOne, which was a surprise and have been selected as members of the ICT Excellence Club. We moved into the Universitys Health Design & Technology (HDTI) building this year. We have strong ties with Coventry (I grew up here as well as it being our University city) and the HDTI is a brilliant building; well be working alongside other health development companies too.

Q A

money to do other prototypes. Its not that easy at the moment as there is very little money about. Were also helping a group of doctors who have an idea for monitoring drug and alcohol dependents and treatments for some cancers and several other people have approached us with ideas too. What about the chef? He is a director of Mediche but hes also a restaurateur in Yorkshire and has set up a high-class catering company. He is abbergasted that his idea has been taken so far as he had tried without success on his own. It has changed his life and ours as well. For more information visit www.mediche.com or www.hdti.org.uk

Q A

What does Mediche do? We design, develop and engineer other peoples ideas to help them take them to market. If we can talk to people before they talk to anyone else we can help them to either design and develop it through us or point them in the right direction but all under the protection of non-disclosure agreements.

Q A

What about the future? We are in the process of raising money as were a start-up and havent been trading, were off the venture capitalists radar. We would prefer to fund as much as possible ourselves so we are gathering a number of small investors together to help us to develop the working prototype. As soon as we have that HDTI will do some testing for us. From there we can re-dene it and get the

Q A

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Enhance your

Employability
Want to nd out more about developing your career at Coventry or turning an interest into a vocation?
Come along to one of our postgraduate and part-time open days to nd out about the opportunities available. Subject experts will be available to advise you about our courses and you can have a tour around our dedicated facilities for postgraduate students. Our open days take place in the Graduate Centre, Jaguar Building on the city centre campus, accessible from Gosford Street, off Junction 3 of the ring road.

For a list of all forthcoming open days please visit www.coventry.ac.uk/pgopendays

For further information and to register, please email gradopendays.uni@coventry.ac.uk visit www.coventry.ac.uk/postgraduate or call + 44 (0) 24 7688 8614

evolve big interview

Headline
Graduate David Yelland reveals how a determination to succeed made him one of the most inuential people in the country as editor of Britains biggest selling newspaper

lot has happened in the 30 years since former Sun editor David Yelland was at Coventry studying for his Economics degree for him, the city and the University. As an industrial city suffering in a poor economic climate, David remembers Coventry in the mid1980s as a depressed place. And it wasnt just the city that felt down on its luck back then either. Losing all of his hair at the age of 12 through alopecia had severely affected Davids condence. He wore a wig throughout his time at Coventry and described himself as shy. He arrived at Coventry from Harrogate having come through an interesting set of A-levels. Although naturally intelligent and passionate about his subject, he wasnt comfortable in an academic setting.

Ive got a buttery brain, said David who returned to the city in 2010 to talk to aspiring journalists about his life and career. Ive got a very short attention span and I jump from thing to thing. When I got here, when I was 18, I felt I hadnt done as well as I should have done. I was a passionate economist and I wanted to be an academic, which is why my A-levels were so disappointing. I was very impressed with the degree course and I gradually woke up to the fact, during the rst year, that this was a serious place and these were serious people. It was at Coventry where his ambition to be a journalist started to take shape. From day one he admits 50 percent of his time was spent on journalism becoming the Communications Director of the Union in his rst term and continuing with the post throughout his three years at the University. The position meant that, as well as holding a place on the Exec Committee of the Students Union, David edited a weekly newsletter and appeared on local radio station Mercia Sound (now Mercia FM) once a month as a student rep.

I had a very determined attitude and I did have a faith that I might be quite good at it [journalism]. I knew I could string words together, that I could communicate in print what I couldnt at the time verbally. His determination proved to be his talisman during a time when unemployment was high and newspaper recruitment was low. After nearly 100 rejections from newspapers Ive still got the letters he nally landed a place on the prestigious Westminster Press Graduate Training Scheme.

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evolve big interview

act
I can remember being told by my housemates that I would never get into national journalism because you had to be an Oxbridge graduate. In fact, I only wanted to get into local newspapers. The idea of national newspapers was a dream beyond my horizons

Lead picture courtesy of EADT Suffolk Magazine and inset and cover photo by Charles Shearn

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evolve big interview

But to what David describes as a surprise he not only made it to the nationals but ended up editing a newspaper with the highest circulation in the UK. He was recruited to The Sun at the age of 27 by editor Kelvin MacKenzie to ll the new position of City Editor and within eight years, via a spell in the States with Rupert Murdochs newly acquired New York Post, he was editor. But Davids liberal politics (he was a card-carrying member of the SDP while at Coventry) were in sharp contrast to the almost exclusive Conservative staff of The Sun. Secondly, his drive for journalism was fuelled by his passion for politics and economics not showbusiness stories about people he had never heard of.

