Dr Bill Davies and Dr Alexandria Bradley, both from the School of Humanities and Social Science, attended the ceremony on behalf of LBU and were presented with a silver medal and certificate (signed by The King) by Their Majesties The King and Queen at an investiture ceremony at St James's Palace. The prize, which forms part of the UK Honours system, recognises the impact of LBU's Educational Alliance with HMP Full Sutton (LEAF) led by the two LBU criminologists. It celebrates their project's pathbreaking and innovative approach to prison education and its clear benefit to society. Bill and Alex attended the ceremony with some former students. Rachel Greene studied a degree in Criminology with Psychology and then a Masters in Criminology and was taught by both Bill and Alex: The best part of my university experience was being accepted onto the Learning Together course. We used to go to Full Sutton prison every other Tuesday and I loved it. The most important part about the whole experience was the integration between the students from Leeds Beckett and the students within Full Sutton. As soon as we entered the classroom, we were all equal. We were there for the same purpose. We supported each other. I found it so special. Once the course had ended, I was extremely gutted. However, I was invited back to be a peer mentor, which was so exciting and I was honoured to be asked. This module will always have a special place in my heart. I am so honoured and grateful to have been a part of it. She is delighted that Bill and Alex have received the award for Leeds Beckett: I am so lucky to have met Bill and Alex. They have both encouraged and supported me through difficult times, academically and in my personal life.I am so proud of them for achieving this award, they truly deserve it! They both work so hard and they have also made the Learning Together Course one to remember. It was not just a course; it was a privilege. Thats why I am extremely honoured to be invited to witness them receive this award. I cant think of two more deserving people. LEAF, based in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, delivers inclusive higher education at HMP Full Sutton, a long-term high-security mens prison. The programme supports learners to gain recognised qualifications through targeted study that improves future opportunities. Combining trauma-informed teaching with social justice and higher education practice, LEAF creates a supportive and stable learning environment for people who may have experienced disrupted education or limited support. The programme focuses on strong stafflearner relationships, consistent teaching and inclusive, student-led learning. Dr Bill Davies, Reader in Teaching and Learning at Leeds Beckett University and Co-Director of LEAF, said: We are incredibly proud to receive the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education, which recognises the dedication and collaboration at the heart of the LEAF partnership. The award reflects the commitment of students from both Leeds Beckett and HMP Full Sutton, whose enthusiasm for learning and willingness to embrace education in a unique setting have made this work possible. We are thankful to everyone involved in supporting this shared learning community and look forward to continuing to widen access to meaningful educational opportunities for those who can benefit most. Dr Alexandria Bradley said: Im absolutely thrilled that our educational alliance with HMP Full Sutton has received this prestigious award. Positive educational experiences are inspiring, they increase confidence and they start to open the door to real personal growth. When we, as a society, prioritise education in prisons, we invest in peoples potential and in stronger communities. It has been wonderful to see our alumni flourish through their experiences and use them to help others involved within the Criminal Legal System. Feedback from partners at HMP Full Sutton used as part of LBU's submission for the prize attested to the importance of the work:"The impact of this over the years is huge. On the back of these courses, we saw an increase in engagement in education. It has challenged preconceptions and changed behaviours and attitudes. In some ways this led to a more profound change than achieving the qualifications for some." For Leeds Beckett, the award reflects the outstanding contribution of Dr Davies and Dr Bradley and the university's mission to advance social justice through education and research. Professor Peter Slee, Leeds Beckett University Vice Chancellor, who accompanied Bill and Alex today along with Chancellor Sir Bob Murray and Chair of the Board of Governors Iain Cornish, said: This national recognition highlights the outstanding collaboration between our colleagues and partners at HMP Full Sutton. The LEAF partnership demonstrates the powerful impact that innovative teaching and strong partnerships can have in transforming lives and supporting communities. I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Dr Bill Davies and Dr Alexandria Bradley for their leadership in delivering this pioneering and sector-leading work. The recognition affirms Leeds Beckett University's leadership in educational innovation and community engagement. It celebrates a project that has changed lives, challenged inequality and shown the transformative potential of education in restricted environments. Sir Bob Murray CBE, Chancellor of Leeds Beckett University, said: Education changed my own life, and I have been a lifelong advocate of its power to change lives and strengthen communities. For that reason, I am immensely proud to see Leeds Beckett University recognised in this way. It is a privilege to serve as Chancellor and to work alongside Bill, Alex and their colleagues, whose commitment and dedication have made this honour possible. This recognition is richly deserved. Find out more aboutLEAF and the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education and studying Criminology at Leeds Beckett.
