Credit: TikTok / @upthetroisWant to share a story about student accommodation A ceiling collapse inside a student accommodation block at Loughborough University has prompted serious concerns about the condition of housing provided to students across the country A video posted to social media earlier this week showed the moment a ceiling in a block of flats began leaking as the occupiers in the property watched on leaving what appeared to be soil and other debris spread across the room and the student's bed The incident occurred in one of the student villages located on Loughborough University campus the affected block had a strong smell of damp and soil and only the student who had occupied the room where the collapse happened had been moved from the building The person living above had not been moved Students told us it's not the first time a ceiling has collapsed Earlier this year another ceiling in the same block collapsed leaving similar debris across the student's room Another student on campus described how they had waited weeks for a basic fault in their room to be fixed by the maintenance team Students living in these halls can pay up to £10,026.04 per student year for their accommodation Since ITV News reached out to other students on social media we've heard multiple similar accounts from universities across the country Some included no running water from taps for months on end multiple ceiling collapses due to damp conditions hot water issues for entire academic years and vermin infestations that were never solved Loughborough University said: “As soon as the University was made aware of this issue action was taken to support the student impacted "A thorough inspection of the accommodation was carried out and the root cause of the issue has been identified and repaired."Detailed checks of other rooms in the student housing block have taken place.” The collapse is the latest in a series of concerns raised about student housing conditions across the UK A national survey earlier this year by the National Union of Students UK found that 69% of students had experienced at least one issue with their accommodation Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Hundreds of supporters of trans rights gathered in Town Hall Square today to protest. People from across the region joined the rally in Leicester city centre which was one of about 30 similar events taking place around the country this afternoon It follows a recent legal ruling about the status of trans people which said that only those born women were to be treated as women Commenting on the recent UK Supreme Court ruling about the legal status of people identifying as other genders. Abigail, 24, from Loughborough said she found the ruling "upsetting but not shocking." READ MORE: Leicestershire festival 'pulls out all the stops' to celebrate 20th anniversary She added: "There is a precedent for the Supreme Court overruling itself We're here today to try to make a difference and protest for our rights." Elias, 22, who, like Abigail and Charlotte, is a member of the Loughborough University LGBT+ Association said that there seemed to be a lot of unjustified hate towards the trans community He said: "I think the media is vilifying trans people "It's been done historically against other people There's still massive stigma against all LGBT people They said they were happy to see so many people at the rally Charlotte said: "The turnout is fantastic We have a responsibility to our community to have a good showing - we have to show others this confidence." Several people had come from outside the county to rally said: "It's really positive to see the turnout It can feel like a really hopeless time for people added: "It's important people are here today They're just people being who they are "They were born in the wrong body." Among the speakers at the rally was Katie Neeves She said: "The Supreme Court ruling - which only heard evidence from anti-trans groups and not from a single trans person - followed by the interim guidance issued by the consistently trans-hostile Equality and Human Rights Commission has not only made trans and non-binary people scared it has set back the rights of all women by at least 50 years "It will embolden vigilantes to hang around ladies’ loos and to confront - and probably film - any woman accessing that space who doesn’t conform to their out-dated view of what a woman should look like "This has only succeeded to stir up hate." Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right the University of Leicester and De Montfort University are joining forces with Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham in an unprecedented ambitious project which brings together academia and the community to support growth and development The Collaboratory programme is an eight-year ambitious project which commenced in 2022, initially as part of the Universities for Nottingham Civic Agreement and has given students with typically non-traditional academic backgrounds the chance to make real change and improve the lives of the communities around them Funded by Research England as well as funding from Leicestershire’s universities Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham the project has also now been awarded £2.3m from the Research England Development Fund This additional funding brings the three Leicestershire universities – along with the Leicester Civic Agreement into the Co(l)laboratory fold from April The funding panel was particularly impressed with the programme’s success in recruiting PhDs and community researchers from diverse backgrounds within local communities 27 PhD studentships across Leicestershire will now be fully-funded; bringing the combined total of civically-engaged PhD projects to 77 – along with a number of citizen-scientist research placements and student-led civic projects Director of Research Culture and Environment at Nottingham Trent University said: “Our Collab programme has been hailed as innovative something no other universities have done before It is testament to the success of the programme that we have been able to extend the reach of our doctoral research to Leicester and Leicestershire and we’re really excited to see how we can make long-lasting change to those communities going forward.” Collaboratory Lead for the University of Nottingham said: “Leicester’s universities joining the Collaboratory – a programme founded through the Universities for Nottingham civic partnership – is a powerful testament to the momentum and impact of civic collaboration as we come together across cities to drive positive change in our communities.” Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Doctoral College at Loughborough University said: “I’m delighted that this exciting regional collaboration is starting. This will allow the Leicestershire Universities to join forces with our Nottinghamshire colleagues to promote research activities that are particularly important to the communities we live in “This an important and timely initiative for Loughborough as it aligns strongly with our strategic theme of Vibrant and Inclusive Communities. I look forward to welcoming the new doctoral researchers to our Doctoral College at Loughborough.” Pro Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise at the University of Leicester said: “The University of Leicester is delighted to become a partner institution in the Collaboratory project This programme will provide a fantastic opportunity for researchers from non-traditional backgrounds to develop their academic skills whilst  also improving the lives of people in our local community through their research Collab thus aligns with our strategic commitments to nurture the next generation of researchers to be world leaders in their field and generate new ideas which deliver impact and empower the communities in which we are embedded.” Research and Innovation at De Montfort University said: "DMU's proud to be part of this inspiring initiative that puts communities at the heart of research. The programme is a powerful way to open up doctoral study to people from all walks of life and ensure the research happening in our universities is rooted in the real challenges our region faces "This is about nurturing new voices in research forging stronger links with our local communities and making sure the work we do delivers genuine impact where it matters most We’re proud to be working alongside our Midlands partners in shaping a more inclusive future for research and fostering a new generation of impactful research and researchers." The team is now inviting civic and community organisations in the Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland regions to think about problems they are experiencing and to get in touch to explore a potential collaboration to tackle those issues through research community partners will be able to benefit from a range of unique opportunities Information webinars are being held for both researchers and community and civic organisations, which will introduce the Collaboratory programme, provide an overview of the research project co-creation process, outline how research projects work, and what the expectations are. More information can be found here More information about the Co(l)laboratory Programme Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities with an international reputation for research that matters and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.  It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running.  Loughborough is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.   Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.   Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’ In recognition of its contribution to the sector Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.  The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education as well as research and enterprise opportunities pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking This Civic Agreement is a commitment between Loughborough University Leicestershire and Rutland to work together for the benefit of local people and the prosperity of our places ‘Universities Partnership’ combines the collective strengths of our universities and civic institutions to make a greater impact through collaboration for This Civic Agreement marks the beginning of a journey signalling a commitment by the partners to bring together our collective skills expertise and social capital and collaborate in the long-term interests of our communities The Universities for Nottingham initiative is a pioneering collaboration which brings together the combined strength and civic missions of 11 anchor institutions from across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Working with local communities and partners we aim to improve levels of economic prosperity environmental sustainability and health and wellbeing for the benefit of our people and place As part of the response to the challenges we collectively face the Universities for Nottingham Civic Agreement sets out our joint plans for the future working as a partnership Timed to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week this public lecture will be delivered by Dr Anthony Papathomas Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Loughborough University Performance Nutrition Lead at Loughborough Sport and Rebekah Nisbet Specialist Support Officer at First Steps ED The lecture will draw upon different disciplines to take a look at disordered eating in athletes It will explore the subject from a psychological perspective a nutritional viewpoint and also explore practical help that can be offered to those experiencing disordered eating as well as those around them such as coaches and family We use some essential cookies to make this website work We would also like to set additional cookies to understand how you use this website and improve Council services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services Home » Markets » Loughborough KickStart Market The next Bank Holiday is on Monday, 5 May. As a result of the Bank Holiday, there will be some changes to services and facility opening hours. Full details Loughborough KickStart Market will take place on Sunday The KickStart Market encourages new traders and entrepreneurs to gain experience and run a market stall for the day The market is for people who live or study in Charnwood and are interested in either becoming a market trader or trying out running a market stall to support their new business Participants were also encouraged to take a stall to sell wares or display their work The Loughborough KickStart Market is run by the markets team at the Council Loughborough KickStart Market also hosts a range of food outlets and entertainment including live music.  The markets team arrange for public liability insurance for young traders Anyone under 18 has to be accompanied by an adult Enter your house number and your street name or postcode for more localised information If you have any questions or suggestions and would like to find out the best way to get in touch with us, please visit the Contact Us page or connect with us on social media Website developed by Cuttlefish The University is delighted to announce that Senior Lecturer Dr Manuela Pacella from the Wolfson School of Mechanical Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering has become the first member of our institution to join the prestigious Global Young Academy (GYA) This vibrant and independent academy unites exceptional scientists from all continents dedicated to the vision of "science for all; science for the future."  Established in 2010, the GYA empowers researchers to lead international the GYA selects individuals for their scientific excellence and commitment to societal engagement.  Complementing Loughborough University’s vision GYA members engage in impactful working groups and collaborations with international partners providing a platform for groundbreaking ideas to flourish the GYA supports the establishment and coordination of National Young Academies worldwide.  Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University said: "The Global Young Academy is exceptionally prestigious and I am thrilled that Manuella has been elected Her outstanding research has had a global impact on some of society’s most pressing problems in the automotive “Membership in Young Academies offers numerous advantages and a platform to influence global scientific policies I encourage more colleagues to take advantage of the unique support package for applications provided by the Enhanced Academic Practice team These support schemes highlight our collaborative approach and are unique to Loughborough ensuring our colleagues have the best opportunities to flourish."  