In the news – 1-7 June

See Kardi Somerfield, our Senior Lecturer in Marketing, on ITV News Anglia discussing the future of retail in Northampton’s town centre. Watch the full report on ITV Anglia west (from 1.34)

The University was mentioned in a Computer Business Review article about the local government’s approach to big data. As the article explains, Northampton County Council hired the University of Northampton to collate data on journeys made by students, health care workers, patients and council staff. In total this provided information on journeys made by 32,000 people, a sizeable proportion of total travel in the county

Our gun crime expert Dr Helen Poole spoke to the Sunday Post about how eastern and south-eastern Europe is “awash” with weapons, with many being sold into Britain’s underworld.

Fashion students from the University of Northampton showcased their final year collections at the Graduate Fashion Week in London. Students from Fashion, Textiles for Fashion, Footwear and Accessories presented their designs at The Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch. Read the full article in The National Student.

With Graduate Fashion Week well underway, The National Student looked back at a wonderful success story from the not-so-distant past. Heather Jenkinson rose fast and strong from her degree at the University of Northampton to a ‘pinch-me-I’m-dreaming job’ with Dr Martens.

The University of Northampton’s Waterside Campus was described as ‘the UK’s most exciting higher education project” by Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, in an article that talks through the construction of the Creative Hub and Learning Hub. (no link – print article)

Pupils from across Northampton visited the University for ‘Car Crash Careers Day’. The event is run by the National Collaborative Outreach Programme. As reported by BBC Radio Northampton, it is designed to give pupils an insight into studying a range of subjects at university and the reality of the day to day experience in each career. A story about the Car Crash Careers Day is also shared by Futures Magazine

Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire says it has received more than 3,500 enquiries about volunteering in the past 12 months. The organisation has a series of events planned for National Volunteering Week. Divya Batra, an Accounting and Economics student at the University of Northampton, who has volunteered with the organisation, spoke to BBC Radio Northampton about her time volunteering. Listen back (from 1.04).

Adrian Pryce, our Senior Lecturer in Strategy and International Business, joined John Griff on his BBC Radio Northampton show to give his views on the weekend’s big news. Adrian shared his thoughts on several recent stories including the Jeremy Thorpe scandal and the potential effects of Brexit. Listen back (from 1.47.30).

A University of Northampton project calls on policy-makers to further support around 7.5 million people in Europe who are autistic and their families. The ESIPP project, led in the UK by Dr David Preece as part of the University’s Centre for Education and Research, has been designed to develop an evidence-based parent education programme and training materials to help parents to understand their children with autism and manage their behaviour effectively. Article shared by All Things Business.

Students from the University of Northampton have raised more than £20,000 for local and national charities over the space of a year. Money raised from events organised by first, second and third year Events Management students has totalled £23,115.41 during the 2017/18 academic year. Full article in the Northampton Chamber

Chipping Warden-based medical diagnostics company GFC Diagnostics is aiming for further growth after securing a £9,000 grant from the Innovate Northamptonshire project. The funding will allow the company to work alongside the University of Northampton to develop a rapid test using new technology that could be automated and produce a result in a few hours. Article shared by All Things Business.