UWS Alumni Blog

Month: September 2023

Graduate and inclusion champion awarded by the Open University
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Alumni Stories

Graduate and inclusion champion awarded by the Open University

A graduate from University of the West of Scotland (UWS) and community activist who has devoted his life to promoting inclusion through the power of sport has received an honorary degree from the Open University (OU) in Scotland. 61-year-old Raza Sadiq graduated with a BA in Management in 2011 before going on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Careers Guidance & Development from UWS in 2015. He is the founder of the Active Life Club, a charity promoting inclusion through the life-changing power of sport. Raza said: “I am deeply grateful for this profound honour. I hope my journey will serve as an inspiration, a reminder that challenges can be overcome and that each one of you has the potential to etch your mark on the lives of others.” Empowering young people through sp...
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Basketball Star Featuring in BBC Documentary
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News

Basketball Star Featuring in BBC Documentary

A UWS Sport graduate has been featuring in Ballers: Ball or Nothing, a BBC documentary following Caledonia Gladiators - Scotland's only professional Basketball team - as they try and break a 20 year drought of winning a trophy. UWS graduate and team captain, Jonny Bunyan, is a pivotal figure in the team’s achievements during his remarkable journey with Caledonia Gladiators now in his 12th season. The 31-year-old fan favourite is also a seasoned international, representing Scotland at two Commonwealth Games in 2018 and 2022. Sean Skelly, Head of Men’s Basketball, and another UWS graduate who features heavily in the series, said: “The documentary is a fantastic showpiece for the club over an amazing 12 months. I think it’s fantastic for the fans to get a glimpse at the behind-the-scene...
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AXA Health Appoints UWS Alumna as New CEO
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Alumni Stories, News

AXA Health Appoints UWS Alumna as New CEO

AXA Health has announced the appointment of a University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Heather Smith, who graduated with a BA in Business Economics from the then Paisley College (now UWS Paisley Campus), will be joining AXA Health from Allianz where she is currently MD for Retail and responsible for providing personal lines insurance for 3.7 million customers across all major distribution channels. Heather has a diverse and extensive CV with significant experience of the insurance and health markets and will take on the role in mid-January 2024. Commenting on her appointment Heather said: “I’m really excited to have been given the opportunity to take up the role of CEO of AXA Health and continue the excellent work being delivered by...
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UWS nursing graduate becomes best-selling author
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Alumni Stories

UWS nursing graduate becomes best-selling author

A University of the West of Scotland (UWS) graduate has developed her hilarious blog into three best selling books, whilst working full-time as a nurse. Sophie Grant who graduated with distinction from BSc Adult Nursing at UWS Lanarkshire Campus in 2016 and writes under the name Sophie Gravia, has always had a love for the English language, and during the pandemic in 2020 she started writing a blog as a distraction from the ongoing pandemic and her long shifts as a renal nurse. Sophie's debut novel A Glasgow Kiss became a word-of-mouth phenomenon when it was released in December 2020, securing her the no1 best-seller spot on Amazon, at one point, outselling the Fifty Shades of Grey series.And when she later launched the follow-up novel What Happens in Dubai in August 2022, it als...
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Fearless and fun: UWS graduate and stand-up comedian, urges us to say yes to everything!
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Alumni Stories

Fearless and fun: UWS graduate and stand-up comedian, urges us to say yes to everything!

Eclectic. If one word could be used to describe Scottish comedian and UWS graduate Billy Kirkwood’s career it would be that: comedian, breakfast show host, script writer, media rep, actor, video shop assistant. He’s done a great deal since his days as a student on the BA Media, Theory & Production degree at our Ayr campus. “Throughout my career I have said yes to everything!” explains Billy, who now spends most of his time as a successful stand-up comedian. “So, I do a lot of different things, but everything comes from my job in comedy, which I have now been lucky enough to do for 18 years.” It is a job that many dream about, but Billy acknowledges the hard work it took to get to there. “I’d say I have been very lucky, but that is also because I am willing to be diverse in...
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Scottish Music Industry Association Appoints UWS Graduate as Interim CEO
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Alumni Stories

Scottish Music Industry Association Appoints UWS Graduate as Interim CEO

The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) has appointed UWS graduate Robert Kilpatrick as Interim CEO and Creative Director. Robert, who graduated with a BA (Hons) Commercial Music in 2016, will now lead the SMIA’s executive team and work with the company’s board to increase the value of Scotland’s music industry both at home and on the world stage; economically, socially and culturally. Robert said: “Having lived and breathed the SMIA for almost a decade, I’m incredibly honoured, proud and excited to now be leading the company, and I’d like to thank our Company Board for placing their confidence in me to undertake such a crucially important role. Scottish music inspires me like nothing else; it’s the stories of our lives, the heart of our cultural identity and the glue t...
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