Business, Law and Social Sciences Round-up #1

A round-up of all the latest goings on within the Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences

1. BCU Alumnus awarded Pride of Britain award

Policing alumnus PC James Willetts (pictured above, right), who graduated from BCU in 2019 and now works for West Bromwich Police, has been awarded the Emergency Services Pride of Britain Award, alongside his colleague PC Leon Mittoo.

The officers were on one of their first patrols when they heroically put their lives in danger during a major incident in West Bromwich town centre on 21 July 2021.

This Morning presenter Josie Gibson surprised James and Leon at West Bromwich Police Station, with the news that they would be honoured for their selflessness at the Pride of Britain Awards ceremony in London

2. Law students head overseas.

BCU Law students recently had the privilege of travelling to Brussels. This trip was a fantastic opportunity for students to explore a new city and expand their knowledge of EU law by visiting EU institutions.

Students had the chance to visit the European Commission at the Centre De Conferences Albert Borschette and the European Council, where students were given an informative presentation on the role of the European Council and took part in discussions on important matters of the effect of Brexit and Supremacy of EU law.

3. Students head to Liverpool for CHANGE Festival 2022

Students from Business Finance and Finance and Investment courses visited an event organised by the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment in Liverpool

CHANGE Festival included various speakers and all-day "hubs" where attendees worked on projects together. The event is also focused on networking and fostering new relationships for collaboration and innovation within the business and finance.

4. Students practice mindfulness

A group of Finance students received a visit from Vibhuti Das, a visiting lecturer on Mindfulness.

To illustrate the benefits of mindfulness, the instructor led the students through a short meditation exercise. The students closed their eyes and focused on their breath, letting go of any thoughts or distractions that arose. After the meditation, the instructor asked the students to reflect on how they felt and how their mind had been affected by the practice.

5. Knife Crime Awareness Week

Students Chris Kimble and Emily Stiley were involved in a joint emergency services event outside New Street Station in relation to knife crime awareness week. Also in attendance were representatives of the West Midlands ambulance service, WMP Dogs, Street Watch and PCSOs raising awareness on knife crime, awareness on the Daniel Baird bleed kits and teaching the public CPR. 

Chris Kimble said: "It was also an excellent opportunity to talk to the public about any concerns they had, recruitment within WMP, advice on anonymously reporting knife possession and community engagement with children, by trying on the uniform and showing them around the caged van which was a massive success as they loved it. (With a few children experiencing being in handcuffs which they loved)  

It was enriching and excellent working with other organisations and getting to know how they work and how they work with the police too- as well being a massive hit with community engagement as it was a very positive event."