The collaboration brings together LBUs expertise in computing, data systems and applied research with Zenergy Solars experience in delivering bespoke renewable energy solutions for the commercial, public and third sectors. Together, they will develop a new digital platform to address the complexity that often prevents businesses from adopting solar energy at scale. The 28-month project is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) through Innovate UK, and is led by Dr Akbar Sheikh-Akbari, Reader in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing. Dr Sheikh-Akbari said: Zenergy Solar build and supply custom-built solar energy solutions, including solar panels and battery storage. They work mainly with commercial and public and third sector clients, including care homes, social housing associations and schools. The solar energy market can be complex, with a wide range of suppliers, technologies, and considerations around cost and long term maintenance. Our KTP with Zenergy Solar aims to support their ambition to make solar energy solutions easier to implement and manage for organisations, such as social housing landlords and care home providers, who have multiple properties and a complex infrastructure of solar energy to manage. At the heart of the project is the development of ZenSmart, a new research-informed digital platform that will allow businesses and organisations to manage solar energy systems across multiple properties from one place. Using advanced computing and data modelling, ZenSmart will enable organisations to: Monitor energy generation in real-time, enabling quicker fault detection and resolution Manage multiple buildings and sites through a single, user-friendly dashboard Create bespoke solutions that optimise different solar panels, battery sizes and manufacturers in one platform Julian Wiley, Managing Director at Zenergy Solar, said: The solar energy sector faces significant challenges due to the diverse suppliers available, complicated monitoring systems and ineffective fault detection technologies. ZenSmart will be an innovative product, bringing LBUs advanced technical expertise and cutting-edge research to simplify the social energy market and encourage broader adoption and ongoing innovation. It will track and operate multiple potential solutions without the added headache of multiple portals and data repositories. Using advanced AI, we will be able to enhance fault detection, reduce downtime and improve reliability, whilst performance modelling will support more complex product installations. An experienced graduate will be recruited to manage the project as a KTP Associate. The role, Smart Energy Systems Engineer, will be a full-time member of the Zenergy Solar team, with full support of the LBU academics. For more information and to apply for the role, please visit the Leeds Beckett University Jobs site. The closing date for applications is 26 February 2026. The full LBU KTP team consists of: Dr Akbar Sheikh-Akbari, Reader in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing, Professor Amar Aggoun, Head of Computer Science and Professor of Visual Computing, Dr Pooneh Bagheri Zadeh, Course Director for MEng/BSc Computer Science in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing.
Using Facebook Messengers chatbot technology, the innovative Leeds Beckett bot, allows prospective students to have an online conversation to assess their suitability for undergraduate courses that are available during university Clearing. The chatbot, available both on desktop and mobile, uses a series of menus or keywords to guide students through the Clearing process and is available 24 hours a day. The bot uses keywords that the prospective students type in the chat line to assess which courses they are interested in studying, then requests details of their qualifications and exam results, before making them a provisional offer. A chatbot is a computer programme that holds natural language conversations, mimics human conversation and reacts to spoken or written prompts. Speaking about the bot, Dougal Scaife, Head of Digital at Leeds Beckett, said: We know that our prospective students already use lots of messaging software for communicating with their friends such as Snapchat, WhatsApp as well as texting, so developing a chatbot was a natural evolution in order to engage with our prospective students in a medium thats ubiquitous, familiar, and comfortable for them. Chris Watts, Director of University Recruitment at Leeds Beckett, added: We know that prospective students are undertaking