Director of Organisational Development and Change added: “I am delighted by Manuela’s membership in the Global Young Academy This achievement not only showcases her dedication and innovative mindset but also underscores the valuable support provided by Enhanced Academic Practice While we have successfully supported applications for the UK Young Academy over the past three years our efforts to support Global Young Academies only began last summer so achieving membership evidences the outstanding work we have done in this area”.  Dr Manuela Pacella is a Senior Lecturer in High-Value Manufacturing researching new laser-based advanced manufacturing technologies and advanced materials for application in the automotive She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) She holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nottingham (2014) and a MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Bari (Italy) she worked as an Application Development Engineer and Advanced Manufacturing Research Engineer for multinational companies such as 3M in Milan (Italy) and Element Six (Harwell Campus Manuella said: “I am honoured to be selected as a member of the Global Young Academy and I am really looking forward to engaging with the Academy to work with talented professionals across the world in addressing global issues I am particularly keen to lead a new project which aims to support women’s careers in the post-maternity period I am very thankful to Dr Katryna Kalawsky from our Organisational Development team at Loughborough University for supporting me in this journey.”  New members of the Global Young Academy take up their posts in June 2025 Loughborough University will continue to support suitable colleagues in applying for Young Academy membership during the summer please contact the Programme Director (Researcher Development and Pathways) New members of the Global Young Academy take up their posts in June 2025, and membership runs for five years.  Loughborough University will continue to support suitable colleagues in applying for Young Academy membership during the summer. If you have any questions, please contact the Programme Director (Researcher Development and Pathways), Dr Katryna Kalawsky.  Emergency services were called to concerns for the behaviour of a man Cordons were in place in Frederick Street Packe Street and Granby Street for several hours People were told to avoid the area as emergency services were dealing with the incident A man has since been arrested on suspicion of being a public nuisance and is in custody We're going to bring our live updates of the disruption in Loughborough town centre to a close Thank you for joining us and please keep an eye on the BBC News website for any further developments Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Huge impact'published at 18:53 British Summer Time 31 March18:53 BST 31 MarchBen MellorBBC News "We weren't able to deliver anything from one o'clock today so my husband is out now delivering to all the people we weren't able to get to," she told the BBC there are a lot of independent businesses in Market Street who have to fight for the first and last penny "A lot of people have lost of a lot of money today." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFootage shows extent of cordonpublished at 18:42 British Summer Time 31 March18:42 BST 31 MarchAlex ThorpBBC News This was the scene in Loughborough earlier today when much of the town centre was cordoned off BBC journalist Amy Payne was there and gave this update Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingIncident scaled backpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 31 March17:45 BST 31 MarchBen MellorBBC News All that remains on the scene now are two police vans and a few police cars It would appear as though all the previous cordons around the town have now been taken down There are no more fire engines to be seen near the site of the incident either Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMan 'was seen on flat roof'published at 17:40 British Summer Time 31 March17:40 BST 31 MarchAmy PayneBBC News This is the flat roof in Packe Street mentioned in the statement from Leicestershire Police Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Serious threat to life'published at 17:24 British Summer Time 31 March17:24 BST 31 MarchElise ChamberlainBBC News said: "Police arrived just after one o'clock and shouted into the cafe that everyone must evacuate so obviously we complied and switched everything off "Literally every business was being evacuated out of Market Street down the end towards Market Square "It was made very clear it was a serious threat-to-life incident." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPictures from the scenepublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 31 March17:10 BST 31 MarchGavin BevisBBC News The large cordon put up by police officers in Loughborough covers multiple streets These photos are from a BBC News crew at the scene Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingArrest made after Loughborough disturbancepublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 31 March16:55 BST 31 MarchGavin BevisBBC News Leicestershire Police has just provided us with this statement: "An area in Loughborough town centre has been cordoned off after a report was received around midday today [Monday 31 March] regarding concerns for the behaviour of a man "The man was seen on a flat roof adjacent to some flats in Market Street Concerns were raised in relation to his behaviour a cordon has been put in place in the Frederick Street/Packe Street and Granby Street area "People are being advised to avoid the area while the emergency services deal with the incident "A man has since been arrested on suspicion of being a public nuisance and is in custody." Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingCordon set uppublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 31 March16:51 BST 31 MarchEmily AndersonBBC News Police have cordoned off a stretch of Market Street in Loughborough Officers at the scene have said they are still assessing the situation Home » What's on in Charnwood » Loughborough Fair Loughborough Fair will be in town from Wednesday Fairs have been held in Loughborough for centuries the first official Charter being granted to the Lord of the Manor Approximately 100 individual show people attend each year presenting between them some 20 large rides To keep informed on all Council news, including events, please subscribe to our email alerts Check out our tour of Loughborough Fair 2024 being set up: View on YouTube Fair Showman David Wallis talks about bringing rides to Loughborough Fair for around 60 years View on YouTube Show woman Florence Barker has been attending Loughborough Fair for 74 years In this video she talks about her favourite parts of the fair why fair rock is traditionally square and can she sum up Loughborough fair in one word View on YouTube Local showman Darren Jones mainly operates children's rides at Loughborough Fair but also plays an important role in liaising between the Council and the showmen to help bring the historic fair to town each year Hear Darren explain why Loughborough Fair has a special place in people's hearts and on the fair calendar View on YouTube John Beswick (Civil Engineering 1963) told us about his Loughborough Journey as part of our recent callout for stories of past student experiences at the University Here we share John’s vast career across the globe and in various engineering and science related fields John lived in Hazlerigg Hall (before it joined Rutland) for all the three years of his studies John was a member of the Nottingham University Officer Training Corps (OTC) while at Loughborough John acknowledges the University and stated: “Loughborough gave me a strong foundation for my future career with a high level of teaching by some excellent tutors.” He has had a varied career working across civil engineering mining and oil and gas exploration and development John’s first job was working in dock harbour and hydroelectric power station design including port works in the UK He also worked on a hydroelectric project in Sri Lanka working from an office opposite Westminster Abbey in London under the guidance of Reginald Gwyther one of the designers of the Mulberry Harbour in WWII as part of his postgraduate training to qualify as a Chartered Engineer John was involved in the construction of heavy industrial foundations and motorway bridges in the UK This was followed by 14 years managing geotechnical engineering projects related to tunnels These parts of John’s career took him across the UK and to various countries around the world He had responsibility for offices in Australia Ireland and he had major projects in Lebanon Working internationally resulted in a long-term interest and knowledge of international affairs John took a secondment to Camborne School of Mines (now Exeter University) as Deputy Director for five years He was involved in research into engineered geothermal systems in basement rocks including deep rock stress and various types of hydraulic stimulation programmes to improve fluid conductivity in rock masses He has 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry geoscientific investigations for nuclear waste sites His work also included power systems (pumps and lifeboat engines) and offshore wellhead and valve maintenance John helped establish a joint venture with PetroVietnam now PV Drilling and Well Services in Southeast Asia “I have always kept in touch with geoscientific projects and was the Project Manager for a Joint Venture of three specialist contractors for a 10-year programme to investigate sites for deep mined repositories for radioactive waste disposal in England and Scotland blending oilfield which set the standard for these types of investigations “I was involved in organising a very deep well in a meteorite impact crater for the Swedish State Power Board (Vattenfall) The well was drilled entirely in granite to almost 7000 m in Central Sweden to investigate the theory of abiogenic or primordial methane advocated by Dr Thomas Gold I also worked on deep coring methods for the KTB geoscientific super-deep project in Germany originally planned to be drilled to 15 km but finally drilled to only 9 km due to funding issues involved in deep geothermal wells in crystalline rock at depth in Europe.” John has also been investigating the concept of deep borehole disposal (DBD) of high-level radioactive waste for government agencies in Sweden USA and currently Norway at various times over the last 35 years an option that is now being seriously considered for disposal of certain wastes such as spent nuclear fuel Working with a small group at the University of Sheffield he has written several papers on the DBD concept and been awarded both the George Stephenson and James Watt Medals by the Institution of Civil Engineers After retiring in 2007 from a major Canadian drilling company John helped grow a small Derbyshire-based water well drilling company into an international player in oil This success earned them a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2022 John served on the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) Executive Committee and was also as Chairman of the IADC Government Affairs Committee for some years covering global activities with a Staff Officer in Washington DC and represented the IADC on the OGP ‘Gas from Shales Task Force’ in Europe John remains a Technical Advisor for the company and he is still involved as a director of the associated consultancy company What have you been doing since graduating from Loughborough? Where has your career journey taken you? Share your story with us by emailing the team (L-R): Director RAF Sport Air Commodore Rich Fogden Air Officer Commanding No 22 Group Air Vice-Marshal Ian ‘Cab’ Townsend CBE Loughborough University and Royal Air Force (RAF) Sport are proud to announce a new partnership aimed at fostering high-performance sporting development for RAF personnel The collaboration will see RAF colleagues use Loughborough University’s world-class sport facilities for training The partnership will also explore wider initiatives and additional bespoke programmes to support both organisations’ sports ambitions and beyond The initiative aims to enhance the performance of RAF teams while promoting a culture of shared knowledge and experience between military and university colleagues Loughborough will also host competitive fixtures and headline events bringing together elite military and civilian athletes in a sporting ecosystem that champions excellence Professor Jo Maher, Loughborough University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport said: “Loughborough University has a long-standing tradition of sporting excellence and we are delighted to partner with RAF Sport to create unique opportunities for training “This collaboration aligns with our mission to push the boundaries of performance while also providing career pathways and valuable leadership experiences We look forward to the opportunities this partnership will bring.” noted: “RAF Sport is delighted to be signing this MOU with Loughborough University which will have mutual benefits by allowing our Serving People access to these world class facilities and faculties We have a decades long relationship with Loughborough which will be re-energised through this sporting partnership “Sport plays a huge part in developing and maintaining our mental and physical health and building our resilience in preparation for operations and all else – making our people them ‘Fit for Service and Fit for Life’  We are excited by the opportunities this presents and look forward to working together to great effect.” The partnership will officially launch in March 2025 with further details on fixtures and events to be announced in the coming months and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.  Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.  Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes the Head of Development at the Football Association (The FA) will be joining Loughborough University as its new Director of Sport The former England netball player and acclaimed leader will bring with her 30 years of sports industry experience During her time at The FA Louise has helped to double participation in women’s and girls’ grassroots football was instrumental in working with key commercial partners and launched an award-winning disability football programme She also played a key role in the transformational legacy of the Lionesses’ historic EURO 2022 win across grassroots football and in curricular and extra-curricular school participation Prior to joining The FA in 2017, Louise was Assistant Director for Development at the Youth Sport Trust the UK’s leading children's charity ​for improving the education and development of young people through play and sport she will be responsible for strategic development commercial growth and development work of Loughborough Sport The remit includes working with a multitude of industry partners managing Loughborough’s enviable array of high-performance sports and facilities developing the next generation of sports leaders and managing elite and recreational programmes Speaking about her appointment Professor Jo Maher the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Louise will be joining the incredible Loughborough Sport team “Sport is in our DNA and we are proud of the unique sporting ecosystem we have been able to create at the University Louise brings with her decades of experience working across this sector as well as the unique insight of what it takes to perform as an athlete and leader at the highest level in sport.” Louise added: “It is a privilege to be joining Loughborough the world’s number one university for sport This opportunity to advance sport at all levels raise the bar even higher and lead such a talented Loughborough Sport team Show your support with our Lightning sport clothing and merchandise Perfect for fans who want to wear their team pride We’re excited to introduce our new netball team for the upcoming season With a blend of experience and fresh talent they’re ready to bring energy and determination to every game Let’s cheer them on to a successful season Copyright © 2025 Loughborough Lightning Loughborough University has officially launched its groundbreaking Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub – underpinning its commitment to accelerating growth and excellence in the women’s sport sector The multi-million-pound Hub – launched in partnership with Vitality – will deliver cutting edge research and innovation by bringing together leading academics and elite-level athletes to drive positive change at every level of the women’s sporting ecosystem This includes development in areas such as the menstrual cycle and its physiological impact on sport performance the design of pregnancy and postpartum sportswear digital technologies and innovation in sports bras Vitality will directly fund a series of PhD projects at the hub and work closely with the University to use research and innovation to better understand and break down the barriers women face to living an active and healthy life Launched with a visit from Stephanie Peacock Civil Society and Youth  (The Department for Culture the Hub became fully operational in March 2025 ensuring its influence is felt far beyond the University campus Speaking about the Hub Professor Jo Maher, Loughborough University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport said: “Women’s sport is growing and professionalising at a rapid pace and research and education has not made enough progress to understand the unique challenges faced in the sector “Loughborough University is committed to transforming the research and innovation landscape leveraging our world-leading expertise to directly address the issues that matter most to women across diverse sporting and exercising groups.”   Civil Society and Youth (The Department for Culture Media and Sport - DCMS) commented: “The launch of Loughborough University's Sport Research and Innovation Hub for women is an exciting step for the sector as we seek to grow women's sport right across the country.“For too long women have felt excluded from participation in sports and not benefited from comparable medical research into why performance and injuries can differ to men’s sport I commend Loughborough University on this groundbreaking initiative which will help more women from all backgrounds get active provide valuable insight and support the government's goal of removing barriers to sport.” Dr Katie Tryon, Commercial Director at Vitality said: “There is overwhelming evidence of the benefits of living a healthy and active life, yet in our latest research women’s sport and activity levels continue to not reach recommended levels or the levels they themselves would like to get to.   “This is a societal issue and one we are committed to playing our role in We are therefore pleased to be announcing not only an investment today but a partnership that will seek to better understand how we can support women’s sport at all levels and further tackle the barriers that are preventing women living a more active life.”   Loughborough University’s Ambassador for Sport Health and Wellbeing added: “This much-needed initiative will be a game-changer for women’s sport From my experience as an athlete and my work chairing the government review into women’s football it’s clear that more must be done to ensure women have access to high-quality and social health challenges faced by women athletes remains insufficient The Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub at Loughborough University marks a powerful step forward in driving real I’m excited to see universities playing a leading role in advancing our understanding and improving women's sport across health For more information, visit the Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub website Video (downloads and embed codes): Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub launched at Loughborough University Download video/audio (inc. raw files): https://www.lboro.ac.uk/media-centre/videos/2025/women-in-sport-hub/ YouTube video link: https://youtu.be/GsuP40jbBUw YouTube embed link: <iframe width="560" height="315" src=https://youtu.be/GsuP40jbBUw title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> For further video/audio support, please contact d.t.vincent@lboro.ac.uk a worldwide insurer and investment manager impacting more than 30 million members in over 41 markets worldwide. VitalityHealth is one of the UK’s leading private medical insurers and VitalityLife one of the fastest growing life insurers in the UK offering award-winning cover to thousands of members Vitality pioneered the ‘shared-value’ insurance model a unique approach based on the scientifically proven principles of behavioural economics Vitality helps members take a more active role in managing their own wellness encouraging them to develop healthy long-term habits that are good for them The effect is positive for all stakeholders – members benefit from better health financial rewards and additional incentives; employers benefit from healthier and more engaged employees; and Vitality benefits from a healthier membership base Vitality’s research into the barriers that prevent women being more active can be found here - Active Women, Healthy Lives: Understanding Barriers to Women's Participation in Physical Activity Follow the successes of Loughborough-linked athletes who have been selected to represent their country Loughborough University is thrilled to have partnered with Soul Padel to deliver an install of two new padel courts on campus Widely recognised as one of the fastest-growing sports in Europe padel combines elements of tennis and squash creating a unique and engaging game that is easy to learn and suitable for all skill levels two new temporary courts will be installed on the University’s Ball Park with bookings available to students Using a perforated paddle instead of a traditional racket the sport’s appeal lies in strategy and teamwork as most games are played in doubles on a smaller The court is roughly about a third of the size of a tennis court with walls that players can use to bounce the ball Soul Padel will be operating the courts in partnership with Loughborough Sport for an initial period of six months Soul Padel’s mission is to grow the sport of padel across the UK and make it available to everyone Acting Director of Sport at Loughborough University said: “We are delighted to bring two brand-new padel courts to campus and the community with more sport facilities of the highest quality “These courts will not only enhance our already enviable sporting offer but also underpin our commitment to creating a vibrant and active environment for all.” said: “This is a hugely exciting moment for Soul Padel Loughborough University is a world leader in sport and its campus is a place where people come to play “We’re thrilled to be adding padel to the mix ensuring it becomes part of this incredible sporting ecosystem Our mission has always been to make padel more accessible and by partnering with Loughborough University we’re creating opportunities for everyone—from elite athletes to complete beginners—to experience the joy of this dynamic and social game.” The courts will be available to book from Wednesday 19 February could lead to significant changes across medical science and the automotive industry The “Robot Eyes” project, within the University’s Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering has seen the creation of a bespoke micro-structured optical element that when partnered with a high-speed projector and camera allows robots to capture the 3D shape of moving objects one hundred times faster than current commercial systems The advancement allows structured light patterns to be projected onto objects at very high frame rates enabling billions of 3D coordinates to be captured per second – surpassing the storage capacity of a typical DVD every second This 3D data is displayed in real-time using GPU accelerated software which is the brainchild of academic researchers intent on advancing the way in which robots can see and act within dynamic environments could see changes in the way robot-assisted surgeries are carried out whilst also providing more efficient methods for automation of manufacturing and recycling processes Senior Research Associate in Optical Metrology, Dr Russ Coggrave said: “Our systems are based on the principle of projecting structured light onto the object surface with the surface profile distorting those patterns The images we then capture from those distorted patterns allow us to decode and extract the 3D shape of the surface “The technique is well-established and widely used across industrial metrology existing systems are relatively slow so only help when an object is static or slow-moving The new technology that we’ve been working on allows us to increase the acquisition rate capturing almost a hundred million coordinates per second – which is almost a hundred times faster than existing systems That change in speed now allows us to measure fully moving objects giving us the opportunity to overcome current robotic and engineering challenges.” Professor of Applied Optics and Photonics, Pablo Ruiz the surgeon can use different mechanisms to the give the robot the necessary feedback if you could imagine a robot that has this 3D vision that would give it an awareness and understanding of where the beating heart is and guide the position of the scalpel or tool to the shape of the heart.” Dr Coggrave adds the development could also provide a more efficient method in the disposal and recycling of electric car batteries: “One of the challenges with electric car batteries is what we do with them at the end of their life – for instance are we able to recycle the materials and bring them back into the production line the process is not as efficient as it could be as the robot fails to adapt accordingly to the changing shape and structure of the battery as it’s being disassembled covers and insulation can deform in unexpected ways during disassembly and this is a significant challenge for existing automated solutions high speed vision system will allow the robot to react in real time to changes in the assembly by providing the machine with closed loop feedback.” The Optical Engineering Research Group at Loughborough University has a long history in developing leading technology in this space Professor Ruiz says this is just another example of the real-world impact their work is having: “This technology is just one example of the real-world impact that research developed at the University is delivering The breakthrough was achieved through a combination of expertise in structured light techniques for 3D shape measurement and laser-based techniques such as interferometry and holography.” “We have developed a working demonstrator and are currently exploring partnerships to address specific challenges whilst identifying routes to impact.” Loughborough University is set to welcome the biggest student team sport event of the year as BUCS Big Wednesday returns on 18 and 19 March 2025 The highly anticipated event will see the country’s top university teams battle for Championship and Trophy titles across 16 sports with 58 fixtures and 116 teams all vying for glory A standout moment in the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) calendar BUCS Big Wednesday showcases the very best of student sport bringing together elite university athletes With over 2,000 competitors and 2,500 spectators expected on campus the event promises two days of top-level competition and an electric atmosphere This marks the second year that Loughborough has been chosen to host BUCS Big Wednesday reinforcing the University’s status as a leading hub for university sport completing a three-year run at Loughborough With Championship and Trophy finals taking place across multiple venues on campus spectators will have the chance to witness thrilling matchups as teams compete for the ultimate prize in university sport Tickets are on sale now via the BUCS website a separate ticket is required for each sport and how to get involved as Loughborough prepares to host another unforgettable BUCS Big Wednesday Find out more on the BUCS Big Wednesday events page. Three nominees from Loughborough Business School have been recognised as top-performing students across the University at the 2025 Academic Excellence Awards The Academic Excellence Awards brings together exceptional students from across Loughborough University to recognise their achievements as top-performing students in their schools for the previous academic year Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience followed by an awards ceremony and a three-course dining experience School representatives were also in attendance to offer support and congratulations to the nominees Three students from Loughborough Business School were among this year’s winners: Mihajlo Jovanovic said: “I’m still processing the win in some ways I won the Part B Business Economics and Finance Award for being the highest performing student on my course and now to go on and win the Loughborough Academic Excellence Award for being the highest performing student at the entire Business School is unbelievable “I think it reflects my passion for studying and its proof of all the hard work I’ve put in and progress I have made since coming here I’m very honoured to have received it Loughborough has made me a more dedicated and passionate student.” Jordan Addo-Antoine added: “To win the Academic Excellence Award at Loughborough is one of the best things I have achieved to date I was extremely proud and filled with joy to be able to go on stage and accept it from the Vice-Chancellor of the University “This award means a lot to me and I feel as though it is a testament to the endless hours of work I have put in but throughout the whole of my foundation year.” The Leicester Innovation Festival (LIF) is back for 2025 with Loughborough University hosting several events The Festival is an annual celebration of ideas and improvements which drive increased productivity among businesses operating in Leicester and Leicestershire Founded by the Business Gateway Growth Hub in 2018 and education partners as the hosts of a number of events across the region.   