Loughborough UCU

Tag: Reps Network

  • Reps Team & Committee Update – New Committee Member and New Rep in Wolfson

    We are very pleased to welcome Richard Blanchard as our new Department Rep for the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering. Richard has stepped forward to take on the role after a period without a rep in this area.

    We are also very pleased to announce that Jonathan Causton has been co-opted onto the LUCU committee as an “ordinary committee member”. Jonathan will help the committee continue to build its capacity whilst learning the ropes. We encourage anyone else interested in getting more involved in the branch to get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, to discuss what opportunities exist.

    Richard and Jonathan introduce themselves below:

    Richard Blanchard, LUCU Department Rep for Wolfson

    “Hi, I am Richard Blanchard, Reader in Renewable Energy based in CREST.  I’ve been at the university for 23 years and am passionate about teaching and researching how renewable energy can open energy access to people in less developed countries to improve social and ecological resilience. I am the new rep for Wolfson.”

    Jonathan Causton, LUCU Ordinary Committee Member

    “Hello everyone. I am Jonathan Causton, Centre Manager in the Department of Mathematics Education within the School of Science. I have been at the University since 2019 and have been a member of UNISON during my local government career prior to moving to the Higher Education sector and I joined LUCU in 2024. I joined the LUCU committee in February 2026 and I hope I can contribute to the excellent work the committee does in supporting UCU members at the University and working with university senior management to make Loughborough University one of the best places to work at! By profession I am an accountant with significant finance experience of how the HE sector works but also bring a broad range of experience ranging from Research Management, HR, Health and Safety and events management knowledge to the LUCU committee. I am genuinely very excited about being involved with LUCU and to make a difference.”

    Reps and committee members are at the heart of how our branch supports members. Reps play a vital role in helping to resolve local issues, build community, and ensure that members’ voices are heard across the University. Whether representing a department or focusing on specific issues like workload, Reps strengthen our collective ability to make Loughborough a fairer and more supportive workplace.

    We currently have vacancies for Department Reps in:

    • Chemistry (School of Science)
    • Loughborough Sport

    In addition, Student Services and Estates and Facilities Management are currently covered by a temporary Rep while we seek volunteers from within those areas to take on the roles permanently.

    Members in any of these areas who are interested in becoming a Department Rep, or would like to find out more about what’s involved, are also encouraged to contact Callum Salfield for an informal chat.

    We are also encouraging members across all Schools and Professional Services areas to consider becoming a Workload Rep. If you are interested in taking on this role or would like to find out more, please contact our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for an informal discussion.

  • Reps Team Update – New Reps in Comms & Media and Geography

    We are very pleased to welcome Azmeary Ferdoush as our new Department Rep for Geography & Environment in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. Azmeary takes over from Sarah Mills, who has recently stepped down from the role. We extend our sincere thanks to Sarah for her time representing members in Geography.

    We are also very pleased to announce that, after a short period without a Department Rep, we now welcome two new Reps in Comms & Media in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. Lise Jaillant and Jessica Robles have now taken on this role.

    Our new reps introduce themselves below.

    Jessica Robles, LUCU Department Rep for Comms & Media – SSH

    “My name is Jessica Robles and I started working at Loughborough ten years ago. I participated in union events long before officially joining and some of you may have seen me hanging out in meetings. My research is on morality in social interactions and recently I’ve been focusing on mental health.”

    Lise Jaillant, LUCU Department Rep for Comms & Media – SSH

    “My name is Lise Jaillant, and I joined Loughborough ten years ago, in February 2016. My research is broadly in the area of Digital Humanities and Digital Heritage. I have been a UCU member for many years. I am the rep for Communication and Media, sharing the role with Jessica Robles. ”

    Azmeary Ferdoush, LUCU Department Rep for Geography & Environment – SSH

    “Hi, I am Azmeary. I am fairly new to Loughborough University but have been a UCU member since the first day. As a political geographer, I am particularly interested in questions related to state, sovereignty, borders, migration, and (non)citizenship. I look forward to supporting others in my role as a GYE representative and working collectively with the rest of the team.”

    Reps are at the heart of how our branch supports members. They play a vital role in helping to resolve local issues, build community, and ensure that members’ voices are heard across the University. Whether representing a department or focusing on specific issues like workload, Reps strengthen our collective ability to make Loughborough a fairer and more supportive workplace.

