Pulse Issue 2 by Liverpool Hope University

PULSE News and opinion from Liverpool Hope Business School September 2017 | Issue 2

TOASTING SUCCESS WE ARE GOLD

CENTRE STAGE

INSIGHT TO BUSINESS

Hope receives highest rating in Teaching Excellence Framework.

Professional Tutor Tony Bradley explores the theatre industry model.

Hope students share their work placement experiences.

News and opinion from Liverpool Hope Business School September 2017 | Issue 2

WELCOME TO PULSE As we prepare for the start of another academic year, it’s always satisfying to look back on the successes of the previous 12 months. In this issue, we have plenty to celebrate, from securing a Gold rating in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework, to our latest graduates achieving First Class degrees. We also hear from some of our Insight to Business Awardwinners about their experiences on placements with local businesses. Professional Tutor Tony Bradley shares insights from the world of showbusiness, following the success of his theatre company Birdsong Live Productions. Later this month, we will welcome our new students to the Business School and I would like to take this opportunity to wish them all the very best in their studies. Professor Ian Vandewalle Head of the Business School and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Operations)

Hope awarded TEF Gold Students share their placement experiences Graduation celebrations

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New faces The Business School has welcomed two new members of staff. Dr Chris Stone is the new Post-Doctoral Researcher in SEARCH, and Jo Whittingham is a Senior Professional Tutor in Accounting and Finance. Dr Stone was the Lead Researcher at Football Unites, Racism Divides (FURD), an anti-racist youth and community organisation. Prior to this, he was a lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University in the field of Sport and Cultural Studies. His academic background focuses on sport, leisure and popular culture. Ms Whittingham has already been working with the Business School for a while, and has decided to move into full-time teaching. With an extensive background in Auditing at Grant Thornton, she will be teaching Management Accounting and Auditing, giving students the benefit of her extensive experience.

PhD success for Donna

IN THIS ISSUE 3

NEWS IN BRIEF

Crisis in Social Care debate In profile: Exploring the world of showbusiness Meet the Business School team

Senior Lecturer in Business Dr Donna Harper celebrated completing her PhD at this year’s summer graduation ceremonies. Dr Harper’s PhD focused on Business Responsibility in Serbian small and medium-sized enterprises. Dr Harper joined Hope in 2003, having previously owned and managed businesses in the retail and leisure sectors. Both an MBA graduate and qualified Pharmacist, Dr Harper teaches Global Business Ethics, Business Responsibility and Business

Environments.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BUSINESS SCHOOL

We are ...

Liverpool Hope has been awarded Gold – the highest rating possible – in the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). Based on data and evidence gathered over three years, TEF measures excellence in teaching quality, learning environment, and student outcomes the extent to which all students achieve their educational and professional goals. Only around 1 in 5 UK higher education providers achieved Gold. Liverpool Hope is one of only three universities in the North West, and the only one in Liverpool, to gain the Gold rating.

Liverpool Hope’s award places it alongside Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, five other Russell Group Universities, Bath and Lancaster.

According to the government’s Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Gold award signals that teaching at Liverpool Hope is “of the highest quality found in the UK” and that the university is “delivering consistently outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for its students”.

Subject areas including Business, Biosciences, and Social Policy and Administration have all risen significantly, with Social Policy and Administration entering the top 10 nationally.

And one of the highest climbers… Liverpool Hope has also achieved one of the highest rises in the country in The Guardian Good University Guide 2018, climbing 23 places.

Hope shines in National Student Survey The University is celebrating another strong performance in the National Student Survey (NSS), ranking top 10 in the UK in eight out of nine categories.[i] With an overall student satisfaction rate of 90.29 per cent, the University also topped seven out of the nine categories in the North West.

Liverpool Hope is ranked top in the UK for Assessment and Feedback, 2nd in the UK for Learning Resources and Student Voice, 4th in the UK for Teaching Quality, Learning Opportunities and Academic Support, and 8th in the UK for Learning Community. [i] List of UK Universities taken from the 2018 Complete University Guide league table.