and the week-long festival of productivity will formally launch at the National Space Centre on Monday This will be followed by a number of events which are available to attend online and in-person at venues across Leicestershire.   Loughborough University is delighted to be hosting the following events:  Other event hosts include De Montfort University The 2025 festival runs from 31 March to 4 April. All events are free to attend. Register now via the Business Gateway Growth Hub website.  The University has launched a public consultation on a proposed new student accommodation development on its Loughborough campus The proposed site for the accommodation lies in the Central Park area of the campus The site includes the existing Car Park 5 as well as land adjacent to it including the parts of the campus previously occupied by the Graham Oldham and Chemistry buildings both of which have already been demolished The new accommodation would replace existing stock on campus that has reached its end of life The development would provide 552 bedspaces across five blocks The blocks would be set within landscaped surroundings including a shared plaza and a landscaped square The deadline for comments is Monday 21 April 2025 Feedback received as part of this consultation process will help to inform further development of the proposals in advance of the planning application submission to the local authority Once the planning application has been submitted the Council will consider the proposals and give local residents a further opportunity to review and comment on them The thrills and spills of the circus will be returning to Loughborough over the Easter bank holiday weekend Pinders Circus will be performing at Southfields Park in Loughborough from Friday It will be the fourth consecutive year that Pinders Circus has performed at Southfields Park head of economic development and regeneration at Charnwood Borough Council said: “We are pleased to welcome Pinders Circus back to Loughborough following its popularity over the last few years “The Council works with a number of organisers and partners throughout the year to put events such as this one on for residents and visitors to enjoy.” Tickets can be purchased on the Pinders Circus website and at the box office which will be located in Southfields Park over the Easter bank holiday weekend. You can book tickets on the Pinders Circus website Pinders Circus will be arriving at Southfields Park on Wednesday 16 April as it begins to set up ahead of the weekend of fun which is operated by Charnwood Borough Council will remain open to the public whilst the circus is operating Loughborough University has been announced as one of UK Sport’s first-ever Event Social Impact Partners with the aim of using major events to drive positive change First introduced at UK Sport’s annual Event Partners Day researchers from Loughborough will work alongside Access Sport and StreetGames to deliver impact during the LA 2028 cycle and beyond The project ties in with UK Sport’s recently launched Making Live Sport Matter initiative a new major event strategic framework that is committed to continuing to embed social impact into events as a priority Loughborough University will partner with UK Sport on social impact at a strategic level The organisations will work to develop a centralised social impact strategy and structure for the sector said: “We’re extremely proud to have been named as a social impact partner for UK Sport This collaboration aligns perfectly with our university’s strategy of ‘creating better futures together’ and we’re committed to delivering meaningful change Loughborough Sport’s world-class athletes will all play a key role in tangibly evidencing the value that major events bring to places across the UK in relation to social impacts We look forward to continuing our efforts and driving impact where it matters most.” UK Sport’s Head of Events Esther Britten said: "Our ambition is to use the platform of major events hosted in the UK to deliver meaningful "By establishing these partnerships and making them available to the sector we believe that they will supercharge the work already being carried out by event hosting partners or help deliver on their ambitions that they don’t have capacity to achieve These four organisations have the expertise networks and influence to make a real difference in this area." Dr Verity Postlethwaite Loughborough University’s co-lead on the project added: “This is an exciting moment for the project team as the support from UK Sport and Loughborough University will allow us to strengthen meaningful partnerships and utilise our research and innovation in a valued way “The opportunity to work alongside the major events sector to tackle and build solutions to evidencing the social impact from events is extraordinary and we are energised to use this collaboration to foster equitable benefits for groups across the events landscape.”  Dr Steven Bradbury and colleagues from Loughborough University’s School of Sport Exercise and Health Sciences have collaborated with 18 Loughborough-based sports bodies to conduct an innovative research project examining ethnic diversity and inclusion in sports leadership The research examined the representation levels benefits and challenges of establishing an ethnically diverse senior leadership workforce in sports at board and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) level It also identifies some emerging models of good ‘race’ equity practice in the field The research reveals key statistical and qualitative insights into the current ‘race’ equity landscape in sports leadership It also provides extensive recommendations to help sports bodies to increase ethnic diversity and promote inclusion in the governance tiers of sports The primary author of the report, Dr Steven Bradbury said: “This innovate research project provides important insights in identifying racialised inequities and barriers to the career progression of ethnically diverse groups in the senior leadership workforce in sports “It also identifies some emerging pockets of good ‘race’ equity practice and provides practical recommendations as to how sports bodies can translate their developing strategic commitment to ‘race’ equity into meaningful and sustained operational practice “Engagement with these recommendations and extended collaboration with key ‘race’ equity stakeholders will help sports bodies move towards a position of recognition and reflexivity and enact measures to enhance ethnic diversity and inclusion in sports leadership domains.” The report findings and recommendations were disseminated to representatives of national sports organisations and ‘race’ equity stakeholder bodies at an innovative knowledge exchange event held at Loughborough University Stadium on Friday 31 January The event also included presentations of good ‘race’ equity practice from UK Sport the ECB and Active Together as well as a panel discussion featuring representatives from UK Sport Reflecting the collaborative process of the research the event closed with a commitment from the University Loughborough-based sports bodies and ‘race’ equity stakeholders to work together to embed ‘race’ equity in the senior leadership workforce in sports the University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Sport “Loughborough University is proud to support this research as part of its ongoing institutional commitment to tackle racialised inequities and promote equity diversity and inclusion in all aspects of its operations “To see so many of our partners across our world-class sporting ecosystem working collaboratively and contributing to this important work will help to embed the principles and practices of ‘race’ equity at senior leadership level across the sector.” Access the full report Loughborough University is delighted to be working in partnership with local charity Equality Action to welcome Baroness Ruth Lister as its keynote speaker for an upcoming public lecture Emeritus Professor of Social Policy at Loughborough University Baroness Ruth Lister will present a lecture titled ‘Communities: After the Riots’.   Ruth Lister CBE FBA FAcSS has been a Labour member of the House of Lords since 2011 She is a former director of the Child Poverty Action Group and is now its President She is the author of books and articles on a range of subjects including citizenship and poverty She holds various voluntary positions including Vice-Chair of the Board for the pressure group Compass and Patron of the Nottingham and Notts Refugee Forum.  These questions will be discussed in the lecture which promises to deliver valuable insights into contemporary social equality issues along with thought-provoking discussions on the concept of community.  The lecture will be followed by a Q&A session featuring Baroness Lister alongside the following panel:  Chief Executive Officer of Equality Action commented: “We are delighted to be welcoming Baroness Ruth Lister as our keynote speaker at our forthcoming lecture on Communities: After the Riots The topic is very relevant and challenging so this will be a thought-provoking lecture which challenges people on the strengths and threats to communities Our Q&A panel will also bring key people to the table to share their insights and help answer some of the questions raised.”   The lecture is free to attend and will take place from 7pm-8.30pm in EHB110A, inside the Edward Herbert Building on the Loughborough University campus. Accessibility information can be found on the AccessAble website.   Register your place online. Please note important parking information can be found on the registration page.  Equality Action is committed to achieving community cohesion and works towards empowering disadvantaged communities as well as opportunities to learn new life skills and encourage inclusion across different communities This lecture resonates very strongly with their aims mission and values.     Image provided by Pete Simmons (5or6 Creative) Loughborough University played host to an unforgettable British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) ‘Big Wednesday’ showcasing the very best of elite student sport across its renowned campus Taking place on the evening of Tuesday March 18 and throughout Wednesday March 19 the prestigious event welcomed over 2,000 student-athletes and support staff as they competed in 57 Championship Trophy and Vase finals across 16 different sports Around 2,500 spectators roared on their respective university teams across Loughborough’s enviable sporting facilities Hosting the event for the second successive year, over 100 student volunteers from Loughborough’s Coach and Volunteer Academy (CVA) also played a crucial role in delivering a first-class competition On a perfect spring day in the East Midlands Loughborough athletes produced some thrilling moments securing 14 pieces of silverware out of a possible 20: Football Men's 1's celebrate with the crowd Highlights included a dramatic 73-72 victory for Women’s 2’s basketball over Northumbria University at a sold-out Sir David Wallace Arena the Men’s 3’s were crowned National Trophy champions after defeating the University of Nottingham Basketball Men’s 1’s are now also 3 x National Championship title holders after dispatching Nottingham Trent University in the final Netball Women’s 1’s also secured a third consecutive title after beating Bath There was further success for the hosts in Tennis (Women’s 1s) Acting Director of Sport at Loughborough University “Big Wednesday is a huge date on the student sport calendar and we’re thrilled to have partnered with BUCS to deliver such an incredible showcase of university sport we witnessed some incredible moments that will undoubtedly live long in the memory of those involved The day’s success is testament to the dedication of all the athletes We’re already looking forward to hosting again next year.” For more information on sport at Loughborough, visit: www.lboro.ac.uk/sport. Image provided by The Royal Anniversary Trust A Loughborough University academic has co-authored a report highlighting the important role universities can play in transforming the future of creative industries nationally The Royal Anniversary Trust Coronation Challenge CreaTech Report published today in collaboration with the Department for Culture Media and Sport as part of a year-long research initiative highlights five key recommendations to help government in supporting creative businesses and improving