more research prior to results day and are far more clear about both their course and their prospective career path. Unsurprisingly the majority of this research takes place online, with social media forming a key part of the relationship prospective students are building with institutions prior to accepting a place. At Leeds Beckett we continue to be at the forefront of employing new technologies in meeting the needs of our prospective and current students and the launch of this chatbot to make offers to prospective students is a response to this. The bot hasnt replaced more traditional methods of communication, its merely an addition to the already excellent service we seek to provide to all prospective students. Ourphone lines will continue to be open throughout the clearing process. For more information about courses available at Leeds Beckett during Clearing please visit www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/clearing
Current students Calum Wilkinson and Gemma Bridge will be competing alongside Alumni Tom Bosworth and Laura Weightman. Olympian Laura Weightman will kick off her campaign this evening. A 1,500m runner, Laura has been training hard at Leeds Beckett University and in particular with the Universitys Head of Athletics, Andrew Henderson, for the past seven years. Ive been looking after Laura for as long as shes been in Leeds, Andrew said She has come a very long way and Im hoping she can push on after her experience from the last World Championships and perform well this year. I hope that she goes all the way in making it to the final! Rabat 💎 League 4th 4:03.07@Diamond_League #RabatDL Next 1500m .... @London2017 😄🏃🏻♀️ pic.twitter.com/ufDgWEg5RU Laura Weightman (@LauraWeightman) July 17, 2017 Meanwhile, Leeds Beckett will be heavily represented in the Race Walking events with three Race Walkers competing on the final day of the Championships, Sunday 14 August. 🚶♀️🚶The Festival of Race Walks take place in the most glorious setting in London.Enjoy this 🕊 over of the Mall #BeTheNext pic.twitter.com/l9XuRyfPlN IAAF World Champs (@IAAFWorldChamps) August 3, 2017 Olympian Tom Bosworth has had a brilliant qualifying campaign having beaten the World Mile Record last month in the Muller Anniversary Games. Toms record breaking walk comes off the back of a very successful 2016 Olympic Games, where he finished 6t h, and he will be looking to improve again in the World Championships. Tom will line-up alongside current Leeds Beckett students Callum Wilkinson and Gemma Bridge. Callum and Gemma will be competing in their first ever World Championships and have taken unique routes to reach the big stage. Callum will be looking to make a name for himself at the World Championships as the current Junior Race Walking World Champion. Meanwhile, Gemma switched from long distance running to race walking 12 months ago and has not looked back since, having qualified for the Championships in spectacular fashion. Good luck to @TomBosworth @CWilko97 @LauraWeightman @glbridge1 all are competing at the @IAAFWorldChamps starting this Friday #TeamBeckett pic.twitter.com/uamnYuVfBa Carnegie Sport (@carnegiesport) July 31, 2017 Gemma won the British and English Race Walking Titles at the British Trials last month, an achievement Andrew Henderson says shouldnt be taken lightly. Gemma has come from Running to Race Walking, this has been her first full year of competing in Race Walking and it just shows how far shes come, Andrew said Shes never competed at this level before so for her to go to the World Championships in her first year is absolutely massive. All three have benefited from the expertise and coaching of Andi Drake. Andi is currently with the athletes in London and is playing a crucial role in their final preparations. Andi deserves a lot of credit for the work that has been done, he has built the Race Walking programme from scratch along with the team into a World Class programme. Mick Hill, Senior Coach (High performance Enterprise) at Leeds Beckett said. All four athletes will be heading into the Championships with high hopes but for Head of Athletics Andrew Henderson, he hopes that all will be happy with their performances, regardless of the result. The dream would certainly be for one of our four athletes to get a medal in this World Championships. That would be fantastic, Andrew said But I just want them all to finish their events and be happy with what theyve achieved and hopefully go on and compete in more Championships in the future. Good luck to all four of our athletes for the World Championships!
