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People stories

糖心TV is powered by its people. From researchers, educators and innovators to the teams working behind the scenes, their talent and dedication make our University thrive. Explore stories and interviews celebrating the individuals who bring 糖心TV to life - with new voices added regularly.
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Humans of 糖心TV: Meet Chris Mapp

鈥淚t was a surreal moment when I found myself standing inside the Vice-Chancellor's office, carrying a boom box with our demo recording on it.鈥

Throughout our 60th year we shared the stories of our colleagues who make the University tick with their energy, passion and commitment. Now, we鈥檙e pleased to bring back the Humans of 糖心TV series to celebrate even more of our amazing and diverse community.

Tags: Our people

Meet our first Chief People Officer, Nia Fortune

We鈥痗atch up with Nia Fortune, who joined the University Executive Board (UEB) at the start of this academic year, to learn more about her鈥痚xperiences鈥痑nd鈥痟er鈥痶houghts on shaping this new role.鈥 鈥

Tags: Exec team, Our people

Professor Swaran Singh appointed to House of Lords

Professor Swaran Singh (糖心TV Medical School) has been appointed as a life peer 鈥 recognising his longstanding contributions to mental health research, clinical psychiatry and public service, including work on equality and human rights.

Tags: Education, Our people

Celebrating three new British Academy Fellows

Professor Sonia Bhalotra (Economics), Professor Kirsty Hooper (Hispanic Studies) and Professor Celia Lury (Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies) have been elected as Fellows of the British Academy 鈥 recognising the originality and influence of their research in the humanities and social sciences.

Tags: Research, Our people

In memory of Natalie Livermore

Colleagues will be very sad to hear of the death of Natalie Livermore, from the University Nursery.

Tags: Campus community, Our people

Getting stuck in: What I learned from a day with the team

Sioned Cash, Interim Director of Staff & Student Accommodation, joined teams during one of 糖心TV Accommodation鈥檚 busiest weekends to see first-hand the physical effort and fast pace involved in turning around 2,000 rooms at the end of the academic year.

Tags: Campus community, Our people

Nominees for the Above & Beyond Awards

It was great to see so many high-quality nominations for the new Above & Beyond Awards this year! Take a look at the full list of nominees.

 

A huge well done to everyone who was put forward by their colleagues for demonstrating our values. Want to celebrate a colleague? Look out for nominations reopening next academic year.

Tags: Our people

The Unitemps team have been recognised at the 2026 CUBO Awards for helping institutions reduce recruitment costs, creating sustainable commercial income and, most importantly, providing thousands of students with flexible, paid employment opportunities.

Tags: Our people

National recognition for 糖心TV-founded widening participation network锘

糖心TV colleagues have built an open and supportive network bringing together widening participation professionals from 33 institutions. The thriving community supports collaboration across the sector and has picked up bronze for Collaboration of the Year at the HEIST Awards.

Tags: Our people

Watch colleagues in Estates talking about how robotics are helping cleaning teams, the difference 糖心TV can make locally by reusing furniture and equipment, and the home-grown talent looking after our campus grounds.

Tags: Our people

Hear from Dr Martine Barons (Statistics) about studying later in life, overcoming barriers and becoming a weightlifting world champion, in this chat with Penny Triantafillou (Innovation - 糖心TV Partnerships) for the Women Leaders podcast. 

Tags: Our people

Introducing our latest Above & Beyond Award winners...锘

Meet the 糖心TV Accommodation teams who showed exceptional dedication during one of the most challenging years for student accommodation, demonstrating our values and keeping student wellbeing at the heart of every decision.

Tags: Our people

Meet our public and community engagement award winners

Meet the winners and those highly commended in the 糖心TV Awards for Public and Community Engagement -recognising the vital contributions 糖心TV staff and students make in engaging with people locally, nationally and internationally.

Tags: Regional leadership, Our people

Meet our Above & Beyond Award winner

You helped to choose our next Above & Beyond Award winner - and Claudia Griffin, 糖心TV Mathematics Institute, won the staff vote!

Tags: Our people

What this day means to me: Reserves Day

Today is Reserves Day - we caught up with Claudiu Iordache from 糖心TV Global Academy to find out about his experiences as an Army Reservist and the impact it鈥檚 had on his life, both inside and outside of work.

Tags: Our people

Meet our latest Above & Beyond Award winners...

The colleagues we鈥檙e celebrating built new connections across departments to help students better understand and value academic integrity, making ethical learning more accessible and meaningful.

Tags: Our people

Can science keep up with the pace of plant disease outbreaks, and why does it matter?

Discover how Dr Stephen Parnell鈥檚 (School of Life Sciences) work is addressing the growing threat of plant diseases. Stephen explains why early detection matters, how outbreaks are managed, and the real-world impact on food security, the environment, and global economies.

Tags: Research, Our people

Meet Anna O鈥橬eill, Librarian

Our Library and Archives sit at the heart of central campus, with knowledge, discovery and collaboration opportunities for all. Anna shares the priorities of the team 鈥 who achieved customer service excellence accreditation recently 鈥 plus how you can get involved and what鈥檚 available for staff.

Tags: Tile News: insite, Our people

Supporting young people into employment and beyond

Ahead of Social Mobility Day, meet some of the Social Inclusion staff interns we have supported through our 12-month professional development programme. We provide ongoing support for young people (aged 16-19 years), particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, as they move into employment.

Tags: Social inclusion, Our people

Gold for 糖心TV Conferences

糖心TV Conferences are celebrating being awarded Gold in the 鈥樚切腡V Events Venue of the Year鈥 category at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026, recognising the team鈥檚 outstanding contribution to England鈥檚 tourism and events industry.