Journalism is changing rapidly, but I think there is a constant demand for news. From the outside it seems impossible to get in and everyone is brilliant, but it just isnt like that. Id be very positive and not give up
I was not a natural editor of The Sun, and I had never pretended to be one. But I think there was a feeling that The Sun had become slightly irrelevant. So Rupert asked me to provide a sheet of A4 with what I would do with the paper. I did that, he gave me the job, and I implemented what was on my sheet of A4 within about 10 weeks. Davids change of direction for the paper included enthusiastic backing of the Northern Ireland peace process. When Patrick Magee, whose bomb at the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the 1984 Conservative Party was intended to assassinate Margaret Thatcher and

her cabinet, was released as part of the Good Friday Agreement, David placed the story on page 2 instead of on the cover. The Sun sets the tone for the rest of the media, says David. The fact that The Sun didnt get angry about the peace process helped the Government. But it was while at The Sun that the cracks started to show. Last year, David admitted that he was drunk throughout his editorship of the paper and that it had led to some errors of judgement. But he confessed he rst suspected that he had an alcohol problem when he was a student at Coventry. I started drinking when I was 16 or 17 and I attended a lot of lectures half cut. I probably realised I had a problem in the last year of my degree but I only really admitted it when I was 42. David is frank and honest about the subject. He is keen to talk about it, being of the view that alcoholism and addiction need to be discussed more openly if society is to be able to deal with it sensibly. David hasnt had a drink for ve years now, ever since he learned that his ex-wife was dying of cancer and knew that he was to become a single parent. He wrote a book, The Truth About Leo, about an alcoholic widower father it is, he says, about the father he would have become if he hadnt stopped drinking. His transformation is complete now that he has moved from journalism to PR, via a business degree at Harvard. He is now a partner at Brunswick Group LLP, a global nancial public relations and communications company in London. As well as clients such as Coca-Cola, Burberry and Ocado, David was also recently the media advisor to Lord Browne during his review of Higher Education student funding. It suits me down to the ground because I like being in rooms where people tell me everything and I get to help them and then I dont talk about it. Being a journalist is

the equivalent of going into a bar, hearing someone say hes just been unfaithful to his wife and then running out and shouting about it. I now get paid for doing the opposite, which is being a counsel to people, and I enjoy that. As well as a successful PR career, Davids personal life is also ourishing as he recently married Charlotte Elston who is Director of Communications at BBC Worldwide. It seems the boy who was once lost in the big city has denitely grown up a transformation that David believes the city of Coventry has gone through too. Things are much better now and this city feels much wealthier than it did then. I think 18-year-olds are more mature than we were. It is Davids desire to succeed that enabled him to overcome his problems and achieve his dream to work in the media, an industry, he told student journalists, has a healthy future. To listen to a full interview with David Yelland at Coventry University visit ww.coventryuniversity.podbean. com/ and search for David Yelland to download the podcast or listen online. For more information about courses in Journalism at Coventry visit www.coventry. ac.uk/artanddesign

Student prole
Lived: In Bedworth with four or ve others. We were like the characters out of The Young Ones. Favourite memory: Most of them were after consuming too much alcohol. We had a very happy time here. There was a lot of emerging university and poly towns at that time that hadnt seen students before. We were walking around with cones on our heads and things like that.

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evolve big interview

WIN
A COPY OF DAVID YELLANDS BOOK Graduate and former newspaper editor David Yellands rst book was published in 2010 and we have THREE copies to give away. The Truth About Leo is a ctional story about a boy called Leo whos father is an alcoholic. To be in with a chance of winning a copy just answer this simple question: which British newspaper did David Yelland once edit? A. The Sun B. The Independent C. The Mirror
Please send your answers to alumni@ coventry.ac.uk or post to Evolve Competition, FOCUS, Development Ofce, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB by the closing date of 31 August 2011. Terms and conditions No cash alternative will be offered. The editors decision is nal.

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evolve letters

letters
If you know Rosalind Bowron or Victoria Brooke ple ase ask them to get in to uch on alumni@co ventry.ac.uk

e Shar ws ie v your other th ntry wi Cove s of nd you d Frien ersity a end o sp iv Un 25 t es. on d win coul Waterst dly is kin in rize s
ne rp lette atersto . star W Our ated by niversity don ventry U Co

star letter
retched r as a ballerina st n photograph of he er! Rosalind ofte slimm to make her look posed e has superim wore the jersey sh over her face.

Dear FOCUS,

on the FOCUS I saw a request regarding r for information n Year, E-Newslette en 5-1966 Foundatio phs that had be John Clark (196 old photogra some 60s. I AD Graphics) t show in the 19 1966-1969 Dip found from an ar and I know who otos by recognised the ph ages show work the work. The im did d Bowron. and Rosalin Victoria Brooke e Dip Ad Graphic occasion was th The ent 69) nal year stud Design (1966-19 ent. There were sessm exhibits for our as , eight males and us on the course 16 of vienne wn Wilkinson, Vi eight females: Da salind Bowron, ley), Ro Timms (nee Man rdan, Victoria n Dole, Valerie Jo Gillia al, Malley, Gaye Ne tt, Brookes, Helen O oth, Richard Garre Bo Barry Lord, Jeffrey ward (Ned) ian Smith, Ho Alwyn Timms, Br m and myself. , David Empringha Needham Ad the year the Dip I believe we were ted into a BA was conver Graphics course degree. (Hons) was (I dont think she Rosalind Bowron the highest pass hieved from Coventry) ac highest. lerie the second and Va uced the p right) was prod e The poster (to to commemorat nal year year before our Design e new Art and the opening of th reet (June ing on Gosford St College build ke of Edinburgh. e Du 1968) by HRH Th rtrait to create a self po a Our project was self portrait was ctorias for the poster. Vi