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INSIGHT TO BUSINESS

LEARNING ON THE JOB Winners of the Insight to Business Awards 2017 have been learning on the job at a series of exclusive work experience placements. Pulse caught up with four of the winners to find out more about their experiences.

Caleb Fry, BA Business Management Caleb spent a week working at Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in Liverpool, alongside Branch Manager Mark Lloyd. My time at RBS was split between corporate banking in Manchester and retail banking in Liverpool. In Manchester, I worked mainly in mid-corporate banking and credit risk analysis. My responsibilities included summarising company research reports, financial statement interpretation and assisting in gathering information used when investigating reports of financial crime. In the retail side of the business I worked alongside the Director for the Merseyside region, this included visiting different branches and discussing their performance against set key performance indicators. The main take away from this experience has been that retail banking is far more complicated than people expect. Everything has a procedure and a number of checks that need to be completed, from opening the building to storing money. The highlight of the internship was definitely the days in Manchester working in mid-

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corporate and risk. I enjoyed working in a large office where there were a lot of moving parts and people. These opportunities are of significant importance to Business School students, as it allows you to take the knowledge and frameworks you’ve studied in the classroom, and apply them to real-world scenarios with relevant context. Studying something and actually experiencing/using it are two different things, and true knowledge can’t be obtained without doing both. Talking about the placement, Mark said: “I have worked with Liverpool Hope Business School for a number of years and had seen all the great initiatives the School has got the students involved in. I put together a placement that allowed Caleb to experience various areas of the business such as Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, Corporate Banking and Risk, as well as some time externally with the investment management firm Quilter Cheviot. This gave Caleb a really good overview of how a bank works and what the various departments do within the bank. I feel that placements give a really valuable real-life insight into how a business works, and allows students to make informed career choices and have valuable experiences.”

Heather Roberts, BA Business Management and Law

Lewis Pye, BA Information Technology and Marketing Lewis spent two weeks shadowing Centre Manager Neil Ashcroft at New Mersey, one of the nation’s top shopping destinations. My duties included analysing complex data to create reports for senior stakeholders, working alongside internal and external partners to form strategies that would add value to the shopping park. I was given the chance to travel to Glasgow and London, work on the park’s Christmas advertising campaign alongside British Land’s external marketing company, and attend board-level meetings about store leases and future development plans. I had a real chance to develop my interpersonal skills by meeting and forming fast-working relationships with new people - this could involve meeting up to five key parties per day.

Heather spent two weeks at MSB Solicitors focusing on office and client accounts. On my first day, my Manager Joanne Dalton printed off the Solicitors Accounts Rules 2008 and once I understood them, I could then continue with other tasks. I had to understand the rules first as there would have been big consequences for the firm if they were breached. Joanne explained there were two sides to the accounts - the office account and the client account - and she explained how important it was not to mix the two up. The first week I did VAT costings for the business and calculated the different VAT codes for different items. The second week, I focused more on the client accounts and made sure that every day the client account balanced and that all the money was accounted for.

Working at New Mersey has given me a much better view of the working environment, allowing me to gain a better understanding of what happens behind the scenes. The experience also made me aware of how work hours are reflective of business needs, and the need to give your complete dedication of time and focus. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at New Mersey and have gained some extremely valuable experiences, which I know I will be able to use in my future career.

The highlight of the internship was gaining the experience and meeting different people. I was also doing what you would call “actual work” and not just photocopying. I felt that I got the whole experience even though I was only there for two weeks. I work a part-time job, but it is nothing like working five days a week in an office, it’s completely different. I now feel more prepared for the world of work. As I study Business and Law, I wanted to do something that mixes both, therefore this placement was ideal for me. It has given me a better understanding of what I want to do when I graduate. The placement has given me the confidence I needed to be able to pursue a career in Law and Finance. Placement opportunities are so important. They help you to build connections and to find the job that is right for you. Finding a job when you graduate is so competitive, so the more people you know in the field is a great way to build your advantage.