Rhodri Thomas, Professor of Tourism and Events Policy at Leeds Beckett and Dean of the School of Events, Tourism Hospitality Management, will speak at the Contemporary Trends in Tourism and Hospitality conference (CTTH 2017), held in Novi Sad in Serbia on 1 and 2 September. Rhodris keynote presentation is entitled New spaces in cultural tourism: a role for universities in innovation? and will explore aspects of the conference theme from the prospective contribution of universities to innovation in local or regional cultural tourism. Rhodri will begin by reviewing what is understood about the dynamics of innovation and the role external knowledge plays in commercial, non-commercial and policy innovation processes in tourism. He will then consider knowledge production undertaken by universities and examine the contribution institutions might make to innovation in cultural tourism, events and festivals. In the presentation he will also consider how the challenges to collaboration might be overcome. CTTH 2017 is an international conference exploring research in tourism, leisure, hotel management, hunting tourism, gastronomy and multidisciplinary studies such are events and meeting industry, entrepreneurship in hospitality and the creative industries. The main aim of the conference is to put emphasis on the importance of cultural and event tourism as important factors for improvement of tourism and general economic image of certain country or region. This year the working title of the conference is New Spaces in Cultural Tourism and the conference is merged with one of the most exciting festival in Novi Sad The Street Musicians Festival. Rhodri Thomas is Professor of Tourism and Events Policy and Dean of the School of Events, Tourism Hospitality Management. Originally trained as an economist, Rhodri now engages in multidisciplinary research in the context of tourism and the events sector. His particular research interests are: (a) public policy studies, especially in relation to small firms, and (b) innovation and knowledge exchange. Rhodri has acted as a 'specialist expert' on policy issues for the OECD, the European Commission and for government departments and other agencies in the UK and elsewhere. He has completed several Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) grant and non-grant funded projects and is a member of their Peer Review College. His Chair was, uniquely, supported by the Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) for five years.
Dr Bill Davies and Dr Alexandria Bradley, both from the School of Humanities and Social Science, attended the ceremony on behalf of LBU and were presented with a silver medal and certificate (signed by The King) by Their Majesties The King and Queen at an investiture ceremony at St James's Palace. The prize, which forms part of the UK Honours system, recognises the impact of LBU's Educational Alliance with HMP Full Sutton (LEAF) led by the two LBU criminologists. It celebrates their project's pathbreaking and innovative approach to prison education and its clear benefit to society. Bill and Alex attended the ceremony with some former students. Rachel Greene studied a degree in Criminology with Psychology and then a Masters in Criminology and was taught by both Bill and Alex: The best part of my university experience was being accepted onto the Learning Together course. We used to go to Full Sutton prison every other Tuesday and I loved it. The most important part about the whole experience was the integration between the students from Leeds Beckett and the students within Full Sutton. As soon as we entered the classroom, we were all equal. We were there for the same purpose. We supported each other. I found it so special. Once the course had ended, I was extremely gutted. However, I was invited back to be a peer mentor, which was so exciting and I was honoured to be asked. This module will always have a special place in my heart. I am so honoured and grateful to have been a part of it. She is delighted that Bill and Alex have received the award for Leeds Beckett: I am so lucky to have met Bill and Alex. They have both encouraged and supported me through difficult times, academically and in my personal life.I am so proud of them for achieving this award, they truly deserve it! They both work so hard and they have also made the Learning Together Course one to remember. It was not just a course; it was a privilege. Thats why I am extremely honoured to be invited to witness them receive this award. I cant think of two more deserving people. LEAF, based in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, delivers inclusive higher education at HMP Full Sutton, a long-term high-security mens prison. The programme supports learners to gain recognised qualifications through targeted study that improves future opportunities. Combining trauma-informed teaching with social justice and higher education practice, LEAF creates a supportive and stable learning environment for people who may have experienced disrupted education or limited support. The programme focuses on strong stafflearner relationships, consistent teaching and inclusive, student-led learning. Dr Bill Davies, Reader in Teaching and Learning at Leeds Beckett University and Co-Director of LEAF, said: We are incredibly proud to receive the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education, which recognises the dedication and collaboration at the heart of the LEAF partnership. The award reflects the commitment of students from both Leeds Beckett and HMP Full Sutton, whose enthusiasm for learning and willingness to embrace education in a unique setting have made this work possible. We are thankful to everyone involved in supporting this shared learning community and look forward to continuing to widen access to meaningful educational opportunities for those who can benefit most. Dr Alexandria Bradley