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evolve letters

Waterstones is the UKs leading academic bookseller, with a comprehensive range of course books, textbooks and professional titles at highly competitive prices. The shop stocks an extensive range of academic books from the UK and abroad, with an expert team on hand to help. Waterstones, Coventry University, Frederick Lanchester Building, Gosford St, Coventry, CV1 5DD, or visit our other Coventry store in the lower precinct. You can also follow Waterstones on Facebook and Twitter. Please send letters to Letters, Development Ofce, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB

Dear FOCUS,
I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate you and everyone involved for the excellent job that you have been doing over the years with the publication of evolve. evolve allows all of us former students of the University to keep in touch worldwide and follow the news of the institution. It has proven to be a very important tool over the years and a connection for us. It has been more than seven years now, since I completed my BEng degree at Coventry in the eld of Automotive Technology. During

the years I studied at Coventry I gained experiences that have , shaped me, not only academically, at but also as a whole person, for that I am most grateful to you all. Since 2005 and having completed army service as an Engineer Ofcer at the Artillery Force, I have been working at ger Sydesys S.A. as a Network Manager for the collection and recycling of waste accumulators. Sydesys al S.A. is the only authorized National System for the implementation of n the EU directives and legislations in regard to waste accumulators. Beng Ilias Vorrias (Automotive Technology, 2003)

Dear FOCUS,
I saw the snowy pictures of Coventry and Warwick on the alumni website in December! They are wonderful. It reminded me of my time spent in Coventry where I experienced the snowfall for the rst time ever in my life. Me and my friends actually ran out of the Business School (William Morris) to enjoy the snow. We took a plethora of pictures and had fun like impish kids making snowballs and throwing them at each other. I got nostalgic seeing the snowy pictures. I simply remember so much in ashes and enjoy the memories I have about this City. Thanks for directing us to the BBC website to see more. Shital Mehta, lives in Mumbai, India, (MBA in Marketing, 2007)

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evolve lecturer prole

When Course Director David Browne announced his retirement after over 30 years at the University, alumni wanted to share their memories

Farewell David Browne

eveloping design talent for the automotive industry has been David Brownes key focus in the last 32 years since he has been at the University. David started out as a designer at the British Leyland styling studios and with Rover before deciding to move into academia. The course has grown in size and calibre since David joined the team, winning awards and even the Queens Prize in 2007, and has produced successful automotive designers who are enjoying careers with some of the worlds most recognisable brands not only in Automotive Design, but Marine, Sports Product and Transport Design generally. Last December David announced his retirement from the University but will still make an important contribution to the School of Art & Design as an Honorary Teaching Fellow. David said: A great part of my job satisfaction has been seeing our graduates develop as professional designers and likeable, well-rounded young men and women, and keeping in touch with them as they climb the ladder of success in their chosen careers. Ive been proud to be able bring them back to contribute via lectures or project collaborations to successive generations of aspiring students to show that it can be done. Two have even become colleagues! But I also get the sense that they enjoyed their time here and maintaining the contact. Although Ill be leaving, this is what Ill somehow hope not to lose.

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GRADUATES: David with Douglas Hogg and other graduates. David likes this photo as he is at the feet of the graduates literally and guratively. He said: They have the skills, I just made sure I was around to keep them pointing creatively in the right direction.

evolve lecturer prole

Richard Shaw, GM Chie

Before I ofcially app lied for a place at Coventry, David was kind enough to show me around the facilities, as well as giving me an ins ight of what the course entailed. Fo llowing this I decided that it was de nitely the path for me to pursue, and during my education David was alw ays a ne mix of being bo th supportive and challe nging during the creative pro cess.
f Designer (Transport Desi gn, 1988)

Dear David...

I think I speak for everyone when I say a heartfelt thank you for your support and encouragement over the years. I think it is understated just how much of an impact you had on us all. You went abo ve and beyond your mandat e and became a central and crucial part of our yea r group. It really would nt have been the same if you werent around. I am sure everyone in the gro up echoes my sentiments. We all miss the familiar turquoise text of you r late night emails of ran dom thoughts and musings!
Douglas Hogg Transport Design, 2010

My year g oup and I had many good times with David during our time at Covent Universit bet een 20052009. He always had his door open was always iendly, polite and not , a aid to say what he thought whic was re eshing, even if it was your h project he was being honest about! Most memorable for me though, was a t ip he organised to Morgan in 2008 for a small g oup of us.
Adam King (Automotive Design, 2009 )