Centre Manager Neil Ashcroft said: “Lewis has been a real asset to the team. He has gone above and beyond, and I am genuinely impressed by his abilities and attitude. Along with all of the hard work, I’ve ensured he was involved in some great experiences and he got to meet several very important stakeholders in our wider business. I am now going to support Lewis in the longer term in whatever way I can, to help secure him an appropriate and deserving role.”

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INSIGHT TO BUSINESS Barney McKeown, BA Business Management and Sport & Physical Education

sports institutions. They have a large team of full-time expert staff, including PE teachers, UEFA-licensed coaches, multi-sport specialists, early years professionals and international tour directors. Being provided with a unique and ongoing placement alongside my degree, has enabled me to get heavily involved in the company’s entire ‘Your Tour’ process. An introduction to many aspects of the business has allowed me to gather an all-round experience of how a business of this size operates effectively. I assisted in the organisation and delivery of our Tours. This involved creating itineraries, which involved multiple fixtures, stadium tours and a Premier League fixture. Good communication was vital with the touring side, to ensure that it is tailor-made to suit their squad.

Barney was awarded an ongoing placement with Little League Sports (LLS), a company founded by Hope alumni Jordan Wright and Joe Mulhearn. The company aims to inspire children to participate in sport and exercise, and train the next generation of global sports leaders. LLS is a trusted partner of schools, colleges and global

Organised by the Business School and sponsored by several prominent companies, the Insight to Business Awards sees students presented with unique work opportunities with a range of local businesses.

It was a great privilege to be invited to assist on a recruitment drive abroad with the International Tour Director Michael McDonough. This was a very successful trip as we were able to meet many potential customers, who Michael and I had been in contact with prior to the trip. This experience has proven invaluable. Jordan Wright, Managing Director of LLS, said: “Barney has shown an excellent level of commitment to date during his time at LLS. His attitude, work ethic and desire to drive programmes forward have been a credit to himself and Liverpool Hope University. We are delighted to have Barney as part of the team and look forward to further developments in the future.”

At the end of the placements, participants will present to first year students about their internship experiences. A panel from the Business School will select a winner to receive a £250 cash prize.

FORGING NEW LINKS Sarah Goulden is joining Liverpool Hope Business School as the new Employment and Enterprise Officer. In the role, Sarah will be creating interactions between students and businesses. Regional, national and international employers will work with students in guest lectures, employer workshops, industry visits and the Business School’s new placement programme.

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Previously, Sarah worked in Hope’s Careers and Employability Service, where you can still find her on Mondays and Tuesdays. If you want information, advice or support on career development and work experience, you can find Sarah in LHBS003 on Wednesday afternoons, Thursdays and Fridays, or email her at: gouldes@hope.ac.uk.

GRADUATION CELEBRATIONS

TOASTING SUCCESS Graduation is a time of celebration, with students receiving recognition for all their hard work, before taking the next step on their path to a fulfilling career. We invited some of our First Class Honours graduates to celebrate at a special garden party in the Business School. Here they look back on their time at Hope.

The School’s Lecturers celebrating Graduation.

Molly Hughes, First Class Honours in BA Information Technology and Marketing “Originally I was planning to study Midwifery, but I decided to come through Clearing and study IT with Marketing. One of the highlights of studying at Hope is the recognition you get for doing well, such as the Business School Awards Night. I’m pleased to be graduating with a First Class degree and have a job on an IT graduate scheme at Linden Foods.”

Damian Warren, First Class Honours in BA Business Management “I studied through the Network of Hope at St Mary’s College in Blackburn and found the experience really good. The Lecturers worked hard to give us the same experience and support, responding really quickly to emails. I worked full-time alongside my studies and was keen to get a qualification so I could progress in my career. I work as a Branch Manager, and after six years, I’m keen to take the next step.”