    We currently have vacancies for Department Reps in:

    • Chemistry (School of Science)
    • Loughborough Sport

    In addition, Student Services and Estates and Facilities Management are currently covered by a temporary Rep while we seek volunteers from within those areas to take on the roles permanently.

    Members in any of these areas who are interested in becoming a Department Rep—or would like to find out more about what’s involved—are also encouraged to contact Callum Salfield for an informal chat.

    We are also encouraging members across all Schools and Professional Services areas to consider becoming a Workload Rep. If you are interested in taking on this role or would like to find out more, please contact our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for an informal discussion.

  • New Geography Rep and Our First Workload Rep

    We are very pleased to welcome Sarah Mills as our new Department Rep for Geography in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. Sarah takes over from Sophie Cranston, who has recently stepped down from the role. We extend our sincere thanks to Sophie for her time and commitment in representing members in Geography.

    We would also like to thank Magnus Hamann, who has stepped down as Department Rep for Communication and Media, for his valuable contributions to the Reps Team and the branch.

    Alongside our regular Department and School Reps, we are delighted to introduce a new branch initiative: the creation of Workload Reps. These roles focus specifically on monitoring and addressing workload issues within departments—supporting colleagues, gathering evidence, and contributing to branch-wide efforts to promote fair and sustainable working practices.

    Our first Workload Rep is Nikos Argyris, based in Loughborough Business School.

    Nikos Argyris, LUCU Workload Rep for Loughborough Business School

    “My name is Nikos Argyris and I am a Senior Lecturer in Operational Research at Loughborough Business School, which I joined in 2015. My research is broadly in the area of Decision Analysis with a particular interest in accounting for the social good and incorporating distributional fairness in both public and private sector decision making. Although I have been a member of UCU since my first academic post, this is my first union role. I have volunteered to be a workload rep to help promote fair and sustainable workload practices in my school and to contribute to the union’s broader efforts across the university. I’m looking forward to working with colleagues to support positive change and strengthen our collective voice.”

    We are now encouraging members across all Schools and Professional Services areas to consider becoming a Workload Rep. If you are interested in taking on this role or would like to find out more, please contact our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for an informal discussion.

    Reps are at the heart of how our branch supports members. They play a vital role in helping to resolve local issues, build community, and ensure that members’ voices are heard across the University. Whether representing a department or focusing on specific issues like workload, Reps strengthen our collective ability to make Loughborough a fairer and more supportive workplace.

    We currently have vacancies for Department Reps in:

    • Chemistry (School of Science)
    • Communication and Media (School of Social Sciences and Humanities)
    • Wolfson School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
    • Loughborough Sport

    In addition, Student Services and Estates and Facilities Management are currently covered by a temporary Rep while we seek volunteers from within those areas to take on the role permanently.

    Members in any of these areas who are interested in becoming a Department Rep—or would like to find out more about what’s involved—are also encouraged to contact Callum Salfield for an informal chat.

  • A New Rep for a New Department

    We are very pleased to announce that we have a new Department Rep in the School of Social Sciences & Humanities. Máiréad Enright will be our first UCU Rep for the new Loughborough Law Department. We know Máiréad will do a great job representing members in Loughborough Law.

    Máiréad has written a brief introduction below:

    Máiréad Enright, LUCU Department Rep for Loughborough Law in the School of Social Sciences & Humanities

    “My name is Máiréad Enright, and I joined Loughborough in the summer of 2025. My research is broadly in the area of gender and the law and reproductive justice. I was fairly active with UCU at my last employer, including in contributing to equalities campaigns and case work. I am the rep for the (brand) new Law department.”

    We currently have vacancies for Reps in Computer Science, Lboro Sport, Chemistry, Student Services & Wolfson. Interested members from those areas are encouraged to get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for more information or a chat about the role.

  • Changes to the LUCU Committee and Department Reps Teams

    We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Denise Coles. Having made a fantastic contribution to the branch since last summer, especially through our negotiations at JNCC and ARSNC, Denise is now stepping down from her committee role to manage her time and workload.  We are very grateful for everything Denise has put in and we will continue to work closely with her on EDI matters.

    As one committee member leaves another joins, and we are very happy to announce that Marianna Coulentianos has been co-opted to the branch committee as an ordinary member. Marianna has joined the committee to lead on Environmental/Green issues. A rule change motion will be going to our AGM in July to add the position of Green Rep so we can officially recognise this role from August.