Dav id was a lect urer wit h a uniq ue sty le, both in his tastes and fash ion! His con tact s wit h industry made Covent ry the plac e to stud y car design. He had a rela xed and subt le way of deli veri ng adv ice, but wit h a grou p of you ng egos in the mak ing, his calm nes s and honesty were qua litie s ever yone appreciated! He was and is a cha racter that will always be in the min ds of so many succ essf ul car designe rs and I can spea k on beh alf of ever yone in say ing, Dav id, tha nk you. Tha nks for you r guid anc e and supp ort, Covent ry wou ldnt be what it is wit hou t you and I wish you all the best in you r reti rement !
Mark Fetherston, Design Manager, Design Exterieur (DE/PEE ), Mercedes Car Group, Daim ler AG

The over riding perc epti on is that Dav id has been the hea rt and soul of Aut omo tive and Tran spor t Design at Covent ry, he info rme d the teaching , prac tice and out ward faci ng cha racter thro ugh out his care er as an educ ator. He has a kee n sens e of fun and look ed for that in sett ing student projects and in asse ssing thei r wor k, his abil ity to enc ourage radical designs was always bala nced by a logic al sens e of correctness.
John Owen, Academic Coordinator, Coventry School of Art and Design

I wanted to let you know what a brillia nt Lecturer and Head of Year David was, he made my thi rd year at Coventry the best yea r I had there. I have worked in post production at a childrens television company in Stratford called Ragdo ll they have made Teletubbies and In The Night Ga rden (to name a few ). Ive been involved with visual effects and animatio n during my two years here and Ive loved every sec ond of it. Ive even managed to get my name on televis ion in the credits of a show cal led Tronji. I didnt hav e any idea about visual effects as a career until my third year 3D modelling/animation placement with Jea n Micheal and you really gave me the self belief that any thing was possible.
Emma Gallini Transport and Product Desi gn, 2007

Christian Forbes-Bell MA Automotive Design, 2007

When I think of the Transpor Desig years he has been there and much of Course I think of DB. He has shaped it over the input. Always approachable and educits fantastic reputation can be credited to his be. I remember many of his teaching ational, David was just what a lect rer should denitely inuenced my life and cares about both desig and life in general. He has er and Im sure I am just one of man y. I wish you all the best David and Im glad I st died whilst you were there.

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evolve development

Changing
The University is getting bigger and better with support from graduates and leading industry gures

he signicant funding cuts announced in Higher Education mean universities are increasingly looking for support from alumni and industry. Donations made to Coventry University are critical in helping to develop specic projects to enhance the student experience and to ensure that the University can continue to offer students a world class learning experience. The opportunity to invest in the University is also an attractive opportunity for businesses that want to guarantee their future workforce is being given the best opportunities available to succeed. For alumni there is a vested interest in ensuring their alma mater climbs the league tables and develops an impressive reputation that reects well on their CVs. The sense of giving something back is also hugely important to former students. One of the massive benets of donating to the University at the moment is that the Government has committed to matching any gifts made to the University up until July 2011 to encourage charitable giving

to Higher Education. This means that through Gift Aid and the Matched Funding scheme, a personal gift of 1,000 could be worth nearly 2,000 to the University. The Universitys Chancellor Sir John Egan has also set up a new group called The Chancellors Circle to recognise all of those supporters of the University who have made a signicant donation to the institution. The whole thing about giving is being able to see that youre helping society. Coventry and Coventry University are in a pivotal situation. Universities are able to play an important part in the regeneration of cities. This is an exciting opportunity to invest in the city and the University, he said. Members of the Chancellors Circle are attending a thank you dinner in St Marys Guildhall this year so they can nd out more about the huge range of projects that have been possible thanks to philanthropic giving. To give all graduates a avour of the generosity that leading business gures and alumni have shown, the highlights are included on the right hand page.

FUND: Chancellor Sir John Egan

If you would like to know more about development opportunities at the University or would like to donate towards a project contact Chris Smith on +44 (0) 24 7688 8311 or c.smith@coventry.ac.uk.

SUPPORTIVE ROLE Chris Smith was the President of the Students Union between 2006 and 2007 after graduating from a History and Politics degree. He is now the Universitys Development Manager and helps to raise awareness and build support for University projects. As a graduate of the University, I have experienced rst hand the huge difference that philanthropy

has made to the lives of Coventry University students, said Chris (pictured left) who is proud when a project comes to fruition. At the moment, we are seeking support from organisations and individuals to help equip the new Engineering and Computing building. Its a great feeling when you can show someone the impact their support has had to help students.