skills These policy recommendations include education reform to build a robust skills pipeline creating a five-year plan to substantially increase the level of public investment in CreaTech research and development whilst developing a collaborative hub which would strengthen connections between businesses educational institutions and technology developers Further recommendations involve improving access to certain tax relief and bridging the gap in funding for CreaTech businesses wishing to grow Dr Allan Watson, from the University’s School of Social Sciences and Humanities co-authored the report as part of a team of experts led by think-tank Erskine Analysis He says there’s a lot for the government to think about: “There are a whole series of policy recommendations in the report around how best to support creative businesses and to improve skills across the sector – and in particular the role universities and colleges can play in creating a skills pipeline for new technologically-focused creative industries “We are hopeful that the government will act upon these recommendations it will provide a stream of support mechanisms to accelerate growth in the creative industries and further increase their contribution to the economic growth of the UK “I hope this call to action also contributes to the sustainable growth of the creative industries at the same time as having a positive impact on the economy One of the core principles of this report was to highlight and recognise the important role universities and colleges have to play in achieving this by creating a workforce with an appropriate skillset and knowledge of emerging technologies “The report focuses on how we can position ourselves most adeptly at supporting institutions within Higher and Further Education to overcome the challenges and barriers currently preventing us from achieving this.” Media and Sport (DCMS) said: "The CreaTech report demonstrates how creativity and technology go hand in hand We want our creative industries to be at the forefront of technological development so that the UK remains a global leader and one of the best places in the world to invest and do business "I look forward to working across government and with industry to address the report's recommendations so that we can drive economic growth in the sector and build a sustainable skills pipeline - all central to this government's Plan for Change." Chair of the Royal Anniversary Trust and Chair of the Coronation Challenge Advisory Board said: “This report is a call to action: the UK must claim its place as the global leader in CreaTech As chair of BBC Studios and the National Theatre I’ve witnessed the transformative impact of combining creativity with technology It turns out that CreaTech is one of the UK’s most potent levers for economic growth with the potential to generate an additional £18 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) over the next decade and create 160,000 new jobs We already have 350,000 professionals working in this space and 14,000 creative businesses leveraging emerging tech but these numbers should — and must — grow exponentially if we are to lead globally and our standing in the world for decades to come.” 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title Men’s First Team Men's University Match Kent Men faced Loughborough UCCE in a three-day University Match at The Spitfire Ground St Lawrence – their last pre-season match before the start of the 2025 Rothesay County Championship Joey Evison’s double-century proved the highlight of a productive three day draw for Kent against Loughborough University Evison was on 216 when Kent declared on 599 for seven on day three and Corey Flintoff took his first Kent wicket leaving Loughborough on 142 for four when the players agreed the draw Jaydn Denly also staked his claim for a place in the starting XI for Friday’s opening Rothesay County Championship fixture at Northampton by making 125 With the opening game of the season just three days away Kent’s plan was to avoid having to spend all day in the field by batting themselves into a substantial lead and then having a speculative tilt at Loughborough with Evison unbeaten on 152 and Denly 115 not out but their 325-run partnership came to an end when the latter was caught and bowled by Aman Rao That was the visitors’ only success: Evison creamed Will Goss through cover to bring up his double century and simultaneously take the lead past 200 Stewart was put down by Harry Petrie when he was on 42 trying to drive George Gowler through mid off and Kent then declared at 12:31 First innings centurion Ollie Meadows edged the first ball of the innings but Tawanda Muyeye couldn’t claim an ankle-high catch Pakistan international Kashif Ali then marked his Spitfire Ground debut with a maiden from the Pavilion End but Meadows and Rehaan Edavalath survived five overs till lunch Singh broke an opening stand of 65 when he had Edavalath caught on the boundary by Flintoff for 27 and he then had Sheridan Gumbs caught behind for three Flintoff came on at the Pavilion End and got Meadows with his second delivery for 41 Matty Weston and Vansh Jani steered the visitors to 101 for three at tea but the former was caught behind for 15 off the golden arm of Jack Leaning was the last meaningful action and after a few more overs of spin the players shook hands at 4.30pm Joey Evison and Jaydn Denly both hit unbeaten centuries as Kent reached 473 for six at stumps on Day Two of their three-day friendly with Loughborough University Evison made a “Daddy hundred,” hitting 152 The duo came together when Kent were in trouble on 190 for six and in danger of having to bat again but their stand of 283 transformed the mood in the Spitfire Ground It was exactly what Kent needed after they began day two on 34 for two Harry Petrie had Daniel Bell-Drummond lbw for 33 and Aman Rao got Tawanda Muyeye caught behind for 40 in his first over before Chris Benjamin and Jack Leaning steadied things Rao took two wickets early during the afternoon session bowling Leaning off stump for 27 and then getting Benjamin lbw three runs short of his half-century but Evison and Denly’s partnership comfortably spared Kent from the potential embarrassment of following on cracking Rogers through point for four and Denly was then given a life when he drove Rogers to extra cover only for George Gowler to put down an easy chance Denly then glanced Rogers for two to reach his half-century and leave Kent on 309 for six at tea Denly hit Goss back over his head for four to give the hosts a lead and Saku Ndlele dropped a more difficult chance to get rid of Evison who drove uppishly at Harry Petrie when he was on 92 Evison scrambled a single from Rao in the next over to get to three figures and the run that took Denly to his hundred was even riskier: he nudged Rao for a single and just made his ground before the throw came in Belying rumours that a declaration would come as soon as both men had made their hundreds with Evison hitting the final ball of the day for four to bring up his 150 A potentially fascinating final day begins at 11 am tomorrow Kent were 34 for two at stumps on day one of their three-day with Loughborough University at Canterbury Joey Evison and Matt Parkinson all claimed two wickets apiece but the hosts spent the bulk of the first day toiling in the field with the visitors declaring on 364 for eight The show was stolen by Loughborough’s Ollie Meadows including 18 fours and made a stand worth 141 with Vansh Jani Jani himself hit 69 and Matty Weston weighed in down the order with an unbeaten 63 getting England’s Zak Crawley for a second ball duck and Harry Finch caught behind for nine Having won the toss Kent chose to bowl and Nathan Gilchrist struck in his second over bowling Rehaan Edavalath for six with a ball that hit his pad and clipped the top of off Sheridan Gumbs looked good for 20 until he was caught behind by Finch off Grant Stewart and Addy Sharma made 23 before he was lbw to Joey Evison At that point the visitors were on 83 for three but Meadows and Jani responded with a momentum-arresting partnership that was watched at close quarters by Kent coach Adam Hollioake Jani could have been run out when he was on 36 but Corey Flintoff couldn’t drag Finch’s throw onto the stumps and he reached his half-century when he pulled Flintoff for a single Meadows then survived a strong lbw shout from Parkinson when he was on 98 before taking a single from the same bowler to bring up three figures Evison finally had him caught by Jack Leaning at first slip and Leaning then bowled Jani with the fifth ball of his first over The students reached 257 for five at tea and the partnership between Weston and Isaac Light was beginning to look useful when the latter tried to drive Parkinson and was caught by Tawanda Muyeye at long off Tom Hinley got off the mark when he hit Parkinson for six Saku Ndlela then joined Weston to put together another significant partnership smashing 36 at a run-a-ball before he hit Gilchrist to Daniel Bell-Drummond Loughborough declared after 80 overs and the left-armer Rogers pinned Crawley with his second delivery from the Pavilion End Bell-Drummond nearly played on to the next ball before Rogers claimed his second victim when he had Finch caught behind Membership includes entry to ALL scheduled Kent Cricket home matches in 2025 and is your ‘season ticket’ to watch Kent in Vitality Blast Metro Bank One Day Cup & Rothesay County Championship action this coming Summer All-action T20 cricket is back in Canterbury this June & July Get the best seats in the house and enjoy exclusive access and benefits with a Kent Cricket Membership for 2025 The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury Download all upcoming fixtures and add them to your calendar Download a PDF of all upcoming Men’s & Women’s fixtures Site by: TILT Loughborough University’s REACH Staff Network invite staff and the wider community to come and celebrate Eid-al-Fitr festival Come along for this joyous occasion at The Stadium An opportunity to find out about Eid-al-Fitr enjoy cuisines from different parts of the world and sweet treats.Food Menu will be a three course celebratory lunch serving only HALAL ingredients London – Loughborough EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Energy Demand (LoLo CDT) is funded to train a large student cohort to address our skills shortage in energy demand The centre aims to inspire the leaders and innovators needed to transform the UK’s buildings and energy sector. Our graduates are expected to take senior roles throughout the economy Hosted by the UCL Energy Institute and Loughborough University the Centre’s core focus is the energy performance of buildings- their technologies and multiple interactions with people and the wider energy system. The centre offers researchers a novel learning structure in which to make those connections with other disciplines.  Videos and blogs celebrating the work of Women in LoLo CDT Link Keep up to date with @LoLo_CDT and @UCL_Energy on Twitter The international science outreach festival Pint of Science is returning to Loughborough in May and doctoral researchers technical and research staff from across the University are encouraged to get involved Loughborough University’s research community will be making their way from labs and offices to local cafés restaurants and pubs to share their research stories Join Pint of Science Loughborough 2025 as we build on the success of our 2024 festival where Loughborough was the third-largest Pint of Science event in the UK With 36 volunteers and 55 incredible speakers we brought top-quality research to life for over 430 attendees ‘Powering the Future: The Clean Energy Revolution’ will focus on groundbreaking innovations in clean energy and its applications featuring both Loughborough University researchers and top industry experts Apply now and bring cutting-edge science to the local community in a fun Atoms to Galaxies Our Society Beautiful Minds Our Body Creative Reactions Planet Earth Tech Me Out completing just one marathon in a lifetime is a huge achievement Richard Whitehead MBE has set his ambitions that bit higher The Nottinghamshire-based Paralympic champion is on target to complete his hundredth marathon this year following a brutal running schedule that has taken the 48-year-old to all corners of the globe Whitehead – who has two prosthetics after being born without the lower part of his legs – has spent time in Loughborough University’s sport science labs at the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport The data gathered will guide and inform as he faces the challenge head-on I’ve run 80+ marathons all over the world…this year I want to complete my hundredth,” Whitehead told Loughborough Sport “That means I have to run 20 marathons in less than a year It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet new people and showcase disability sport.” Richard said: “Data is really important for any athlete It’s about how you and your team utilise that data “Loughborough has supported me in the past and given me the confidence in marathon running and track athletics and I think it’s really important that I’ve come here to showcase performance sport and show that anything is possible.” Loughborough University’s Professor Vicky Tolfrey added: “The data is very important to look at progress and where he can get those marginal gains He is looking to maintain his performance and ultimately this will help with his training “What’s great in the para sport world is that athletes want to give back Richard has come for physiological testing but at the same time this is a learning exposure for our students That’s at the heart of what we’re doing here.” Richard will run in this weekend’s London Marathon (number 89) and will complete his challenge in New York in November 2025 You can follow his journey through his personal website here: richardwhiteheadmbe.com For more information about the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, visit: www.lboro.ac.uk/research/phc/ pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.  