A BRADFORD technology provider was presented has been presented with a prestigious award.  BTL Group received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Excellence in International Trade) from the Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Ed Anderson CBE, on Tuesday (January 17).   The award recognises the firm’s success in the assessment industry and significant levels of investment.

Saltaire-based BTL, trading as Surpass Assessment, works with local education providers and won an award in 2021 for supporting Shipley College and young students taking T-Level qualifications.

Dr Bob Gomersall, founder and BTL Chairman, said: “I am proud that we have won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.  The technology we provide is used all over the world. Our people come from a very wide background, but they all have a passion for what we do and doing it as well as we can.  We have advocated and embraced remote working technology for over 35 years, and we’re delighted our technology has had a positive role to play in the Covid-19 pandemic by allowing exams to be taken at home in a secure way.”

The firm employs around 170 staff in the UK and US. In 2022, Surpass delivered more than three million tests to 78 countries around the world.

UNIVERSITY of  Bradford scientists have developed a pioneering ‘smart contact lens’ to test for eye infections in a quick and non-invasive way.  It is hoped the test could eventually be available to the general public – both in the UK and internationally – and it has been hailed the next big leap in the global fight against preventable blindness.  It could even prevent deaths caused by fungal eye infections in developing countries.

Professor of Chemistry at the University of Bradford, Stephen Rimmer, said: “We have produced a smart hydrogel which can detect two types of bacteria and fungus.  This device is made from materials similar to those used to make contact lenses, which would be safely applied to the eye. The microorganisms get stuck to the material and can then be analysed.”

Currently, detecting which bacteria or fungus is present in an eye infection is an invasive process where a tissue sample of the patient’s eye is taken under anaesthetic.  The sample is then cultured – which can take two days – before being studied under a microscope.

Professor Rimmer’s test would involve the patient wearing the lens for an hour, with the results determined soon afterwards.  “The current method is not a nice procedure and takes time,” he added.  “We are working on producing a visible colour change on the lens to show which bacteria or fungus is present. This could then be photographed and uploaded to a website for an expert to analyse.  The expert could then determine whether the patient needs antibiotics or further investigation.  Our goal is that someone on the street could do it with no training.”

Initial tests have yielded positive results and human trials will be carried out when further funding is secured.  The test could be vital in developing, tropical countries, where infections are often detected too late to save a person’s eye.

In India there has been a rise in deaths from mucormycosis, or ‘black fungus’, and people with diabetes and those who have been treated for Covid-19 with steroids have an almost 50% mortality rate.

Professor Rimmer is working with the world-leading L V Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India, as well as Dr Tom Swift, lecturer in polymer chemistry at the University of Bradford. “Eye infections in places like India can prove catastrophic,” Professor Rimmer said.  “We know our method works in the lab. What we want to do now is make it so someone can use it in a rural clinic in India.”

THE UNIVERSITY of Bradford marked 25 years of running its Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Dubai by hosting a networking event at the city’s British High Commission.  The University was first invited to Dubai by Emirates Airlines in 1997 to offer its MBA to senior staff, and two-and-a-half decades later, the Dubai Executive MBA offer extends to the broader corporate world in the United Arab Emirates.

Founded in 1963, the University of Bradford’s School of Management is one of the oldest business schools in the UK.  The School has received several accolades, most recently being named Business School of the Year 2021 at the Times Higher Education Awards.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Shirley Congdon, who led the event, said: “As one of the first UK universities to deliver an MBA in Dubai, the University of Bradford has already made a significant contribution to the socio-economic context of the UAE through developing responsible leaders.  Our senior management team and expert professors are working on plans to introduce new programmes to the UAE market, focused on supporting the region’s socio-economic priorities.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Zahir Irani, added: “I am excited to lead our strategic plan for Dubai and look forward to working closely with colleagues in our Dubai hub and local stakeholders in the UAE to extend our high-quality education offer to a broader audience in the country.  Our Executive MBA is well respected and, indeed, has been undertaken by many who have gone into executive roles.  We are currently working with leading corporations in the region to extend the University of Bradford’s corporate social  responsibility agenda.   The University of Bradford has over 145,000 alumni in 180 countries. We have global reach, and a global outlook, both of which are necessary to meet the challenges of the modern world.”

Shahid Baloch, Executive Vice President at Commercial Banking at United Arab Bank, himself completed his Dubai MBA in 2001. “I recognise the significant value of maintaining professional development and this is my ambition for the alumni here,” he said. Together with my colleague Dimitri Savvaidis, we have initiated the ‘UoB UAE Alumni Group’ to provide a forum for networking opportunities, and to provide continued learning and development via a series of events, organised in conjunction with the university.”