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evolve development

lives
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT One Coventry alumnus is funding ten international scholarships worth 5,000 each and has also purchased a ight simulator for the Engineering and Computing Faculty. Majid Al-Sadi, who studied for a part-time MPhil-PhD in Mechanical Engineering in the 1980s has pledged 50,000 towards The Majid Alsadi Scholarship Foundation annually and contributed 135,000 towards a suite of new Flight Simulators for the Engineering and Computing Faculty. SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES The Higgs Charity helped the University to participate in the new Coventry Mysteries in 2010, bringing open air performances to the city. Traditionally based on Christian Bible stories, the medieval miracle plays as they were known in the 13th Century have been revived and made into more contemporary performances thanks to 20,000 of funding from the charity and enabled Performing Arts students from the University to take a key lead in the delivery of the festival that was seen across the city. STUDENT ENTERPRISE FUND Students and graduates can now get support from a Student Enterprise Fund that leading businessmen are investing in including the owner of Coventry Airport Sir Peter Rigby and Chairman of Aston Martin David Richards. The fund, which is available to alumni who graduated in the last ve years and who are

If you donate 1,000 then the Government will match fund this to make it worth nearly 2,000 to the University

UK nationals, aims to encourage entrepreneurship by providing loan nance to edgling student and graduate businesses when they need it most. The loans also come with support from industry experts who will help mentor and develop the individual and the business. The fund is the brainchild of Sir John and he is keen to see other business leaders invest in the scheme. I am concerned that our UK universities will fall behind internationally as a result of reductions in public sector funding and limited access to development funds from the EU. I am very keen to make this initiative a success, not just for the University, but for the region as a whole. Find out more about access to the fund on page 32.
MYSTERY: The logo for the Coventry Mysteries

ENGINEERING SUPPORT: Alumnus Dr Majid Al-Sadi with the Vice Chancellor unveiling the Simulator Facility

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evolve nostalgia

Art direction > C

oventry seemed a rather dreary place back in the early 50s when I started student life at Coventry School of Art at the age of 15. The School was small with less than 100 students and was based in two buildings Ford Street and Hill Crest, an old family mansion which had been used, among other things, for convalescent soldiers after the war. After two years as a day release student, what a thrill it was to be at Hill Crest after getting a scholarship. It was a beautiful, rambling old place, turned into fully functioning classrooms, it still retained the air of a home, with original replaces and wonderful views over Naulsmill Park. Ford Street, was an altogether more functional place which I attended for typography and clay modelling. Most aspects of art were covered; painting, sculpting, architecture, fabric printing, sign writing, jewellery, window dressing and some students were training to be teachers. We were inspired by some excellent teachers, who must have had a difcult job. The atmosphere was studious but friendly, a phenomenon I was quite unused to coming from a strict secondary modern, and we had to learn to use our freedom wisely. I quickly became more interested in fashion and after a year studying commerical art I transferred to the dress design department where I embarked on a City and Guilds course. Some materials were
www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

Megan Walden (nee Roberts) reveals what life was like studying at Coventrys School of Art in the 1950s

provided but in cash-strapped Coventry most things were done on a shoe-string. We were expected to make patterns for our designs, complete the hand-nished garments and were taught glove and belt making. The highlight of each year was the exciting, themed arts ball held at Coventry Casino, Coundon and later, I believe, the Locarno. Work went on for many weeks making costumes and scenery and it was one occasion when I had a new, posh frock. Most of us lived at home money was short so entertainment was fairly limited. Coffee at break time was down at the Good Companions caf in Bishop Street. Pubs were a bit beyond our pockets and thankfully, the drug scene hadnt arrived so we were a pretty steady lot, even so, eccentrics abounded. One budding artist occasionally trotted up to Hill Crest on her horse, another roared up most days on his motorbike. One girl, a very high achiever having won a bursary in fabric design, later supplemented her working income by doing a horse drawn milk round. An amazingly musical chap could play absolutely anything on the piano and entertained us by getting music out of a battered old mandolin, one of our still life props. National Service was still in operation and I remember when several male students turned up in air force and army uniform having been called up.

When it was time to leave I found no fashion work anywhere near home. At eighteen, I couldnt afford accommodation away so I settled at a department store producing in-house publicity and painting backgrounds for window displays, while teaching 11-15 year-old girls on Saturday mornings at art school. Not being a very diligent student I left without qualications but I have continued to work in art all my life, becoming self employed for a time and also using the same skills for our local music club activities and arts festivals. I taught calligraphy, my least favourite subject, for many years at adult education evening classes. Many of my skills were learned along the way but my Art School years were a good basis and gave me a memorable insight into what would eventually be my working life. Thinking of those days now, it is Hill Crest that holds the memories. Sadly, the building was demolished years ago and the last time I was there, the site was windswept and bleak. Such a pity. In retirement I became interested in painting and have had fun learning and occasionally selling work. The learning process goes on.

See the Coventry School of Art & Design today at www.coventry.ac.uk/ artanddesign. Email your memories of Coventry to alumni@coventry.ac.uk.

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evolve nostalgia

ARTIST: A selection of Megans paintings, and (top, left) Hill Crest (photo by former student Falcon David Hildred), (top, centre) fashion drawings Megan did at Art School, (left frame) Megan today (right frame) Megan at Art School and posing for an Arts Ball photo. The theme was I do like to be beside the seaside so Megan and fellow students made vintage swimming costumes

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evolve enterprise

3 steps to growing your own business

Plant a seed of a new business idea and watch it grow with expert support from the Universitys Institute of Applied Entrepreneurship

1
Sow the seeds (Funding)
Get the business off to a great start with access to funding from the Universitys new Student Enterprise Fund. While the Fund was originally set up to support student businesses, it is now also available to alumni who graduated in the last ve years and who are UK nationals. The fund, which is the brainchild of the Universitys Chancellor Sir John Egan, will support the establishment of new businesses across all academic disciplines through investments normally in the range of 3k to 5k and as much as 30k for an outstanding proposition. A team of industry experts will also help shape, mentor and develop both the individual and the businesses they create. The loans, available at competitive rates, will be expected to be paid back once the business is up and running so that the money can go back into the fund to support the next wave of new businesses.