A team of Loughborough Business School first-year students secured third place in the University Business Challenge (UBC) Worldwide Finals held at the University of Southampton The Universities Business Challenge is the world’s leading online simulation-based inter-university competition designed to develop undergraduate and postgraduate employability and enterprise skills Supported by leading universities and graduate employers over 45,000 students have benefitted from taking part since 1998 Loughborough Business School was represented in the challenge by a team of five students: Matthew Doel They began their journey to the finals by finishing top of their group in the online simulation round followed by second place in their semi-final at Nottingham Trent University the team travelled to the University of Southampton to compete against the 10 best undergraduate teams nationwide participating in the full process; Loughborough’s students demonstrated outstanding performance throughout BSc Accounting and Financial Management student Adishree Rai Sood said: “Throughout this challenge I was able to hone key skills such as teamwork and resilience—especially in dealing with setbacks and turning them into learning opportunities Our trading periods taught us how to analyse markets manage businesses across different scales and make informed decisions under pressure “One of my biggest personal takeaways was during the networking round where I realized that being an introvert doesn’t mean I can’t connect with others—it just takes the right task to bring out my confidence the most rewarding part of the experience was the incredible friendships I built—especially with my four amazing teammates From the highs of victory to the challenges we tackled together this journey wouldn’t have been the same without them An experience that was not just about business—but about growth and connections that will last far beyond the competition.” Teammate Lily Patient added: “Throughout this challenge we had the opportunity to tackle real-world business problems Competing against some of the best minds from over 80 teams from universities across the country was a really rewarding experience Making it to the top three in the grand final was the perfect way to end the competition.” Academic Lead for Student and Graduate Enterprise Dr Amanda Berry added: “The University Business Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for our students to push themselves and develop vital career enhancing experience and entrepreneurial knowledge I’m delighted at this year’s success from the team to achieve a third-place finish in a national competition is a testament to their incredible dedication and hard work.” The University is delighted to announce that Helen Pennack has been appointed as Loughborough’s Director of Marketing and Advancement the institution’s senior marketing and communications leader Helen will lead the strategic and operational development of the University’s regional its brand presence and market position to support delivery of the business objectives outlined in the University’s strategy She will lead the six teams within the Marketing and Advancement directorate: Strategic Marketing; Global Engagement Recruitment; Future Students and Marketing Operations; Brand Digital and Creative Production; Corporate Communications; and Philanthropy Helen has a wealth of experience within the higher education sector She is currently Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the University of Nottingham where she provides strategic marketing and communications leadership for the University and leads the External Relations department that comprises marketing the Institute for Policy and Engagement and Lakeside Arts.  Helen spent six years as Director of Marketing and Communications at the University of Warwick where she created the University’s first marketing function.  Helen also spent a number of years in marketing roles at the University of Leicester eventually becoming Head of Marketing Communications.  Helen is a member of several influential bodies in the higher education sector including the CASE Universities Marketing Forum and the CASE Communications and Marketing Commission communications and recruitment track of the CASE Europe Annual Conference on three occasions and was also a Faculty Tutor for the CASE Marketing and Communications Institute.   Helen said: "I'm so pleased to be joining the team at Loughborough and to be part of a fabulous top 10 university that values student experience and makes a real impact on the world through its research excellence I see a lot of brilliant opportunity for the University and can't wait to be part of its ongoing success."  said: “I’m delighted that we’ve recruited someone of Helen’s calibre to drive forward our marketing and communications activity.”  Helen will take up her new role at Loughborough in March.  Millions of pounds of government cash to help carry out wide-ranging research to identify the health needs for people in Leicestershire has been confirmed has secured £5.25m of funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) for a Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) project as well as Leicestershire Academic Health Partners which includes the NHS and health-focused academic organisations are key partners for the innovative collaboration The NIHR funds enable and deliver world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing Some areas of the county have an average living age of up to six years lower compared to others with health factors influenced by education The five-year programme will unlock the ability to work with partners in the university and health sectors to improve the health of Leicestershire residents The NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and the £5.25m is given specifically to the council for this project To ensure research is guided by the health needs and priorities of residents and local communities, a Citizen's Assembly will take place in March where you can take part and help shape the work to make researchers aware of the challenges that matter most to local people and communities It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running.  Loughborough University has agreed a landmark international partnership with The Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport (the GO) to drive the elevation of activities connected to women’s sport Recognising the urgent need for collective action the GO was established to advance gender equality and empower women and girls in all their diversity in and through physical education Led by colleagues from the University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences the two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) underpinning a strategic collaboration that will expand research and innovation activities related to advancing gender equality in sport globally The agreement sees Loughborough become the first UK-based university to enter a partnership with the GO and will build on the already successful research and innovation projects delivered by the University’s Health and Wellbeing of Women in Sport cluster Dr Emma Pullen said: “We are looking forward to working with the GO to ensure Loughborough University’s research and innovation in women and girls’ sport and physical activity is impactful and advances global knowledge “Working in collaboration with organisations such as the GO is critical to developing a truly global and co-ordinated approach to tackling systematic gender inequities in sport.”     Dr Lombe Mwambwa from GO added: "The timing of this partnership is perfect for the development of the GO and for the waves of action and research that are taking place around the world.  “This cooperation with Loughborough University is a strategic way to mutually extend our excellence and influence in service of our policy Loughborough University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for Sport “This partnership provides another marker in the sand as we collectively expand and evolve our research and innovation offer in women and girls’ sport “Working alongside talented colleagues at the GO we look forward to delivering world-leading impactful projects that have tangible benefits for all involved.” The GO initiative originated from Loughborough University’s UNESCO Chair in Sport Loughborough Business School welcomed BSc Maths and Economics alumnus Ross McEwan as a guest speaker to share his career journey and insights on succeeding in finance from his distinguished career Ross McEwan is Managing Director and EMEA Head of TMT & Ecommerce Sales at Citi Media and Telecommunications at Citi for the UK Middle East & Africa clusters within the Treasury and Trade Services business he has been with Citi for almost five years with 17 years of industry experience having previously spent time at Bank of America Returning to Loughborough to discuss his experiences of the banking sector for current students across two speaking sessions Ross described his time in roles at British and American banks and the various challenges and opportunities that led to his current role as Managing Director at Citi Ross said: “I had a great experience here during my four years at Loughborough this is my first time back on campus in 17 years and I’ve always wanted to come and be part of it again to give back to the University and the students here in some way During my studies I was inspired by the fantastic lecturers and guest speakers we heard from so to be able to come back and share my own career experiences feels incredibly rewarding “I’ve seen how much the finance sector has changed over the course of my career I was studying the financial crisis and the collapse of Northern Rock as it was happening during my final year in 2007 before securing my first job at the height of the turmoil in 2008 The case studies we explored during my degree significant financial events really put some of the more theoretical elements of economics and maths into play and shaped the world and job market I was graduating into “Being back on campus today brings back a lot of memories of what I love about Loughborough I always felt there was a strong sense of community but also a winning mentality that stems from the sporting heritage here I appreciated that ethos of teamwork and competitiveness that can bring out the best in people I built such great bonds of friendship from my time at Loughborough The campus accommodation brings you together with a diverse group of people in halls which has given me lasting friendships which I maintain to this day.” Ross broke down the role of the Treasury and Trade business - often referred to as the crown jewel of Citi - to understand the value of its financial operations moving money around the world facilitating global trade Students had the chance to learn about corporate banking as well as the role of innovative technology such as digitization Reflecting on his advice for graduates aspiring to work in the sector Ross said: “My key advice for students and graduates is not to put too much pressure on yourselves to know exactly what you want to do at this stage but don’t let yourself be fixated on having a perfect plan to the extent you don’t get started You will have to make decisions about what to pursue in your career or ask for advice from those who’ve been there before and figure out what works for you along the way I’m looking for a genuine passion for the role in candidates people that have an understanding and reason to apply for that job What makes you stand out early in your career is being engaged speaking and acting - with confidence and clarity It therefore helps to prioritize your health and wellbeing in order to consistently show up and perform Recognise when to ask for the help or advice of others – they will almost always respond positively because you made the effort to consult them.” Discussing the motivation for hosting the talk Business School Representative and student organiser Mayank added: "As the School Representative I feel it’s essential students get to hear real-world perspectives from industry leaders That’s why I reached out to Ross McEwan as engaging with a figure of his stature offered an unparalleled opportunity to gain firsthand insights from someone who has navigated the complexities of global finance at the highest level." “By bridging the gap between understanding academic theory and the real-world complexities of global finance Ross’ insights not only deepened our understanding but also challenged us to rethink the future of finance and our place within it." England Futsal has partnered with Loughborough University to host the Men’s National Team’s home fixtures for the UEFA Euro 2026 Main Round Qualifiers Loughborough’s Sir David Wallace Sports Hall will welcome fans for three key matches with a capacity of 1,100 to bring together futsal supporters from across the country the partnership will offer development events for coaches and referees and community activities to inspire new fans This collaboration marks a significant step in promoting futsal’s growth and visibility in England University of Nottingham (UoN); Rachel Quinn East Midlands Institute of Technology; Dan Fung Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC); Samir Mamun Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI); Nora Senior CBE DL East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA); Dr Hannah Pearson Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC); Prof in partnership with East Midlands Freeport Research England and The University of Nottingham is playing a key role in the newly opened Zero Carbon Innovation Centre (ZCIC) The centre will deliver innovation in transport technology and power solutions for industry and create jobs for the regional economy said: “The launch of the East Midlands Zero Carbon Innovation Centre is a game-changer for businesses looking to develop and scale new technologies Our five million pounds investment is about more than just funding innovation – it’s about creating a clear pathway for businesses to move from research and development to full-scale operations within the Freeport companies can accelerate their growth and take their solutions to market faster This sends a strong message to global industries: the East Midlands is the place to innovate and lead in the industries of the future.” With investments from East Midlands Freeport Research England’s UK Research Partnership Investment Fund and match-funding by the two universities and provide businesses with a clear path to transition from developing new technologies to potentially establishing operations at the Freeport Based at Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus and with a site at Loughborough University the ZCIC brings a