Aimee Sykes

I’m a Liaison Manager within the Student Journey Programme, based at UWE Bristol. The Student Journey Programme is a series of projects that seek to transform the way UWE works, and enhance the student journey.

I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in a number of Investors in People work streams, which have resulted in the launch of the Directorate Staff Forum, and the implementation of the Directorate Random Coffee Scheme. I’m particularly passionate about our Investors in People work, as it gives staff the opportunity to shape the environment in which they work.

Before working at UWE I worked in, and managed both prison and public libraries for a number of years. I also worked as a Library Development Officer on the Community Hub project, taking responsibility for the management of ten branches, and facilitating their transition to volunteer run community hubs. Lincolnshire County Council were one of the first local authorities to implement such a wide scale change to library service delivery. I enjoyed working on this project as it gave me the opportunity to design and deliver training, and work with communities to design policies and procedures and shape community hubs to best support their local communities. During this time I was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Service Award.

I think what links my work in libraries to my current role is people, and the fact I like to talk, be that training a group of volunteers on systems, or presenting project plans to stakeholders. I also thrive on the excitement that comes from change projects – I like to be busy, and love a challenge, particularly the challenges that come from shaping new ways of working.

I also coordinate our Women’s Forum – a staff network for women – at UWE Bristol. This is a peer support network that seeks to improve the lived experience of women at UWE. It facilitates networking opportunities, provides informational briefings on topics of interest, as well as informal training and development sessions.

I also write for an online magazine, The City Girl Magazine, part of the City Girl Network. This is a social network for young women in cities, helping them settle in and find friends. My articles for the magazine have a careers focus.

I sit on the Board of Trustees for a Jacari, a small charity which seeks to boost the English speaking skills, and thus academic potential, of children from refugee families. This is achieved by working with local schools and universities to pair up students to tutor school pupils.