2
Feed and water (Mentoring)
Register for free online mentoring support to help your business get established. The online tool, that was created by the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship, means graduates anywhere in the UK can access specialist support. Once registered, the system will help graduates with planning, building, launching and growing a successful business. There are resources, tools, online training, networking and enhanced mentor support backed up by experts from the IAE. The My Plan tool asks users important questions about their business to enable them to work out where there are gaps and directs them to resources to help them get into a better position. To nd out more about mentoring visit the website: http://coventry.mihmentoring. com/apply/register

3
Watch it grow (Business support)
Once you are up and running you might need a professional front for your business but without the expense of ofce accommodation. The IAE offers a range of business support packages that are available as pay as you go or monthly direct debit, based at the Technology Park. The Flexi Desk scheme has a range of business benets starting from 30 per week. They include: Use of the Technology Park as your business address A dedicated mail box with forwarding or collection service Desk space, WiFi and a computer A telephone number Personalised call answering in your companys name All your calls answered efciently Message taking, post, parcel, and fax handling facilities Use of fax, photocopier and document binding services Business support services with access to business advisers Discount on meeting room hire.

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www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

evolve enterprise

FORTUNE: (L-R) Misagh Alami and Marlon Lewis

Business support
arlon Lewis and Misagh Alami had an idea for an innovative new lm company while studying Theatre and Professional Practice at the University in 2007. As students they received help from SPEED, a nationally funded programme aimed at supporting student enterprises, and went on to form their company Fortune Frames. Their concept has been to build an audience for their lm The Artice before moving it into production. We have more than 20,000 active users on a game we created for The Artice and over four million fans on Facebook, said Marlon. Our aim is to get the audience involved and to create a community that can actually affect the outcome of the lm. Since graduating, Marlon and

Misagh have based their business at the Institute for Creative Enterprise (ICE) on the Technology Park. The company pay a monthly fee for the Flexi Desk scheme, which gives them equipment and ofce space even late at night and the use of a professional business address. They have given us a place where we feel at home and comfortable. It helps being based in an environment with other creative businesses, said Marlon. Weve also had students working with us doing some graphic design work too, which is a massive help. They are currently making an online show for The Artice. Starting in the late summer of 2011, this show aims to unearth and showcase the wealth of undiscovered talent from the West Midlands, who will in turn help bring

The Artice to life. I dont think this approach has been done before on such a large scale and using the type of media that were using, explained Misagh. We would have found a way to start this business without support from the University but this offer denitely gave us a chance to not worry about where we were going to work and helped us set guidelines for the business very early on. Its denitely helped saved us a lot of time and hassle. Find out more about Fortune Frames at www.the-artice.com For more information about the support available to graduates call +44 (0) 2476 23 6001 or email business-enterprise@cad-coventry.ac.uk visit www.coventry.ack.uk/iae

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evolve events

events>
R
euniting with graduates overseas is a key priority for the University as it expands its global networks, and two recent events in Malaysia and Hong Kong have helped alumni make connections. A reunion at the Hong Kong Jockey Club in the Happy Valley Stand this March meant that over 100 alumni and guests found out

reunions alumni events whats on

Visit www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni/events to keep up to date online with future and past events

Global Networking
Graduates in Hong Kong and Malaysia got together to network and reminisce at two recent reunions
more about the Universitys range of services for graduates. Attendees included recent graduates from partner institutions PEAK, SCOPE and HSSC, alumni who had been to Coventry for a year of their studies and older graduates who had studied in the 1970s. As well as dinner and networking, graduates enjoyed speeches from senior University ofcials who told

34

www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

evolve events

Scary stories
Ghostly tales of Coventrys gruesome past were regaled to graduates on a cold and dark night last Halloween. Two professional tour guides, dressed in period costume, walked around the back streets of Coventry and revealed some of the darker sides of the citys history. Graduates and their family and friends came on the tour to nd out more about the city and to celebrate the annual festival.