range of open access innovation capabilities to the region including electrical machine manufacturing digital twinning and green hydrogen generation A new electrical machine manufacturing line will enable end-to-end manufacturing allowing flexible reconfiguration for low volume high value production of advanced machines with state-of-the-art performance and power This will accelerate technology insertion into manufacturing to support production in region and nationally Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Loughborough University said: “The partnership with East Midlands Freeport and University of Nottingham is vital for ensuring that the East Midlands can meet its potential of becoming a global leader in low and zero carbon research and innovation We are collectively incredibly placed to play a significant role in delivering the green industrial revolution with each partner bringing expertise and resources to enhance and complement each other and we're excited at the opportunity this investment will afford.” The launch of the ZCIC comes amid major developments in the East Midlands including the formation of the East Midlands Combined County Authority and the East Midlands Investment Zone which will create jobs and drive growth in advanced manufacturing and clean energy through local infrastructure investment and tax reliefs across sites Minister for Local Growth and Building Safety said: “I am pleased to see the East Midlands Freeport take a big step forward in driving growth through innovation in transport a sector in which this region has long been an industrial leader The new centre will help secure the East Midlands’ role in the future of green transport accelerate the government’s Plan for Change mission for growth and help deliver on the UK’s ambition to be a clean energy superpower.” Head of Programme Delivery at the Aerospace Technology Institute said: “The Zero Carbon Innovation Centre is set to drive cutting-edge research and development in sustainable transport and energy technologies Building on years of pioneering aerospace research much of it funded through the ATI Programme the ZCIC will play a crucial role in fast-tracking sustainable technologies from research to deployment “The ATI is proud to have helped accelerate aerospace innovation in the East Midlands which can now be applied across multiple sectors to deliver real-world impact through the ZCIC.” a novel battery-electrolyser demonstration facility is being created with a manufacturing prototype now developed Loughborough also has complementary business incubation commercialisation and scale-up facilities at LUSEP with an existing CleanTech cluster of organisations More information on the Zero Carbon Innovation Centre can be found here Loughborough Business School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have joined forces in an exciting collaboration to offer a new master’s programme in Supply Chain Management as part of the UK Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence (SCALE) Centre Loughborough University has recently joined the MIT Global SCALE Network, which supports affiliated supply chain education and research centres in Colombia, Luxembourg, Spain and China. The sole, and exclusive, UK based node of the Global SCALE Network, Loughborough’s new UK SCALE Centre aims to act as a hub for researchers industry collaborators and aspiring or current supply chain professionals The collaboration between Loughborough and MIT offers an exciting opportunity for graduates and supply chain professionals to enrol on a new MSc programme in Supply Chain Management This flagship programme of the Centre will give students the chance to spend time at both MIT’s Boston campus and Loughborough Business School “We have to think very carefully about how we ensure everybody in our country Fostering the next generation of supply chain talent through initiatives like our new UK SCALE Centre master’s programme is an essential part of that,” explained Dean of Loughborough Business School Students who successfully complete the Supply Chain Management MSc at Loughborough University will receive a Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management Certificate awarded by the MIT Global SCALE Network upon graduation graduates will gain Associate Alumni status from MIT providing access to certain privileges within the MIT Alumni Association such as the online alumni directory and networking opportunities A central component of the programme is the MIT SCALE Connect residential which takes place over three weeks at the MIT campus in Boston Massachusetts and involves participants from across the Global SCALE Network students will engage in a series of career development workshops Participants will receive advanced training in areas such as data visualisation whilst also participating in facility tours and team-based challenges The residential concludes with a Research Expo where students present their work on industry-sponsored and other real-world research projects “I am particularly excited at the opportunity for our students to experience the unique MIT culture and interact with inspiring faculty and research during their time in Boston,” said Professor Ken Lee Loughborough Business School’s Director of Postgraduate Studies Loughborough University’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Nick Jennings added: “Our partnership with MIT Centre for Transport and Logistics (CTL) really helps put Loughborough on a global stage – it's a great partnership with a world-class university.” Luxembourg and Ningbo each carry their own version of a graduate programme in supply chain management feeding into a ‘comprehensive curriculum’ modelled on the world-leading original programme from MIT “Loughborough University’s exceptional research capabilities and commitment to supply chain innovation make it a valuable addition to the MIT Global SCALE Network,” said Professor Yossi Sheffi “Their expertise will enhance our collective ability to create cutting-edge solutions and educate the next generation of supply chain leaders.” Find out more about the MSc in Supply Chain Management. Loughborough University’s success in working with business public and third sector and commercialising its innovative research has been underlined in the fourth iteration of Research England’s assessment called the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) KEF plays a key role in providing unique and important public information on the rich and diverse ways English universities continue to engage with society and our economy It groups institutions into ‘clusters’ of peers – institutions with similar characteristics such as how much research they do and in what subject areas Loughborough University is in a cluster comprising large high research intensive and broad-discipline universities undertaking a significant amount of excellent research.  shows Loughborough was awarded the highest possible grade – quintile 5 classed as ‘very high engagement’ – for categories including Working with business and Intellectual Property (IP) and commercialisation Notable highlights in these areas include: Working with business:An Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Project with Fibre Technology is developing Electrode Materials for Integrated Battery-Electrolyser Systems pictured above with Technology Manager Lee Marston has already achieved exceptional results in this project that aims to open up exciting possibilities for low-cost green hydrogen production using flow batteries The Fibre Technology collaboration builds on Loughborough’s established track record of working with businesses in the cleantech sector. More than 60 industry and civic partners are engaged in EnerHy the UK’s only green hydrogen Centre for Doctoral Training funded by the Engineering and Physical Science Council and led by Loughborough in partnership with Cranfield University and the University of Strathclyde Earlier this year, the University’s Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) programme, which is part of STEER (the Sustainable Transitions: Energy received a £57 million boost from the UK Government building on its initial £38 million award and extending the programme to 2030 The team’s work is driving transformative and innovative approaches that unlock finance and promote investment in electricity networks grid decarbonisation and low carbon transport The extension will provide more countries across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia with the UK expertise needed to support improved IP & commercialisation:Aftrak is an innovative microgrid solution that integrates energy access with 100% renewable electric agriculture and deep bed farming to boost crop yield income and ensure sustainable electricity for millions of African smallholder farmers and their communities Invented and manufactured at the University in partnership with the Consortium for Battery Innovation and Tiyeni the solution has accelerated from initial concept to successful trial in less than 18 months Since winning the $1M Milken-Motsepe Green Energy Prize in May this year, a limited company is being established further develop and deploy the solution across Malawi where 89% of the population is without electricity access Speaking about Loughborough’s success in KEF4 the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation said: "I am once again absolutely delighted by these fantastic results that demonstrate the extent reach and significance of our knowledge exchange activity at Loughborough University and am particularly proud of the recognition concerning our working with business and our IP and commercialisation activities "The dedication and hard work of our staff students and partners is key to the outcomes surfaced in these results Our fusion of research and innovation into one ecosystem helps drive and support the collaborations and partnerships that underpin these results and ensure that our work makes real world differences that impacts society in positive and sustainable ways into the future.” Loughborough University’s Professor Caroline Kennedy-Pipe has been awarded a Fellowship by the Academy of Social Sciences She is one of just 64 outstanding social scientists from across the UK to have been conferred Fellowship of the Academy this spring.  The newly elected Fellows are highly accomplished individuals recognised for excellence in their fields and their wider contributions to the social sciences for public benefit.  Professor Caroline Kennedy-Pipe studies and writes on contemporary war Caroline has published extensively on Russia the Cold War and its legacies but also studies contemporary war She has managed funded research projects on Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) Russia and UK defence policy in the High North as well as writing a book on urban warfare Caroline has advised the House of Commons Defence Committee and held visiting Fellowships at the Rothermere Institute Oxford University the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Southern Denmark and the Brookes Tech Policy Institute She is a former Chair of the British International Studies Association.  Professor Kennedy-Pipe said: “It is a huge honour to be appointed as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences It is a testament to the work that we do at Loughborough University in understanding and explaining the ever-changing shape of global politics.” The Academy’s Fellowship is made up of distinguished individuals from a range of research and practice areas breadth and relevance of the social sciences to understanding and tackling the varied challenges facing society today All Academy Fellows are selected through an independent peer review which recognises their excellence and impact They are chosen for their excellence in their fields and their substantial contributions to social science for public benefit.  The full list of the Academy’s spring Fellows can be viewed on their website. Loughborough University’s contribution to a remarkable summer of sport has been formally recognised at a celebration event held at The Kia Oval in London and Sky Sports News presenter Mike Wedderburn and wider University colleagues to celebrate Loughborough’s enviable success at both Paris 2024 Games Loughborough athletes brought home an incredible 35 medals including 16 from the first stage of the Games and 19 from the Paralympic Games The impact was truly global with podium places secured for Great Britain The medal hauls from each Games would have seen Loughborough finish in the top 20 nations in the official standings if it had been reclassified as a country Vice-Chancellor and President of the University both delivered inspiring speeches to delegates underpinning the importance of Loughborough’s sporting ecosystem and its influence on the global stage Alongside networking opportunities and media appearances the event included panel discussions hosted by alumnus and Chancellor Lord Sebastian Coe with medal winning athletes Daniel Wiffen (Ireland Athletics) and Charlie Dobson (Great Britain Lord Coe also led a panel discussion focussing on ‘the team behind the team’ with guests Andi Manley (Daniel Wiffen’s coach) Gavin Smith (Cassandre Beaugrand’s coach) Jack Buckner (CEO UK Athletics) and Penny Briscoe OBE (ParalympicsGB Chef de Mission Paris 2024 and Director of Sport) The University would like to place on record its thanks to Paul Philpott President & CEO Kia Motors UK and Ireland who provided the venue free of charge The University is running an in-person Japanese language course on campus The Japanese 1 course is for beginners and the course will run for 10 weeks during term time starting Wednesday 5 February 2025 to Wednesday 7 May 2025 from 4pm-6pm (no classes over Easter holidays) on the Loughborough University Campus FeesLoughborough University Students: £81Loughborough University Staff Campus Partners: £101General Public: £121 Japanese 1 is designed for beginners with little or no knowledge of the language The course covers a variety of everyday situations such as introducing yourself and others Self-study will consist of reviewing work done in class and practicing language skills Writing and reading Japanese letters (Kana) are also part of self-study using the handouts provided and with the tutor’s support Week by week Course Outline is available on request the contents may change depending on the students demand and proficiency Come along this Saturday as we launch our season with Lightning taking to our home court for the first time in 2025 against a talented Leeds Rhinos side. Tickets are now on sale and prices start from only £5.00 Not only will you have the chance to see the NSL squad our Lightning U21 curtain raiser vs Leeds Rhinos is also included in your ticket it will be a very special day as we officially launch our 2025 dress on court a moment we are delighted to be able to share with you the University proudly celebrated students who have graduated following years of hard work and dedication to their studies The graduation ceremonies took place on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 December to acknowledge their achievements and the next chapter of their lives.   