Author Archives: Miriam Sandiford

Anna Woods

Business Start-up Journey launch: hear from five business founders, 11 Oct

The Business Start-Up Journey Launch 2023: Wednesday 11 October 2023, 14:00-15:30. Sibson LT3, Canterbury, with FREE BUFFET.

Be inspired at the launch of this year’s Business Start-Up Journey where five amazing business founders share their start-up stories.

  • Social entrepreneur Anna Woods went from a highflying career as a buyer for top high street fashion brands, to becoming the founder of her own sustainable fashion business, Positive Retail, tacking the retail industry’s waste issue.
  • Sport and Exercise Science graduate Sophie Broom, the founder of The Awesome Anatomy Co, turned her artistic skills into a thriving business.
  • Computing graduate, Tomiwa Sosanya, the founder of Do You Customs, has won collaborations with big brands with his customised trainers and accessories.
  • Mathematics and Statistics student, Seth Mashate, discovered a gap in the market and plans to revolutionise data usage in the dental industry.
  • Law student, Munya Mwaijumba is launching Glimmer, an app which empowers freelance hairdressers.

Anna of Positive Retail shares:

‘I started this entrepreneurial journey because I knew in my heart the industry needed a solution to overstocks and customers needed to be a presented with a way to shop ‘pre loved & resale’ on the high street that felt compelling.  Resale already had lots of online options ‘vinted/ eBay/ vestiere’ etc but there was no bricks and mortar equivalent that honoured the product properly.  I spotted a gap in the market to create stores where quality and value were honoured, along with the customer experience.  Everything is expertly and thoughtfully curated, we have done the hard work for you- you’re not rummaging in samples sales, or bidding online.  We’re here for you to have a chat and to try on in a premium environment.’

What started as a 6 week popup 2 years ago is now 3 stores with a massively bright future.  We want to be the ultimate destination that brands think of for their surplus stocks and shoppers come for resale.

Being an entrepreneur has felt like a pleasure.  Yes, it’s incredibly tough but after years of bucking against the system and being frustrated with the status quo, I get to bring my own brand to life. It’s thrilling, fun, exhausting and magical.  It’s a gift every day to be able to use all my skills & wisdom to give something to the world I am very very proud of.  I know this is only the beginning.’

Hear from Anna and the other business founders at the launch event, plus find out more about how ASPIRE can support you to start your own business and develop entrepreneurial skills to enhance your career and employability. There will also be a free buffet lunch provided.

See full programme of Business Start-Up Journey events.

All students are welcome to attend.

Email aspire@kent.ac.uk to book your spot.

 

Make a difference: Be a widening participation student advisory panel member

Become a Widening Participation Student Advisory Panel member

Are you passionate about equality of opportunity in higher education?

Do you have an interest in contributing to the decisions which underpin the University’s outreach work and strategic direction?

Then why not make a difference and gain valuable experience by becoming a member of the University of Kent’s Widening Participation Advisory Panel!

Find out more information and apply.

Deadline for applications is 4 October 2023 or sooner if lots of applications are received, so we recommend you apply promptly if you are interested.

Students sitting around table

Final year students: how the Templeman Library can help you

Help with your assignments

You can get 1-2-1 help from your subject librarian on resources for your final assignments and dissertations, plus referencing advice.

Online support is available on our Library Research Skills Moodle page, including finding material for your research and managing your references.

Careers and employability reading list

Have a look at our Careers and Employability reading list to find books to help you with career choices and preparing for applications and interviews.

Exam-time study support

During exam time, you’ll find additional study spaces and silent study areas plus bookable individual study rooms in the Templeman Library. Study in the way you want to by choosing a study space to suit you. The Templeman Library is open 24/7 in term-time and most study weeks. Check out the Drill Hall Library opening hours at Medway.

Study and work smarter! Check out some of the great tools we recommend, to help you manage your time, take notes and stay focussed plus more.

Look after yourself

Browse our Wellbeing and Self-Help and Love to Read reading lists or check out the accompanying book displays in the Library Café. Libby Kent is a leisure collection of e-books and audio books from a wide range of publishers and genres including contemporary fiction, classic fiction, wellbeing and self-help books, themed reading lists such as LGBT titles and Black Asian and Ethnic Minority authored titles, and more.

Need some time out? The Templeman Library’s Chill Out Zone on Floor 1 provides a quiet space to relax and take a break from studying. If you’re on the Medway campus pop along to one of their wellbeing events.

After you graduate

Don’t want to miss out on the great resources when you graduate? You can join the Library as an alumni member.

Three students sitting on campus with iced coffee

Events roundup: 25 September – 1 October

The start of term is here! Teaching begins this week, make sure to regularly check your timetable for any updates. 