    In addition to our new committee member, we are also very pleased to announce that we now have a new Department Rep in the School of Sports, Exercise and Health Science. Louise Kenyon will join Jamie Kenyon as an additional Department Rep for this School. Jamie will continue to be the main contact for Academic members in the School and Louise will be the lead for Professional Services members in SSEHS. We know Louise will join Jamie in doing a great job representing members in SSEHS.

    Louise and Marianna have written brief introductions below:

    Louise Kenyon, LUCU Department Rep for School of Sports, Exercise and Health Science


    “I’ve been at Loughborough University for almost 17 years in various roles within professional services, most of which have been based in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, where I am currently a Student Support Team Manager. I became a Union member in 2020 in the midst of the Four Fights dispute, and have actively participated in the subsequent periods of industrial action, as well as currently serving as a member on the LUCU recruitment sub-committee. Having seen the positive impact that Union action has had on enacting change in the University, I am pleased to have the opportunity to give back to LUCU by becoming a rep and supporting our members.”

    Marianna Coulentianos, School of Design and Creative Arts, LUCU Committee Member

    “My name is Marianna Coulentianos and I’m a lecturer in Responsible Design at Loughborough University. I’ve recently joined the branch committee to raise awareness and ensure that green issues are included in the negotiating or bargaining agenda at work, bringing experience from university-wide sustainability events, research projects, and student-led initiatives. I’ve been active in communities of practice across the institution and am committed to supporting a just and sustainable transition—within our university and beyond. I’m keen to explore how the union can play a meaningful role in this transition and look forward to contributing to the national movement to make 2025–26 the Trade Union Year of Action on Climate Change”.

    We currently have vacancies for Reps in Computer Science, Lboro Sport, Chemistry, Student Services, Lboro Law & Wolfson. Interested members from those areas are encouraged to get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for more information or a chat about the role.

  • New Reps in ONCampus & London and Appointment of Branch Membership Secretary

    We are very pleased to announce that we now have two department reps in Lboro London. Matt Vidal has stepped back into the role following a short break and will work alongside our new London Rep, Anaïs Carlton-Parada. We are also delighted to announce we now have a department rep in Lboro ONCampus where Pedro Nunes has recently taken on the role. We know all three of these reps will do a great job representing members in London and ONCampus.

    In addition to our new reps, we also are also very happy to announce that Eleanor Roberts, who joined the branch committee in the summer as an ordinary member, has been appointed as the branch Membership Secretary. Eleanor will take a lead in the important areas of recruitment and organising in the branch.

    Anaïs Carlton-Parada, LUCU Rep for Loughborough London.

    “I’m Dr Anaïs Carlton-Parada and I’ve been a researcher and teaching fellow at Loughborough University London for four years in the Institute for Creative Futures. Prior to working at Loughborough, I was a graduate student at the University of South Carolina, U.S., in Anthropology. This is my first union role, although I have been involved in union actions since my start at Loughborough. My research and personal interests align through actionable care and moving toward equity in significant, tangible ways, so I’m looking forward to supporting as a rep and being a first point of contact for our union members.”

    Matt Vidal, LUCU Rep for Loughborough London.

    “I joined Loughborough London in 2017 as Reader in Sociology and Political Economy. I was deeply involved in union activism during my PhD programme at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I was an Organizing Committee and Executive Board member, Teaching Assistants’ Association, AFT #3220. I took some years off from formal union activism work after I got my first academic job at King’s College London, though was always active in following and supporting UCU and all other unions. I first started as department rep at Loughborough London in 2022.”

    Pedro Nunes, LUCU Rep for ONCampus.

    “I joined UCU during my time as an FE teacher, after coming into contact with the “Respect FE” campaign. Around a year and a half ago, I was employed by ONCampus at Loughborough University, right after the opening of the new pre-programme centre for international students. Previously, I took precarious teaching positions both at Durham and Leicester Universities. These experiences gave me insights into some of the most pernicious dynamics currently affecting the sector, and how unions are one of the main drivers of positive change. Consequently, it is fundamental for unions to stand by policies that empower our members and strengthen our collective voice.”

    We currently have vacancies for Reps in Computer Science, Lboro Sport, Chemistry, Student Services, Lboro Law & Wolfson. Interested members from those areas are encouraged to get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for more information or a chat about the role.

  • A New Rep Joins the Team

    We are very pleased to announce that a new department rep has been added to the branch team. In the School of Social Sciences and Humanities Amy Cortvriend has recently taken over the role of department rep for Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy. Many thanks go to Nathan Ritchie for his work in the role over the last few years. We know Amy will do a great job representing members in CSSP.