Other guests attending the event included governmental institutions, staff from the University of Bradford regional hub in Dubai and senior staff from the UK.

BRADFORD business leaders say Chancellor Rishi Sunak has held out fresh hope of a new, through rail station in the city.  He met with members from Bradfod Breakthrough, which represents big business and organisations across the district, along with the district’s five MPs, three Bradford peers and the President of Bradford Chamber.  The delegation argued that dropping the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) station was a “huge mistake” that could cost the district up to £30bn in growth and investment – and 27,000 extra jobs by 2060.

GRAEME Scott has been appointed Executive Director of Development at Incommunities, a 22,500-home association based in Bradford.  He joins from Trafford Housing Trust where he held the position of Executive Development Director for the past three years. Graeme’s appointment strengthens Incommunities’ commitment to develop a pipeline of over 1,000 homes for communities in the next three years.

Mr Scott said: “I am delighted to be joining Incommunities at such a key time. My aim is for us to become a strong and attractive partner, delivering innovative solutions to the housing and climate crisis.”

Rachael Dennis, Chief Executive says: “This is an exciting time for Incommunities. Graeme’s experience in strategic development, relationship building and operational delivery, together with his collaborative leadership style, will be pivotal in ensuring we meet our strategic aims and continue to thrive as we deliver our ambitious development plans to build over 1,000 homes in the next three years.  This new role will be instrumental in driving forward our new strategic priorities and two-year plan and will provide leadership by building a team focused on fulfilling our development commitment to help tackle the housing crisis.”

Mr Scott will begin in his new role in April.

THE UNIVERSITY of Bradford’s business school has been recognised as the best in the country.

The ‘world renowned’ School of Management was awarded the Business School of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards 2021, which is widely regarded as ‘Oscars of higher education’.

Members of the School, including Professor Sankar Sivarajah (Head of School), Professor Amir Sharif (Dean of the Faculty of Management, Law & Social Sciences), Professor Vishanth Weerakkody (former dean) and others, attended a celebration dinner at Hilton London Metropole Hotel on Thursday, November 25.

Prof Sivarajah said: “This is a real honour for our staff and everyone who have contributed to the successful development of the School and continuing to do so. Much of the work for this award was focussed on the period during the pandemic when we were actively engaged in supporting students and the community, launching a number of initiatives that really did make a difference to people. Business school should add value to society and so this award means a lot.”

Professor Zahir Irani, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic, Innovation & Quality) said: “I’m so proud of this award and recognition and absolutely delighted for the team – but I’m even more delighted for Bradford. This is a powerful recognition by our peers in the sector that we are doing the right thing for our students, our staff and our community. Many congratulations to everyone who contributed to this amazing achievement.”

The School was shortlisted in September – its application cited numerous innovations and initiatives from the last 12 months, including, an MSc course in AI and Data Analytics to help mature students gain new skills and a ‘career booster’ programme, designed to give industry knowledge to students.

The THE Award judging panel stated: “The University of Bradford’s School of Management has focused on becoming an engine of economic and social regeneration and focused on helping graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds.This was an impressive entry, showing a very clear strategy”.

The news comes just one day after the University was awarded the coveted Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its world-leading work in developing archaeological technology and techniques.

TWO Bradford restaurants have been shortlisted for a national “Curry Oscar”.

Aagrah, in Thornbury, and Mumtaz, in Great Horton Road, are both up for an gong at the British Curry Awards. The awards, which make an in-person return for its 17th year after being run virtually in 2020, celebrates the best curry houses across the country. They are recognised globally and were dubbed the “Curry Oscars” by former Prime Minister David Cameron.

Bradford businesses are among those to be recognised for going above and beyond in making ethical, environmental and societal changes. West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has announced the return of its Raising the Bar (Businesses Acting Responsibly) event, which will be held next month.

Raising the Bar is the Chamber’s initiative to support, encourage, advise and reward businesses which go above and beyond in making a positive impact. In a change to its usual celebration of businesses which have delivered impactful social responsibility programmes, the Chamber recognised the challenges of Covid and launched its ‘Make a Pledge to Make a Difference’ campaign in April 2021 to encourage businesses from across the region to pledge their social responsibility targets. Pledges include activities to benefit the community, the environment, the economy, employees and education and are achievable regardless of business and lifestyle restrictions.