them about Coventrys latest developments and the extensive opportunities still available to them at the University. Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) David Pilsbury opened the event and told alumni that Coventry had a long history of academic collaboration with Hong Kong. There are currently 938 students from Hong Kong on Coventry programmes who are spread across the three Coventry accredited institutions. We want to offer alumni the chance to access expertise, knowledge, contacts and services to support their career development through Coventry Connections or if they have a business, to use the global network of Coventry partners to access new markets or develop new services, said David who acknowledged there were also ways graduates could support their alma mater by offering current students placements and internships. He told graduates: Our aim is to place our global network at your disposal and to assist you to help us and also one another. Hong Kong is an important area for the University to have connections as it expands its global presence. Building relationships with businesses and alumni in the area is a key priority and more events are planned for the future. A similar event took place in Malaysia where more than 40 alumni gathered at the Hilton Hotel in Petaling Jaya. The exclusive event was an opportunity for graduates to meet up with fellow alumni and share

their news while hearing all about the new developments at Coventry. Graduates from 2003 helped run the event Zahrain Zulkii was the host, Mira Ezwany handled registration and Noami A Hal organised the performances. Zahrain welcomed everyone to the event and introduced speeches by the FOCUS on Malaysia representative Dr Arzmi Yaacob, the Universitys Director of Marketing and Communications, Nick Stokes, Associate Dean (International) of the School of Art & Design, Wallace Murdoch, and the International Ofces Regional Manager, Fiona Johnston. The speeches were followed by dinner and cultural performances and the event continued late into the night, with alumni networking and catching up with friends as well as the University. Graduate Izwan Mat Yusoff (Computer Science, 2002) who was on the committee to help run the event, said: We really had fun that night and the event went well as planned. The committee received some favourable responses from guests too. The FOCUS on Malaysia group are hoping to reunite in Coventry in 2012. Events are also being lined up in China, India and Africa to give alumni the opportunity to meet up and share experiences with each other and the University. If you would like to know more about future global events email Kristina Anders at alumni@coventry.ac.uk.

Good call
A reunion for graduates who have worked on the Phoenix Foundations call campaigns at the University reunited in Coventry this year. The reunion also included graduates who had helped out in the alumni ofce as student ambassadors or those who had helped track down missing alumni. Students who took part in this years call campaign also came along to a lunchtime get together.

Law dinner
One of Coventrys oldest buildings was the venue for a special dinner for law graduates this month. Graduates enjoyed a threecourse meal in the historic building and listened to a talk from a local councillor and tourist guide Roger Bailey who spoke about the signicance of Coventry in the middle ages. See photos and nd out who was there on the alumni website. To see photos and nd out more about the events click on the events section of the alumni website at www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

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evolve events

On the ball
Graduates enjoyed fun and games across the campus at the 2011 Alumni Vs Students Sports Day
REUNION PARTY: (l-r) Back row standing:
David Oddy, Jim Williams, Michael Collins, Dr Tony Scanlon, Alan Jenkins, Martin Crapper, Barry Leat, John Ross, Ron Blackwell (Lecturer), Kneeling front row: David Roberts, Garth Perry. (Missing from photo: Gordon Whitmore and Geoffrey Hinson).

Good chemistry
GOOD SPORTS: Clockwise from top left: Womens hockey team, mens rugby, Jess Apperley, rugby at Westwood Heath and Badminton duo Robin and Dave.

Metallurgy graduates meet up again on campus after 47 years

To celebrate 47 years since a group of Metallurgy graduates started at The Lanch, they held a reunion in Coventry last August. The 12 friends who are based all over the world have been meeting up every ve years. Barry Leat, who has worked in aero engineering at many companies including Bristol Siddeley Engines (now Rolls Royce), said the course stood them in good stead. We all know that the education we received was rst class and did us proud as the introduction to our respective careers, said Barry about the three-year HND sandwich course and the diploma they all did in Metallurgy. The gang of friends, which also includes former lecturer Ronald Blackwell, were treated to a campus tour. As a group of qualied metallurgists we spread our wings worldwide, either through business travel or emigration. One member who was unable to be with us resides in Perth, Western Australia, whilst the other long distant member was making a visit to the UK from Tasmania, hence our recent reunion, said Barry who is looking forward to their 50th year reunion.

t might have been around 15 years since two graduates had played badminton together on campus, but they still managed to beat the students at the annual Sports Day event in May. Dave Spring (Leisure Management, 1995) and Robin Trust (Business Economics, 1997) have both kept in touch but had not been on the University courts since graduation. They were, however, winners of the BUSA National Shield in 1997 and Robin represents Berkshire at Badminton while Dave has only just retired from playing for Hertfordshire County. Dave, who now manages a Golf Club in Hertfordshire, said: Its good to be back. Robin saw the event on Linkedin and we thought it would be a good opportunity to play together again. They were just two of the graduates who made it back for the annual event where students get the chance to play against alumni from their sports clubs. Mens and womens hockey and football teams

played matches, as well as teams for rugby union, rugby league, tennis and netball. The eld sports all took place at Westwood Health and womens hockey player Jess Apperley (Physiotherapy, 2010), who now works as a Physiotherapist in Walsall, said it was good to come back to the event to play on the winning alumni team. Ive kept in touch with people from the hockey team and its good to see people from years ago too. And we won so the student hockey team is obviously mssing me! Despite the alumni efforts though, the 2011 shield belonged to the students who beat the alumni in ve out of the nine matches. Trophies and medals were given out at an awards ceremony at the Students Union later in the evening. For more information and to register your team for the 2012 Sports Day event email Kristina Anders on alumni@coventry.ac.uk

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www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

>yourbenets
July 20 July
Graduation 2011 for International and postgraduate students Time: 11.00 until 14.00 Place: Coventry Cathedral

evolve events

Make the most of your FOCUS membership by attending events, getting third party discounts and entering exclusive competitions. Visit www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni for more Discounts
FOCUS has arranged for all members to get discounts on useful services and fun days out with leading companies. A full list of discounts is below. Just visit www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni/ benets to nd out how to redeem your discounts.