This week Canterbury Festival begins (26 Sept – 4 Nov) with an extravaganza of music, performance, talks, science and more.  The University are also running various activities during the festival.

Monday 25 September: Wellbeing Café, Medway Move classes and outdoor cinema screening 

The Wellbeing Café is a great place to connect with others in a relaxed environment with a focus on promoting your wellbeing and mental health through activity. The Wellbeing Café is facilitated by Tara and Helen, Mental Health Advisers and meets each Monday afternoon in K Bar Red Room (next to K-Bar).  

At Medway you can take advantage of Medway Move, a range of free exercise classes for students and staff. On Monday, you can try out yoga and social badminton 

On Monday evening watch the Spielberg classic, E.T, at the Gulbenkian’s free outdoor cinema screening. Dress warmly and bring a blanket or something to sit on. You’ll also be able to buy a range of snacks and hot food at the screening.  

Tuesday 26 September: Kent Police drop-in and Ruby Tuesday 

On Tuesday mornings during term-time, Kent Police are running a drop-in clinic in Locke Building on Canterbury campus. You can chat to them about crime prevention and safety or any general enquiries you may have.  

Dive headfirst into the gritty underworld of indie rock at Kent’s regular alternative music night at K Bar 

Wednesday 27 September: Kent Community Oasis Garden, introduction to university study and how to find a part-time job 

Kent Community Oasis Garden is located at our Canterbury campus at the end of Park Wood. It’s a collection of students, staff and community members working to create a sustainability hub centred around growing food. Join them for an open volunteering session on Wednesdays and Fridays. Also, at Kent COG on Wednesday – you can get the pots, soil, seeds and advice to start growing your own herbs! 

If you’re a new student and want to know more about what to expect for your first year at uni, these introduction to university study sessions are for you! There is a session at Canterbury and at Medway campus.  

Wondering how to find a part-time job? This session from our Careers and Employability Service highlights options for part-time work and where you can look for opportunities. You can either join the session in person in Keynes or online.  

Thursday 28 September: Free house plants and trampolining trip 

Pick up a free house plant (while stocks last!) from the central plaza, Canterbury, and find out about the house plant hospital as well as the Kent Community Oasis Garden.  

On Thursday evening, the students’ unions at the Hub, Medway, are running a Soar trampolining trip (tickets cost £2). Enjoy an exhilarating day of trampolining including jumping into foam pits! 

Friday 29 September: Therapy dog in K Bar 

As the academic year kicks off, take some time to unwind and find comfort in the presence of  gentle therapy dogs in K Bar 

Saturday 30 September: Braiding workshop  

Ahead of Black History Month, Kent Union is running two free beginner cornrow and braiding workshops, led by IVY WILD qualified hairdresser. These 2x 4-hour sessions are limited, so make sure to reserve your place to avoid missing out.  

Sunday 1 October: Harry Potter pub quiz 

Enter a world of magic and wizardry at our spellbinding Harry Potter quiz night at K Bar on Sunday evening. 

See all student events 

 

Rutherford Wok bar noodles

Campus food: more choices, greater savings

New tasty Grab & Go range, expansion of £3 Meal Deals, extra Flex Meal Plan options and more savings!

Over the summer Kent’s Catering Team have been working hard to bring you some new and exciting ranges across our outlets, while reducing meal prices on average by 20% to help with the cost of living.

See some of the great new offers, price reductions and new catering ranges we have on campus this academic year…

£3 Meal Deal expansion: more choices, greater savings

Students eating in Rutherford Dining Hall

From Saturday 16 September, the popular £3 Hot Meal Deal returned to Rutherford Dining Hall, offering you a choice between a freshly prepared plant-based or meat dish.

Plus, the popular £3 Sandwich Meal Deal, a hit during the summer break at Dolche Vita and Gulbenkian Café, has now expanded to include Sibson Café and Mungo’s.

In addition to this exciting meal deal expansion, the catering team have reduced hot food price on average by 20%. Through reducing food waste, collaborating closely with our primary food supplier, simplifying operations, and managing food expenses effectively, prices across campus have been significantly reduced. For instance, a Gulbenkian breakfast, once priced at £5.95, is now available at just £4.50, a Mungo’s burger and chips was £6.00, now £4.50, a Hut8 9” Margherita pizza was £7.00, now £4.00! Our hot main meals now start at £4.00 across our seven outlets and have reduced the lowest price coffee to £1.85 in Gulbenkian Café, Dolche Vita and Sibson Café.

This reduction in hot food prices shows our commitment to offering affordable dining options while fostering sustainability. By making meals more accessible and cost effective, we are endeavouring to enrich the campus dining experience and encouraging a culture of appreciating wholesome, budget-friendly choices.