Stephanie Wetton, First Class Honours in BA Accounting and Finance “I heard about Hope through word of mouth, and I really liked the personal feel of the small classes. I was surprised to win the Business School Prize for the Best Performing Student in Accounting & Finance, and look forward to starting my new job as a Trainee Accountant at Harrison Salmon Associates.” Shannon Higgins, First Class Honours in BA Business Management and Information Technology “I came to Liverpool Hope from Northern Ireland on a recommendation from my cousin. I’ve loved it here. I’d recommend the University to anyone. I like the small and personal environment, which means you get to know everyone. I had a Learning Support Plan in place, which was really helpful, and now I’m leaving Hope with a First Class degree.” PULSE Magazine | 7

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BUSINESS SCHOOL

FIRST LEADERS DEBATE ON SOCIAL CARE CRISIS Leaders from the public, private and voluntary sectors came to Liverpool Hope to discuss the future of social care in an open debate.

The debate ‘The Crisis in Social Care. Who cares? Who pays?’ took place in the Senate Room, and was chaired by Sir Malcolm Thornton FRSA. The prestigious panel included Liverpool Hope’s Professor Michael Lavalette (Professor of Social Work, Care and Justice), Mrs Justice Parker DBE QC (Judge of the Family Division of the High Court of Justice), Assistant Chief Constable Julie Cooke (Merseyside Police), and Professor Ian Smith (NED Great Ormond Street Hospital). The event was the first between The Leaders Club and the University since they announced their partnership, which will see regular ‘Question Time’ and think-tank style meetings, an annual Leadership Awards ceremony, guest lectures and student mentoring. Students are invited to the events and will have the opportunity to meet and hear from members of the Leaders Club. Stephen Fletcher from The Leaders Club said: “The main thing that we did agree on is that we need to disrupt the system as it exists now. The model we have does not 8 | PULSE Magazine

meet our needs. It was agreed that health care, social care and welfare services need to be joined up. The point resonated with the panel that we need to link data from all services so that individuals can be viewed holistically. This is a challenge due to consent and data sharing agreements, but if addressed, could provide a step change in how people are supported to have the right health and social care. We collected responses from the evening and we will also be announcing follow up events, to which everybody is welcome. We then want to collate all of the ideas, responses and plans and bring them to the government’s attention. We want our discussions to lead to real action.” Watch the full debate and share your views on the Liverpool Hope YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/liverpoolhopeuni1

IN PROFILE

THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOWBUSINESS Professional Tutor Revd Tony Bradley, who runs his own theatre company - Birdsong Live Productions - explains why there is no show without the business. What motivated you to invest in the theatre industry in the current economic climate? The current economic climate is challenging, and there are few more risky ventures than musical theatre. My motivation to engage comes from a commitment to creative industry professionals, and to telling Liverpool’s forgotten stories to its local community. To bring something you’re passionate about to a wider audience is a great feeling, and hopefully both worthwhile and entertaining. Throughout my career, one of my main passions has been stage and musical theatre, so in 2016, I established Birdsong Live Productions with my daughter, who is a musician and composer. Our initial venture required a personal investment of more than £20,000, but having made a success of our first production, we are on the cusp of receiving social investment of more than £150,000. You have to take risks if you are to succeed, and not every venture is successful, but if you’re passionate about what you do, have an excellent product, work hard, with a team of highly creative people and hold your nerve, then there is nothing more stimulating than running a business.

How do fundamental business skills help professionals across a whole range of industries? In every area of business life the fundamentals are shifting, but there are certain basics, such as understanding management principles, financial accounting and production processes, which are common to all businesses. It’s vital for businesses to keep up-to-date with the latest research in their areas, while embedding the basic disciplines in their business modelling. You should be able to see whether a business is viable and sustainable by looking at a single image of

what is known as the Business Model Canvas. Running Birdsong Live Productions is fascinating because you are working with creative artists, but a background in business is vital in order to retain good cost controls, manage human relations, and organise the production process. It is this - from initial inception, through planning, marketing, organisation to delivery of the production and after-sales - which reminds me that putting on a show is something every business does. We just do it on stage. There are common features to every business, and these need to be studied, understood, taught and put into practice.