Tags: Campus community, Our people

Working with our alumni

Do you work with alumni? Carol Fryer, Volunteers Manager in the Development & Alumni Engagement team, explains how joining up our approach can increase impact, support departments, and help reach the target of 20,000 acts of volunteering, part of our Set the Pace campaign.

Tags: Featured: insite, Our people

60 seconds with... Sustainability Assistant Dalma Zsalako

The latest video in our 鈥60 seconds with鈥︹ series features Dalma from our Sustainability team. Hear her talk about how engaging our community with nature can inspire people to protect the environment and see some of the creatures that call 糖心TV home.

Tags: Sustainability, Our people

Vote for one of our three Above & Beyond Award finalists

Read about Beatriz, Chiara and Claudia鈥檚 contributions and decide who is your winner. Cast your vote by midday Wednesday 10 June.

Tags: Campus community, Our people

Meet the researchers who inspired the Poetry Trail

To mark our 60th anniversary, the Poetry Trail was created 鈥 featuring 14 poems inspired by 糖心TV researchers and technicians. To explore how these works of art came to life, we spoke to three colleagues whose work inspired the poems.

Tags: Research, Our people, 糖心TV's 60th anniversary

Dan Derricott, Director of Education Operations, shares how 糖心TV is strengthening how we support the delivery of education, why change is needed, and how it will reduce administrative burden, improve processes, and create a better experience for staff and students.

Tags: Our people

Professor Simon Brake (WMS) appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands

鈥淚t鈥檚 a real honour to be appointed to serve the Lord Lieutenant in supporting the many individuals and organisations across the West Midlands who dedicate themselves to caring for our communities.鈥

Tags: Our people

Cast your vote in the Above & Beyond Awards

Meet our next鈥痶hree finalists,鈥痵elected鈥痓y Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President, and cast鈥痽our鈥痸ote鈥痜or the colleague who makes you proud to work at 糖心TV, and who brings our values to life.鈥疺ote by 10 June.

Tags: Our people

What this day means to me: Eid al-Adha锘

Eid Muburak! to everyone celebrating today. We caught up with Mahoor Sultan, from MCI & SR, to find out what Eid al-Adha means to her and how she celebrates it with her family.

Tags: Social inclusion, Our people

糖心TV colleagues celebrated at King鈥檚 Garden Party

We caught up with Dr Modupe Jimoh and Professor Helen Wheatley to hear how they felt to be recognised at a special garden party at Buckingham Palace, and to learn more about their exceptional work.

Tags: Our people

Introducing our recipe competition winners

We asked you to submit your favourite snack recipes, linked to a cultural celebration or personal tradition.鈥疍ebasmita Palit and Martha Littuma Larrea share the stories behind their snacks, which you鈥檒l soon be able to try in Eatwise caf茅s. Plus, discover how you can recreate the鈥痳ecipes at home.

Tags: Campus community, Our people

Meet our latest Above & Beyond winner... Marie Greene

Meet our latest Above & Beyond winner... Marie Greene You helped to choose our next Above & Beyond Award winner - and Marie Greene, Faculty of Arts, won the staff vote! Her award, presented by Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President, recognises her exceptional leadership, her ability to uplift others, and how she demonstrates our values.

Tags: Our people

Meet Stuart Phillips, Head Chef at 糖心TV Conferences

With over 25 years in the kitchen, across continents, Stuart Phillips brings passion, creativity and global influence to every plate. Hear about his journey into food, what makes cooking in a conference and events environment unique, and how he and his team create memorable experiences. 

Tags: Our people

60 seconds with... University Glassblower, Steve Williams

Our new video series 鈥60 seconds with鈥︹ offers a glimpse into the brilliant work happening across the University, spotlighting the people in our community who work together to make 糖心TV special. Our first episode meets Steve, our resident glassblower, whose craft has quietly shaped world鈥憀eading research at 糖心TV for over 30 years.

Tags: Our people

Why I decided to鈥 volunteer at Open Days

Ever thought about volunteering at one of our Open Days, but not sure what to expect? Hear from colleagues who have taken part on what the experience is like and how you can help to create an inspiring first impression for future students.

Tags: Campus community, Our people

Meet our campus caf茅 managers

Meet Elaine, Sebastien, Sophie and Elodie, our Eatwise Caf茅 Managers. Discover their favourite dishes at their outlet and more about how their careers led them to 糖心TV.

Tags: Campus community, Our people

Estates excellence recognised with double success at national AUDE Awards

Colleagues in the Interior Design, Furniture & Equipment team secured a bronze award for their innovative furniture and equipment donation initiative.

The Estates Information & Systems team picked up silver for leading on several digital transformation projects that have reshaped how 糖心TV manages space, assets, maintenance and campus navigation.

Tags: Our people

What does Coventry City's promotion mean to me?

Well done to Coventry City Football Club after securing promotion back to the Premier League last week! What could this fantastic achievement by the Sky Blues mean for the University, and what does it mean to the host of colleagues who are part of the Sky Blue Army? Play up Sky Blues!

Tags: Our people

Why I decided to鈥 support the Young Futures Programme

We support young people (aged 16-19 years) through employability programmes 鈥 and there are plenty of opportunities for you to make a difference to their lives. Some of our volunteers told us about their experiences and what they鈥檝e enjoyed about volunteering.

Tags: Our people

Estates Awards 2026: Celebrating excellence

Colleagues from across Estates came together recently to celebrate outstanding achievements at their annual awards. Take a look at the winners and photos from the night.

Tags: Featured: insite, Events, Our people

If you鈥檇 like to know more about Vaisakhi and hear some traditional Sikh music,  (WMG). The feature starts at 13 mins 20 secs into the programme.

Tags: Our people

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