New Grab & Go range

Hellas Kitchen (Greek street kitchen), Kerala Curry (Indian street food), Silence of the Tams (plant-based street food) and Three Little Birds (Caribbean street food)

An exciting new grab-and-go range has been introduced on campus, promising a tasty and convenient dining experience for you. The range offers a diverse selection of sandwiches, salads, snacks, fruit, desserts, and reheatable items, carefully designed to cater to a variety of tastes and dietary preferences.

The expanded range brings in delicious new additions such as Jamaican patties, granola pots, burritos, and pasta pots. These additions not only promise convenience but also introduce a burst of flavours to liven up mealtimes. Adding to the excitement, the menu showcases items from global micro brands, including Kerala Curry (Indian food), Hellas Kitchen (Greek food), Three Little Birds (Caribbean Food), and Silence of the Yams (plant-based food), providing a taste experience from around the world.

These tasty grab-and-go items are conveniently located across multiple campus locations including Rutherford Dining Hall, Gulbenkian Café, Mungo’s, Sibson Café, and Dolche Vita.

The introduction of this exciting grab-and-go range at Kent underlines a commitment to providing a diverse, flavourful, and accessible dining experience.

New Flexible Meal Plan options

Rutherford Wok bar noodles

We launched some new Flex Meal Plan options this September.  In addition to the annual Flex Meal Plan, we now have Termly and Mini Flex options which allows you to plan ahead, eat when it suits you, spend less time cooking and more time studying and socialising – all while saving you up to 50% on food.  Our Mini Flex Meal Plan is a great option for commuting students who only want to eat on campus in the day and during the week, rather than paying for evenings and weekends when you aren’t here.

New hot drink loyalty offer

We have launched a new hot drink loyalty offer – buy 9 hot drinks and get your 10th free.  Available in Dolche Vita, Gulbenkian Café, Rutherford Dining Hall and Sibson Café. We are also continuing with our offer if you bring your own keep cup / travel mug into our outlets for a hot drink, you save 10% on your drink order.

Keep an eye out on our catering webpages and UniKentFood Instagram for catering offers, new ranges, new opening times across our outlets and more.

Campus shuttle bus

Campus Shuttle: book a seat system now live

The Campus Shuttle is our free coach service between Canterbury and Medway campuses. The service is available to University of Kent students and staff only.

We are pleased to announce that the Campus Shuttle booking system in now live.

It is essential that you book a seat prior to travelling.   

Once you have your annual pass, there are two Shuttle services that you can book onto:

  1. UniKent Travel – this service operates during the day from 07:30hrs to 20:00hrs (8pm)
    You can book onto these services at anytime up to 5 minutes before departure.
  2. UniKent Overnight – this service operates after 20:00hrs (8pm) and prior to 07:00hrs (7am)
    You can book onto these services from 36 hours prior to departure and up to 5 minutes before the departure time.

For guidance on how to apply for your Annual Pass and booking a seat refer to ‘Booking Guide’.

Students and Kent Bunny at Welcome Fair

Welcome Week events roundup (18-24 September) 

A massive welcome or welcome back to Kent! This week is Welcome Week so there’s a ton of events happening to help you meet new people and try out new things. Here’s a taster of what’s on: 

Monday 18 September: Monday Funday activities 

We kick off the week with Monday Funday at both Canterbury and Medway campuses. At Canterbury you can give rock climbing or laser tag a go. You can also join in with the chaos of Hungry Hippos inflatable game on the Library Lawn. At Medway there’s a giant ball bit and you can have a go on the Rodeo Sheep! 

Tuesday 19 September: Global Hangout, Picnic and Pets and much more 

International students are invited to join our Welcome Week Global Hangout event in Darwin Conference suit, Canterbury campus. You can sample food from different cultures, join an African drumming workshop and take part in crafts and games. Book your free ticket now.

There’s lots happening on Tuesday at Medway campus with the Picnic and Pets meeting cute animals, games of laser tag and a freshers quiz with prizes! 

Join the Gulbenkian’s outdoor cinema for their free screening of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ on Wednesday evening. You can get some food and drink from 20:00 and the film will start from 21:00 (ish) once the sun sets.  

Wednesday 20 September: Medway Welcome Fair, Campus Pantry ‘pop up’ and Vensday 

On Wednesday it’s the Medway Welcome Fair, one of the biggest events of the year. Find out about all the societies, groups and support services. Try something new and meet lifelong friends with similar interests to you.

On the Canterbury campus you can go along to the Campus Pantry ‘pop up’ and collect items you might need for the new academic year that have been donated by previous students. Items include things like bags, crockery and pots and pans.

Canterbury’s biggest weekly student night returns with Vensday Freshers Neon Carnival at the Venue, Kent Union’s nightclub on campus. Grab your glowsticks and UV paint! 