How important do you think schemes like theatre tax relief are to the future of the industry? Britain is a world leader in the creative industries. Recent statistics from the Treasury indicate that these industries are the most significant growth area in the UK, even beyond financial services. However, beyond the major CGI-based film studios in Hertfordshire and certain mainstream arts venues, the sector is struggling because culture costs more than audiences are able and willing to pay. The Arts Council is showing signs of changing the balance between London and the regions, and large and small production houses. But even so, in order to retain an eco-system of small producers creating successful new shows, tax breaks, social investment schemes and any support is vital. It is the small producers - as with the tech industries - who innovate more, feeding skills into the major players, who bring in the big bucks. It is important for us Indy producers to fund our own way and not rely on state handouts to remain viable. However, if we can receive tax breaks along the way, that is all to the good and will, as we go forward into some of the most choppy waters we’ve faced since the Second World War. PULSE Magazine | 9

MEET THE TEAM

MEET THE TEAM AT LIVERPOOL HOPE BUSINESS SCHOOL

Professor Ian Vandewalle

Dr Adnane Alaoui

Dr Donna Harper

Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the Business School

Lecturer in Marketing

Senior Lecturer in Business Management

Ms Jane Blackmore

Revd Tony Bradley

Executive Officer

Professional Tutor in Business

Mr Ian McKenna

Dr Ilva Navarro-Bateman Professor Archontis Pantsios Senior Professional Tutor Senior Lecturer in Business Management

Associate Professor

Ms Paula Raper

Mr Brian Ricketts

Dr Juneho Um

Dr Asad Ghalib

Dr Aparna Gonibeed

Professional Tutor in Human Resource Management

Senior Professional Tutor in Accounting and Finance

Lecturer in Business Management

Lecturer in Management Sciences

Lecturer in Human Resource Management

Dr Curtis Ziniel

Dr Clay Gransden

Dr Tonci Grubic

Ms Jo Whittingham

Dr Hany Ahmed

Lecturer in Business Management

Lecturer in Marketing

Lecturer in Management Sciences

Senior Professional Tutor in Accounting and Finance

Lecturer in Accounting and Finance

Business School Reception Shelley Wynne T: 0151 291 3087 E: businessschool@hope.ac.uk

Dr Ali Mahmoud

Dr Chris Stone

Dr Lucy Lu

Adam Dumbleton

Lecturer in Marketing

Post Doctoral Researcher

Lecturer in Accounting and Finance

Departmental Administrator

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www.hope.ac.uk/ businessschool

THE BUSINESS SCHOOL

ABOUT US: LIVERPOOL HOPE BUSINESS SCHOOL have run successful businesses. This means the School is highly qualified at an academic, professional and experiential level, to engage in research that connects with the business sector. With strong links to a range of leading local and national companies, professional bodies and organisations, and a range of innovative ethical and social enterprises, the School has a reputation for developing students with sound theoretical principles and a thorough understanding of contemporary business practices. The Business School curriculum is cuttingedge with all teaching research-informed and delivered by staff with both professional and practical backgrounds. A high number of staff have PhDs, while three members of the School

The School is organised into three teaching and research clusters; Accounting and Finance, Business Management, and Marketing. Guest lecturers and practitioner input, allows students the opportunity to visit companies, study abroad and work via Young Enterprise to develop and run their own business.

WHO WE WORK WITH:

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CLUB

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To find out more please visit: www.hope.ac.uk/businessschool

Pulse is published by Liverpool Hope Business School, Hope Park, L16 9JD.

T: 0151 291 3087 E: businessschool@hope.ac.uk

The views expressed in the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent those of Liverpool Hope University.

LiverpoolHopeUniversity @LiverpoolHopeUK

Cover image: Business School Tutors celebrate with the graduating Class of 2017.