    Amy Cortvriend, LUCU Rep for Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy, School of Social Sciences and Humanities.

    “I’m Amy Cortvriend and I joined Loughborough as Lecturer in Criminology just over a year ago. I moved from another university where I was the migrant members representative on the branch committee so already have some union experience and am looking forward to supporting our members again.“

    We currently have vacancies for Reps in London, Computer Science, Lboro Sport, Chemistry, Student Services, OnCampus & Wolfson. Interested members from those areas are encouraged to get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for more information or a chat about the role.

  • An Addition to our Reps Team

    We are very pleased to announce that a new department rep has been added to the branch team. In the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. Brian Jarvis has returned to his previous role of department rep for English. Many thanks go to Siân Adiseshiah for her work in the role over the last year. We know Brian will do a great job representing members in English.

    Brian Jarvis, LUCU Rep for English, School of Social Sciences and Humanities.

    “I started working in the English Department at Loughborough in 1991 and joined what was then the AUT. I’ve seen a lot of changes at Loughborough and throughout the UK university system over the past decades. All of the problematic developments have been actively resisted by the Union whilst Union pressure has contributed to most of the positive changes. I’ve been a Union representative in the past and am looking forward to taking up the role again.”

    We will also soon be saying a fond farewell to our Rep in Wolfson, Tony Sutton, and wish to send our gratitude for his many years of supporting our members in the school. If any Wolfson members would be interested in taking on the Wolfson Rep position from 1st October, please get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for more information or a chat about the role.

    We also have vacancies for Reps in London, Computer Science, Lboro Sport, Chemistry, Student Services & OnCampus. Interested members from those areas are encouraged to get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for more information or a chat about the role.

  • Reps’ Team – Two new Reps and a returning Rep

    We are very pleased to announce two new department reps and welcome back a former department rep to the branch team. Mark Leaper has taken on the role of department rep for Chemical Engineering and Materials in the School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering.

    In the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. Siân Adiseshiah has returned to her previous role of department rep for English on a temporary basis, and we welcome members to come forward as a permanent rep for English from the start of August. Many thanks go to Barbara Cooke for her work in the role over the last year.

    We are also delighted to welcome Hilary Robinson to the role of department rep in International Relations, Politics and History. Thanks go to Magnus Hamann for covering the role while the department was without a rep. We know these reps will do a great job in representing members in their departments.

    Dr Mark Leaper (Rep for Chemical Engineering & Materials Departments in the School of Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering)

    I’m Dr Mark Leaper and I’ve been a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering/AACME for 8 years at Loughborough, having seen quite a few changes to the University. I have been invited become the rep for Chemical Engineering and Materials for Loughborough UCU and hope that this will allow my colleagues to experience the full benefits of union membership.

    Professor Hilary Robinson (Rep for International Relations, Politics and History in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities)

    I joined Loughborough 2017 as Professor of Feminism, Art and History, in the old School of Arts, English and Drama; since its split, I’ve been in International Relations, Politics and History, in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities. I and describe myself as a recovering Dean, positions I held at Carnegie Mellon (USA), and at Middlesex. Before those posts I worked at U. Ulster; and before that in a number of precarious positions at different places. I was first involved in Union work in the 1970s, helping set up a branch of the T&GW at a bookshop where I worked for 18 months before being the first in my family to go to university. I am interested in all forms of real, intersectional, access and equity; and hold that this does not mean trying to get people to assimilate into institutions, but shifting the structures of power that kept some people out in the first place.

    A few vacancies remain in our reps’ team!  At the time of writing and in addition to the role in English, our two other vacant roles are both in the School of Science, in the departments of Computer Science and Chemistry. If you have any interest in taking one of the vacant roles, please get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for an informal chat about what’s involved and how you can support members in your area. For an up-to-date list of our reps, please see this page of our website.

  • Reps’ Team – Another Addition to the Team

    We are extremely pleased to welcome back our former branch Chair and Pensions Officer, Matthew Inglis, to the branch team. Matthew has taken on the role of department rep in both Mathematical Sciences Department and the Department for Mathematics Education, in the School of Science.  We know Matthew will bring a wealth of experience to the role and will do a great job in representing members in these departments.