Thursday 21 September: Canterbury Welcome Fair day 1 and Medway Try it Out Day 

Canterbury Welcome Fair is the biggest and best opportunity to meet all our amazing student groups and grab some freebies. Have a walk around all the stalls and discover which activities and sports you can take part in throughout the year.

At Medway join the Try it Out Day for Sports and Societies. Get a taster of what is on offer when joining a club on campus. Plus, in the evening there’s UV games in the Hub including table tennis and badminton.

Friday 22 September: Canterbury Welcome Fair day 2 and Freshers Ball – Bollywood Night, Medway 

Canterbury Welcome Fair continues on Friday. And remember, returning students are also welcome to come along to the Welcome Fairs! Chat to all the different societies and student groups and try something new.

On Friday evening it’s the Freshers Ball – Bollywood night at The Deep End, Medway campus. Step into the vibrant world of Bollywood as you dance the night away to the hottest Bollywood tracks mixed in with the latest chart-toppers.

Saturday 23 September: Canterbury Tour and alternative club night

On Saturday you can join the elected Kent Union Officers for a tour of Canterbury city centre, showing you the best routes to go and some of the places you should visit.

In the evening, enjoy an evening of classic cocktails with friends new and old at K Bar. Or try out Canterbury’s brand new monthly alternative club night at Woody’s, featuring all your favourite indie, rock and punk anthems.

Sunday 24 September: Disney Pub Quiz 

From Micky Mouse to Marvel, let your Disney knowledge shine at the Disney themed quiz at K Bar on Sunday evening.

This is just a small selection of what’s on! See all Welcome Week events.

And don’t forget to prioritise your School and Division Welcome Week events so you’re ready for when teaching begins.

 

 

Living Black at Kent booklet

Living Black at Kent booklet now live! 

In 2022 Unite Students, alongside Halpin Partnership, investigated and released a report that shone a light on the experiences of Black university students in UK student accommodation.  

At Kent, the Accommodation Team read that Living Black at University report and decided we needed to do better too.  

As one of Kent’s first projects a new ‘Living Black at Kent booklet has been produced to act on one of the report’s recommendations. Collaborating with current Black students and staff for recommendations, the ‘Living Black at Kent’ booklet aims to highlight local services and businesses close to our campuses that may help give new Black students a head start in getting settled into their new surroundings and finding their feet in their new home at university.  

Speaking on the booklet, Laura Maclean, Head of Accommodation and Customer Services said “I’m passionate about improving the lived experience of our students here at Kent. This booklet is just one of the initiatives that has been developed in response to the report’s recommendations, and we hope that we can build on this in the future to ensure all our students are well supported, particularly when they are moving to Kent for the first time”. 

The Living Black at Kent booklet is now available online and in Canterbury college receptions from Arrivals Weekend.  

If you’re interested in reading the full Living Black at University report you can do so online at www.unitegroup.com/living-black-at-university  

 

Three students sat by river at Medway

Your postgrad stories for vouchers

Kent Postgrads – we need to hear about your positive experience as a Master’s or PhD student. Send in a short video or blog and earn yourself some Amazon vouchers or funds on your KentOne card.   

We’re looking for new and fresh content for our upcoming marketing campaign, and we know potential students love to hear from our current students. Our postgraduate community are an amazing diverse bunch with some interesting stories, so we’d love to hear yours.  

Here are a few key themes below, if your story fits one of these profiles, please do get in touch. 

  • Budget and money managing – how are you managing your money? How has Kent supported you especially during the cost of living crisis  
  • What does an average week of study look like for a Master’s student – how many hours a week do  you study? What days are you on campus? How do you manage your time?  
  • Studying for a Master’s whilst working – how are you managing the work, study and life balance ? 
  • Are you a postgraduate student who has young children? – How do you balance study and childcare? Do you use the creche facilities on campus? Have you been given any additional support? 
  • Do you commute to campus for your degree? How easy is the campus to get to? How often do you need to come in?  Are there certain discounts you receive?
  • Do you live on campus? Why did you choose to stay on campus? How are the facilities? How is the postgraduate community on campus? How much does it cost? Are there any benefits or perks of staying on campus?
  • We’re you worried before doing a Master’s? How have you been supported in your studies at Kent? How did you overcome your concerns? 
  • Did you receive a scholarship? What was the application process like? How did you prepare for your studies ? 

Content we would need, either of the following:  

Blog post – Ideally up to 500 words with an image of you as the author (head to shoulder shot) and up to two relevant images. 

Video post – Ideally 60 second video clip in portrait format with a Kent backdrop i.e. on campus, society club, etc. 

You will also need to sign a consent form for use of your images on the Kent website and marketing channels.  

Deadline for student stories will be 30 December 2023. 

If you’d like to share your story and earn Amazon vouchers or funds on your KentOne Card, please contact Yasmine from Marketing. Email: Y.Wahid@kent.ac.uk