several distinguished individuals were also recognised for their outstanding contributions to wider society – both within and outside of the University we pay tribute to the Winter 2024 University Medallists and Honorary Graduates.   Loughborough University medals are granted to members and partners of the University who have made a distinctive and long-running contribution to the University championed the values of the University throughout long careers and consistently performed above-and-beyond the call of their duties.  Andrew is one of the University’s longest-serving graphics academics Prior to the merging of the Art and Design Schools Andrew was Head of the School of Arts and under his leadership the School became a Top 40 QS World-ranked institution for Art.   He then served as Associate Dean for Enterprise in the School of Arts English and Drama overseeing its 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission – the result being 100% of Loughborough’s research impact in Art and Design deemed ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ Now working as a Senior Lecturer in the School of Design and Creative Arts he’s well-respected amongst colleagues and students supporting many students to achieve notable national and international awards and scholarships over the year.   Andrew has authored more than 180 research publications and as an illustrator established an impressive international client list including the likes of Nike Jonathan has worked closely with the University’s Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport for more than a decade to deliver impactful results for the growth of triathlon within parasport His support for students and researchers has given their work greater exposure and influence all of which have helped benefit the sport.   He started his career at British Triathlon in 2005 and continued to be a driving force at the organisation for 18 years Notable achievements include leading a new Paratriathlon Programme and Pathway which started his partnership with the Peter Harrison Centre as well as preparing the team for the debut of triathlon at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016 and again at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020.   In his current role as Head of Performance Services for ParalympicsGB he has focused on enhancing the support athletes receive for their mental health he successfully secured an additional space within the Paralympic Village to establish the first-ever team lounge dedicated to wellbeing The team won 124 medals across 18 of the 19 sports they competed in with eight more gold medals than they won in Tokyo securing them a second-place finish in the medal table Jonathan was also named as Deputy Chef de Missions for the Games responsible for ensuring the specific needs of each sport were addressed.   Steve is an alumnus of Loughborough University whose leadership vision and commitment have helped shape a better and more sustainable world Steve graduated with a BEng in Engineering in 1990 and has over 20 years of client and consulting experience across a variety of sectors having recently stepped back from his position as Global Vice Chair of Sustainability at EY where he championed the integration of environment social and governance principles into the heart of business strategy his career started at EY in 2005 as a Managing Partner before progressing to Chair and Managing Partner for the UK and Ireland he led the $3.5 billion business and its 17,000 employees pushing the business ahead with an inclusive and green growth strategy that saw revenues double and created more than 8,000 jobs.  he was named as Special Advocate for the United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC) working on resource mobilisation and helping to develop partnerships between the UN governments and the private sector.   He served as a lay member of the University’s Council between 2014-2023 and more recently was named the ambassador for the University’s Climate Change and Net Zero strategic theme His global insight and connections are helping position the University to be a player on the biggest stages and working with world leaders and global companies.   Loughborough bestows honorary degrees on individuals who have made a significant contribution to fields the University has close links with or one of the other academic or industrial areas in which we are a leading institution.  and the only swimmer in history to hold all major global championships at the same time he is the country’s most decorated swimmer.  Whilst Adam’s accomplishments in the pool are phenomenal he is also a passionate advocate for mental health awareness He has shared his own personal experiences of the toll of being an elite athlete which has encouraged others to seek support He is also passionate about inspiring the next generation and in 2019 he launched AP Race Clinics to teach young swimmers how to race.   Adam’s motto is ‘Better than Yesterday’ and he has served as a true inspiration to many, which is why the University has awarded him with the degree of Doctor of the University in recognition of his outstanding contribution to swimming and the world of sport.   Professor Cooper is one of the country’s leading researchers in design from science and technology to health and wellbeing She is a Distinguished Professor of Design Management and Policy at Lancaster University a Director of the prestigious Imagination Lancaster Research Centre and founding President of the European Academy of Design.  Professor Cooper has shown how design is central to the way we all live our lives and increasingly at the heart of our search for more sustainable futures enabling her to shape national and international thinking.   As well as pioneering the way we think about design Professor Cooper is committed to nurturing the next generation of designers Alongside her academic role at Lancaster University she is a visiting professor at the Royal College of Art and serves on the Council of Norwich University of the Arts ensuring that the students of today will benefit from her expertise Regarded as one of the best international coaches in the women's game Sarina will always be remembered in English football history after becoming the first coach to lead the women’s team to a major title when England won the UEFA EURO Championship in 2022.  Sarina’s move into national coaching began in 2014 when she was appointed assistant coach of the Netherlands women's national football team marking the start of what would be an extraordinary period in her career Sarina took up the position of head coach of the England Women’s team the Lionesses had won the UEFA EURO 2022 – the first trophy for an English senior team since the men's team won the 1966 FIFA World Cup It was a historic victory not only for the Lionesses but also for Sarina who became the first coach to win back-to-back tournaments.  she won the UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year Award was named the Best FIFA Women’s Coach for a third time, and was awarded an Honorary CBE in 2023 for services to association football.   Many congratulations to all the University Medallists and Honorary Graduates from this year’s Winter Graduation at Loughborough University.   Loughborough Lightning secured a statement 69–57 win on the road against London Mavericks in Round 6 of the Netball Super League with an early footwork call against Mavericks allowing Lightning to strike first Lightning trailed by two at the end of the first quarter with Lightning’s defence turning up the pressure and Wallace-Joseph taking control in the circle Smart use of the Super Shot time gave the visitors a boost helping them to a six-goal lead at half-time Lightning stayed unchanged into the third and continued to dominate but then Shadine Van De Merwe came off the bench to make an immediate impact grabbing a defensive rebound and multiple turnovers Ella Clark replaced Sammy Wallace-Joseph and calmly sank her first Super Shot helping Lightning push the lead to 13 heading into the final quarter Bella Baylis entered the court and fed the circle with precision while Jodie Gibson returned after a stoppage to steady the defensive end A composed final quarter saw Lightning keep control and seal a 69–57 victory on the road Shadine Van De Merwe claimed the Experience Kissimmee Player of the Match as well as the Long Tall Sally Player of the Game Head Coach Vic Burgess said:“I'm really happy with that win away from home it was great to see that what we have been working on in training this week has transferred to the court We were more consistent today but still looking to get consistency across all four quarters.” A clinical team performance and another valuable win as Lightning continue their strong form in the Netball Super League Lightning return home to Sir David Wallace as they take on Birmingham Panthers on Friday 25th April Browse and purchase tickets for all Lightning home games Loughborough University is proud to celebrate its third consecutive year of success with the UK Young Academy – an interdisciplinary network of early-career professionals and researchers working together to tackle pressing global and local challenges and promote lasting change Dr Haitao He and Dr David Maidment are among the 42 emerging leaders from across the UK who were announced today as the newest members of the UK Young Academy The new members come from a wide range of sectors communications and the creative and performing industries they will have the opportunity to take action on both local and global issues Through interdisciplinary projects and working across sectors and develop the solutions needed to address critical challenges – all while advancing their professional development and contributing to a global network of Young Academies focused on achieving positive outcomes  Professor Nick Jennings said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Haitao and David have been selected to join the UK Young Academy offers an incredible opportunity for progressive and passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and tackle global challenges.  “The rigorous and highly competitive application process highlights Haitao's and David's remarkable achievements as well as the outstanding programme of support provided by our Enhanced Academic Practice team eight members of our community have joined the Academy to seize this opportunity in the future.”  Sharon Platts added: “For the third year running we are thrilled to celebrate the success of Loughborough University colleagues once again being selected to join the UK Young Academy This continued achievement highlights the continued dedication of our Programme Director Dr Katryna Kalawsky supporting applicants through targeted mentoring and training We are also grateful to the many University staff who have generously shared their time and knowledge to mentor colleagues through the application process and are incredibly proud to see our colleagues thrive and make their mark in such a prestigious group.”  The new members take up their posts from 1 April 2025 David is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology based in the School of Sport with a particular emphasis on supporting older adults with long-term health conditions and disabilities His work explores behaviour change interventions to improve physical and psychosocial wellbeing as well as independence and quality of life in underrepresented groups with applications spanning health and social care He said: “I am thrilled to have been accepted as a new member of the UK Young Academy for 2025 especially at a time when interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for addressing key societal challenges both nationally and globally I look forward to representing Loughborough University working alongside other experts across disciplines to drive innovation in healthy ageing I am also grateful for the fantastic support from Loughborough University throughout the submission process – the mentoring and guidance that were provided were invaluable and integral to building a successful application.”  Haitao is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow working on simulation and digital twinning approaches for scenario testing and optimisation of multimodal transport systems.  Understanding the complex multifaceted challenges in transport that call for interdisciplinary collaboration Haitao has led the establishment of the Transport AI Innovation Centre (TRAICE) at Loughborough University as the Inaugural Director steering the Centre in developing deep technologies that drive forward disruptive dimensions of future mobility: automation Haitao has pursued and achieved real-world impact through award-winning innovations Haitao has led the development of TraffEase an AI assistant that answers transport-related questions instantly delivering precise and actionable data insights to optimise mobility TraffEase was recognised as one of the top ten finalists for the Manchester Prize from the Department for Science Innovation and Technology for 'AI innovation for public good'.  Haitao commented: “I am excited to join the UK Young Academy and work with fellow members to help create the best possible environment where young researchers and innovators can thrive and deliver real-world impact we aim to drive innovations that tackle society’s most pressing challenges I am grateful for the support I have received especially through the programme led by Dr Katryna Kalawsky as well as from all the colleagues who have mentored me throughout my journey I hope to pay this forward and support the next generation through my work with the UK Young Academy.”