Walker hosts Cities & Universities Minister visit to Worcester
Worcester’s Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Robin Walker, who served on the BIS
Select Committee through much of the last Parliament; today welcomed the Cities and
Universities Minister, Greg Clark to the city to visit the University of Worcester.
The University of Worcester extended the invitation to the Minister to visit after hearing him
address the annual conference of the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the
Royal Society Debate on Science. Both of these contributions convinced the Vice-Chancellor of
the University that the Minister would find the innovations that they have made in the last five
years of interest, and so he asked Robin to invite him to visit.
The last five years have seen great changes for the University of Worcester. It has completed
the Hive, which is the first University and Public Library partnership in Europe. The project has
been hailed as a success for opening both learning and research opportunities to the general
public, as well as being the host for the Worcestershire Hub for Council enquiries. It is an
excellent example of a shared service which brings benefits to Worcester City, the whole
County and the University.
Additionally, the University has developed a major centre for research and training for those
who suffer with dementia. As an organisation already noted for its excellent nursing training, this
was a natural progression for them. The centre is led by Dr. Dawn Brooker and will be marking
its sixth anniversary on 14th May 2015. During the visit the group were able to pop into Charles
Hastings House, part of the University’s City campus, where the British Medical Association was
first founded and where the University Business School is now based.
Following the visit to the City Campus they crossed the river to visit the Worcester Arena, which
has become a well-known local sports venue over the last 18 months and is the first major UK
sports venue to be specifically designed to cater for the needs of the wheelchair athlete. The
Arena is fast becoming the country’s major centre for work in this important field and already
hosts the Team GB wheelchair basketball team, national netball and basketball events as well
as providing a home for the Worcester Wolves Basketball Team. During the visit they discussed
with Professor Green and Head of Sport Mick Donovan the vision to make Worcester an
international centre for accessible sport.
Commenting on the visit, Robin said:
“I was delighted to be able to welcome the Universities Minister to see the wonderful
developments that have happened in Worcester over the last five years. We have one of the
fastest growing universities in the UK here in Worcester and I am proud of how it has innovated,
worked in partnership and contributed to regeneration during my time as MP. It has been a
pleasure to speak up in Parliament on the progress of the Hive, the Arena and the success of
our university in supporting graduate employment. It is also wonderful to see the regeneration
that has been delivered through the investments by well-funded local university.”
“The University is developing a reputation for excellence in dealing with important issues such
as dementia care and providing real sporting opportunities for the wheelchair athlete. These can
only add to Worcester’s appeal to students from outside of the local area. This is as well as
providing opportunities for those in the city to both access first class facilities as learners and
through opening those facilities up to the wider community, such as is the case with the Hive. I
am particularly excited about the potential to make our city an international centre for accessible
sport. This can only add weight to Worcester’s application to be a ‘City of Culture.”
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors
About Robin Walker:
Robin Walker was first elected to Parliament in 2010 and is currently standing as the
Conservative Party Candidate for the seat. During his term in Parliament, he served on the
Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee and spoke up for access for Disabled
Students to receive adequate financial support to attend University. You can see a transcript of
Robin’s submissions at questions 24 to 26, which are here:
http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/business-
innovation-and-skills-committee/work-of-the-department/oral/18406.html
Robin also reported the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport bringing the
cheque from ‘Sport England’ to start the work on the Worcester arena in his press release here:
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=5779bc4e3c62f2f2c673505268ab
cd12
Robin also attended a one-off evidence session about ‘Business-University collaboration. A
transcript can be found here:
http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/WrittenEvidence.svc/EvidencePdf/5653
His intervention outlining the importance of collaboration between business and higher
education institutions, is here:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110628/debtext/110628-
0002.htm#11062856000728
Which is also in his press release here:
https://www.walker4worcester.com/articles/view_detail.php?id=1893f4b3576245f17aea58715e3a
d333
In Parliament, he has regularly spoken up in support of the University and on matters relating to
access to Higher Education in general including on ensuring part-time students could access
opportunities after the changes to tuition fees, which are linked below:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101012/debtext/101012-
0001.htm#10101248001288
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101103/debtext/101103-
0001.htm#10110358001012
More information about Robin, his campaign for the 2015 election, and his work in Parliament
during the 2010-15 session can be found at: www.walker4worcester.com or by contacting him
on: 07946 546933 / robin@walker4worcester.com. He is on Twitter: @WalkerWorcester
About Greg Clark:
A link to the Minister’s speech to the Higher Education Funding Council for England can be
found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/higher-education-funding-and-co-operation
Details of the Royal Society Debate on Science event can be found here:
About the University of Worcester:
More information about the University of Worcester can be found at:
www.worcester.ac.uk
Information on the Dementia Studies Centre can be found here:
http://www.worcester.ac.uk/discover/association-for-dementia-studies.html
Links for each of the stops on the Minister’s tour can be found here:
The Hive http://www.thehiveworcester.org/
Worcester Arena http://www.worcester.ac.uk/your-home/worcester-arena.html
For press enquiries, contact Sally Jones on: 01905 857511 or at: s.jones@worc.ac.uk