said: Im absolutely thrilled that our educational alliance with HMP Full Sutton has received this prestigious award. Positive educational experiences are inspiring, they increase confidence and they start to open the door to real personal growth. When we, as a society, prioritise education in prisons, we invest in peoples potential and in stronger communities. It has been wonderful to see our alumni flourish through their experiences and use them to help others involved within the Criminal Legal System. Feedback from partners at HMP Full Sutton used as part of LBU's submission for the prize attested to the importance of the work:"The impact of this over the years is huge. On the back of these courses, we saw an increase in engagement in education. It has challenged preconceptions and changed behaviours and attitudes. In some ways this led to a more profound change than achieving the qualifications for some." For Leeds Beckett, the award reflects the outstanding contribution of Dr Davies and Dr Bradley and the university's mission to advance social justice through education and research. Professor Peter Slee, Leeds Beckett University Vice Chancellor, who accompanied Bill and Alex today along with Chancellor Sir Bob Murray and Chair of the Board of Governors Iain Cornish, said: This national recognition highlights the outstanding collaboration between our colleagues and partners at HMP Full Sutton. The LEAF partnership demonstrates the powerful impact that innovative teaching and strong partnerships can have in transforming lives and supporting communities. I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Dr Bill Davies and Dr Alexandria Bradley for their leadership in delivering this pioneering and sector-leading work. The recognition affirms Leeds Beckett University's leadership in educational innovation and community engagement. It celebrates a project that has changed lives, challenged inequality and shown the transformative potential of education in restricted environments. Sir Bob Murray CBE, Chancellor of Leeds Beckett University, said: Education changed my own life, and I have been a lifelong advocate of its power to change lives and strengthen communities. For that reason, I am immensely proud to see Leeds Beckett University recognised in this way. It is a privilege to serve as Chancellor and to work alongside Bill, Alex and their colleagues, whose commitment and dedication have made this honour possible. This recognition is richly deserved. Find out more aboutLEAF and the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education and studying Criminology at Leeds Beckett.
The collaboration brings together LBUs expertise in computing, data systems and applied research with Zenergy Solars experience in delivering bespoke renewable energy solutions for the commercial, public and third sectors. Together, they will develop a new digital platform to address the complexity that often prevents businesses from adopting solar energy at scale. The 28-month project is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) through Innovate UK, and is led by Dr Akbar Sheikh-Akbari, Reader in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing. Dr Sheikh-Akbari said: Zenergy Solar build and supply custom-built solar energy solutions, including solar panels and battery storage. They work mainly with commercial and public and third sector clients, including care homes, social housing associations and schools. The solar energy market can be complex, with a wide range of suppliers, technologies, and considerations around cost and long term maintenance. Our KTP with Zenergy Solar aims to support their ambition to make solar energy solutions easier to implement and manage for organisations, such as social housing landlords and care home providers, who have multiple properties and a complex infrastructure of solar energy to manage. At the heart of the project is the development of ZenSmart, a new research-informed digital platform that will allow businesses and organisations to manage solar energy systems across multiple properties from one place. Using advanced computing and data modelling, ZenSmart will enable organisations to: Monitor energy generation in real-time, enabling quicker fault detection and resolution Manage multiple buildings and sites through a single, user-friendly dashboard Create bespoke solutions that optimise different solar panels, battery sizes and manufacturers in one platform Julian Wiley, Managing Director at Zenergy Solar, said: The solar energy sector faces significant challenges due to the diverse suppliers available, complicated monitoring systems and ineffective fault detection technologies. ZenSmart will be an innovative product, bringing LBUs advanced technical expertise and cutting-edge research to simplify the social energy market and encourage broader adoption and ongoing innovation. It will track and operate multiple potential solutions without the added headache of multiple portals and data repositories. Using advanced AI, we will be able to enhance fault detection, reduce downtime and improve reliability, whilst performance modelling will support more complex product installations. An experienced graduate will be recruited to manage the project as a KTP Associate. The role, Smart Energy Systems Engineer, will be a full-time member of the Zenergy Solar team, with full support of the LBU academics. For more information and to apply for the role, please visit the Leeds Beckett University Jobs site. The closing date for applications is 26 February 2026. The full LBU KTP team consists of: Dr Akbar Sheikh-Akbari, Reader in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing, Professor Amar Aggoun, Head of Computer Science and Professor of Visual Computing, Dr Pooneh Bagheri Zadeh, Course Director for MEng/BSc Computer Science in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing.