Another inspiring academic year of London engagement and partnerships!

LONDON OFFICE UPDATE

We have had another busy month in the London Office involving many engagements with our stakeholders and partners across London. Amy Lightstone visited the Calthorpe Community Gardens to learn about its history and and opportunities for UCL to remain engaged in its activities. The garden, situated next door to UCL's new home of UCL Neuroscience on Grays Inn Road, is not only a community garden but a fantastic sustainable hub with many opportunities for community involvement. 

In late May our colleagues in the UCL Office of the Vice-President (Advancement) hosted an event at the ArcelorMittal Orbit on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, a stones throw away from our new UCL East campus opening this September. We were delighted that colleagues from the GLA, London Higher and BusinessLDN were able to attend, with keynote speeches from UCL's President & Provost, Dr Michael Spence amongst others.

In June we welcomed 100 staff from the UCL Academy to UCL to celebrate another successful year of our partnership. As the school approaches its 10 year anniversary since opening later on this year, the event was a wonderful opportunity to meet those who have been involved and also look forward to the year ahead. Co-Principals Robin Street and Simon McBride gave presentations along with Professor Anthony Smith and Amy Lightstone. A special thank you to Louise Pollock and Nadia Forde from the UCL Office of the Vice-Provost (Education and Student Experience) who expertly managed the relationship up until recently when it handed over to the London Office. 

Finally, as we draw a close on the 21/22 academic year, we would like to thank all of the London partners we have engaged with this year and carried out joint initiatives and programmes of activity. In particular those at our Local Authority partners including Camden Council, Islington Council and Newham Council. We look forward to progressing and continuing to work together next term.

Our next update will be published in September, but please do not hesitate to get in touch in the meantime via the London Office!

UCL APPOINTS PRO-PROVOST (BICENTENNIAL)

We are delighted that Professor Dame Hazel Genn has been appointed Pro-Provost (Bicentennial) as UCL's approaches its bicentenary in 2026. Hazel will be responsible for planning UCL's bicentenary celebrations which will include community and stakeholder engagement. We look forward to working with Hazel on London impact and activity. Read more here.

CELEBRATING UCL'S MOST PROMISING STARTUPS

On 20 July the UCL Santander Summer Showcase took place at BaseKX, UCL's entrepreneurship hub in Kings Cross, to recognise some of the university's most impactful startups. Supported by Santander Universities UK, five UCL startups were awarded a share of £45,000 in funding to help further develop their ideas.

Professor Alan Thompson attended the event as well as presented the awards. He said "it was an inspiring celebration, recognising the achievements and contributions of the startups to UCL's entrepreneurial ecosystem". Read more here.

Professor Alan Thompson presenting an award to one of the five UCL Santander Summer Showcase winners, BoxxDockx, joined by Remy Foucher, Santander Universities Relationship Manager (left to right). Photo credit Kirsten Holst.

UCL INTEGRATED LEGAL ADVICE CLINIC RECEIVES LEGAL AID LAWYER OF THE YEAR AWARD

The UCL Integrated Legal Advice Clinic (UCL iLAC), run by the UCL Centre for Access for Justice at UCL Laws and based in Stratford, offers legally aided and free legal advice on all aspects of social welfare law. The awards are in recognition of the vital work UCL iLAC does to support communities in East London. It is the first university law clinic to receive this award. Read more here. 

IN OTHER ucl nEWS

Congratulations to all recent alumni celebrating their graduation!

In July, over 5,000 graduates and their guests joined together on UCL's campus in 33 separate ceremonies over 11 days. The in-person ceremonies took place at the Logan Hall at the heart of IOE, UCL's faculty of education and society. Further celebrations took place in the UCL Main Quad. We congratulate all of the graduates on their special day and look forward to engaging further as alumni of UCL! Read more here.