WIN
CHOCOLATE GOODIES If your mouth was watering after reading about graduate Duffy Sheardowns special chocolate on page 9, then why not win a couple of bars to try for yourself? We have two packs of Duffys Single Origin chocolate bars to give away. Both include one milk and one dark chocolate bar that have been handmade with fairly traded and organic cocoa liquid, cocoa butter and sugar. To be in with a chance of winning just answer this question: As well as being a Chocolate Maker what sport is Duffy Sheardown involved in? A. Tennis B. Boxing C. Formula 1
Please send your answer for this competition and the one on page 23 to alumni@coventry.ac.uk or post to Evolve Competition, FOCUS, Development Ofce, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB by the closing date of 30 September 2011. Terms and conditions No cash alternative will be offered. The editors decision is nal.

September 3 September Postgraduate and part time open day

Find out more about postgraduate study at Coventry Time: 10.00 until 14.00 Place: Coventry University

Leisure
Up to 50% off top attractions such as The Alton Towers Resort, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, LEGOLAND Windsor, Madame Tussauds London and Blackpool, the Dungeons, SEA LIFE centres & Sanctuaries. THORPE PARK and Warwick Castle. Up to 50% off green fees at Open Fairways Discounted membership to the Gourmet Society

October 31 October Spooky Ghost Tour of Coventry

Family Halloween event, children welcome. See page 35 for details of last years event. Time: From 16.00 until 18.30 Place: Meet at Alan Berry building, Coventry University Ticket Price: Adults 5, children 5-13 years 2.50

Transport
Savings on car and van hire with Europcar Savings on membership with the AA and RAC Discounts on airport parking with Parking4Less

Holidays
Discounted rates at the Ramada Hotel Coventry Savings on holidays with cottages4you

November 21-25 November Graduation Week

A week long celebration as the class of 2011 graduate Time: 12.30 until 16.30 (check information for details) Place: Coventry Cathedral

University offers
Discounted library membership Discounted Sports Centre membership Associate membership of the Students Union Careers advice and graduate vacancies Business start up support Coventry University wine club.

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evolve events

Celebrate!
Dear Alumni,
In 2012, it will be 20 years since Coventry became a University and to celebrate, the institution is opening its doors to all of its graduates so they can see the latest developments and tour their former Faculty or School. There have been so many changes at the University over the years since its origins as Coventrys College of Art to the sprawling campus that it is today that we wanted to invite our alumni to see how it has progressed.

Date
There will be a series of activities across the campus from the 7th until the 10th June 2012 so block the dates out in your diary now.

Attendees
Coventry is inviting all of its graduates from as far back as when it was known as the College of Art, the Lanch, the Polytechnic and the University. Everyone is encouraged to bring friends and family to share in the events too.

RSVP
38
www.coventry.ac.uk/alumni

More details will be revealed soon, but to register your interest in taking part in this celebration event, please email Kristina Anders at alumni@coventry.ac.uk and you will be kept informed of the latest developments. We look forward to seeing you there!

evolve events

FOCUS is inviting you, your friends and family to join in a long weekend of celebrations to mark Coventrys 20th anniversary of becoming a University

7th -10th June 2012

Ahead of the weeke nd, alumni to a specia are also in l businessvited facing conf erence on Thursday 7 June 20 12. The Doin g Busines s in Covent aimed at al ry conferen umni, loca ce is l businesse partners as s and stra well as UK tegic and EU fu and will ex nding bod plore busin ies ess and in opportuniti vestment es in the C oventry an Warwicks d hire region. It will cove raw including he ide range of industr ial sectors alth, transp ort, digital low carbo media and n technolo gies. The event will be del ivered with of Covent the suppo ry City Co rt uncil, UKT I and the ne Coventry & Warwicks w hire Local Enterprise Partnersh ip. To registe r your inte rest plea contact C se laire Edw ards on ar.enquir y@coven try.ac.uk

Business

conferen

ce

39

The University

Gift Shop
Round Crystal Paperweight Coventry Universitys Book Cuff Links Mini Cut Vase

Satin Notepad and Mirror Tankard

Business Card Case

Graduation Bear
Champagne Flutes

Remember your student days with pride and buy special souvenirs branded with the University name or logo.
Its now even easier to choose from our selection of high quality goods by shopping online:

www.coventry.ac.uk/onlinestore
If you wish to make purchases by mail order please contact Jackie Walsh, Alan Berry Reception, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB. Telephone 024 7688 8774 or e-mail jackie.walsh@coventry.ac.uk for further details.

Please note: refunds are only available where goods are faulty, statutory legal rights are not affected. Goods will be delivered within 21 days of receipt of order. If you are not fully satised, goods may be returned within seven days for a full refund. Prices are valid until November 2011.