    Matthew Inglis (Mathematical Sciences & Department for Mathematics Education Departments Rep in the School of Science)

    I’m a Professor of Mathematical Cognition in the Department of Mathematics Education. My research focuses on the cognitive processes involved in doing mathematics. This includes studying young children’s behaviour when they start engaging with numbers for the first time, but also the behaviour of my colleagues in the Department of Mathematics when they’re doing their research. I’ve been at Loughborough since 2008, was a longstanding member of the LUCU Committee, and served as LUCU Branch Chair for a three-year term that included the 2018 USS dispute. Currently I continue to help out with individual casework and am an elected member of the University Council (thanks to everyone who voted for me!). 

    We do still have a few vacancies in our reps’ team: please see this page of our website for an up-to-date list of positions available. If you have any interest in taking on one of the vacant roles, please get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for an informal chat about what it entails and what you might bring to it.

  • Reps’ Team – Incomings and Outgoings

    Firstly, we want to say a massive thank-you to three of our departmental reps who are stepping back after years of brilliant dedication in the role. Members in their areas, and indeed across campus, will have benefited greatly from the work of Ian Jones (Maths Education), Ruth Kinna (International Relations, Politics and History) and Saul Albert (Communication and Media).

    At the same time as saying goodbye to three of our reps, we also want to welcome two new members of the reps’ team: Magnus Hamann (Communication and Media) and Matyas Gutai (Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering). We know that Magnus and Matyas will do a great job in representing members in their departments. Magnus is also standing in as the rep for IRPH until a replacement for Ruth can be found.

    Magnus Hamann (Communication and Media Department Rep in the School of Social Sciences and Humanities)
    My day work is as a University Teacher in Communication and Media. Previous to becoming a permanent member of staff at Loughborough University, I worked various jobs as a research assistant. As such, I know that having a union that is serious about doing something about the casualisation of (academic) workers is vital. I became a Union rep as a way to do something proactively especially for members in precarious positions.

    We do still have several vacancies in our reps’ team: please see this page of our website for an up-to-date list of positions available. If you have any interest in taking on one of the vacant roles, please get in touch with our Branch Organiser, Callum Salfield, for an informal chat about what it entails and what you might bring to it.

  • November News

    UCU Rising Update/Casework Report/Reps Recruitment Campaign

    UCU Rising – Update

    LUCU was represented at the Branch Delegates’ Meeting on Monday, Oct. 31st where our delegate used their vote in line with members’ views as expressed at the Oct 26th GM and via the survey.

    The GM vote combined with the survey feedback showed a clear majority among LUCU members for: 1) giving the employer a time limited period of negotiation to reach a settlement prior to calling strike action; 2) no action in November; 3) if action were to be called in November, it should be limited; 4) initiating a programme of phases of escalating action to cover the six-month lifetime of the ballot mandate; 5) an assessment and marking boycott beginning in Spring 2022; 6) prioritising action that members feel able to support and that will promote unity.

    The BDM voted 72% in favour of offering the employers time to negotiate; 80% in favour of action in November, but with 70% voting for action in November to be limited; 87% in favour of escalating phases of action throughout the ballot period; 54% in favour of a December assessment and marking boycott, and in favour of prioritising action that members feel able to support and that will promote unity.

    The HEC met on Thursday, Nov. 3rd and voted in line with the views expressed by the majority of branch delegates. The employers will be served notice for three days of strike action at the end of November, a marking and assessment boycott to begin in December, and to escalate action from February unless the employers enter into good faith negotiations.  We expect further details and strike dates to be announced the week of Nov. 7th. Once we know the details, we will invite members to a GM for a discussion about local strategy.

    Personal casework

    Compared with other of LUCU’s activities – negotiating local conditions with senior management, say, or planning for industrial action – the personal casework that we do is inconspicuous, even hidden. By its very nature, it takes place behind the scenes. However, it is one of the most vital things we do.

    Since the beginning of the last academic year, our personal caseworkers have supported over thirty members. Some of this has been low-key and time-limited – offering advice by email, for instance, or via a brief meeting. The majority of the cases we take on, however, are more complex and demanding; they range from supporting members in preparing grievances through advising them when they are at risk of redundancy to representing them at disciplinary hearings and appeals.

    Challenging as it is, however, this personal casework is highly rewarding, as we can make a difference to members in very difficult and stressful circumstances. It also gives caseworkers an opportunity to become familiar with other parts of the University – we don’t take on cases in our own School or section – and to identify issues that may have broader significance and connect to our campaigning and negotiating activities.

    Our team of caseworkers is small – we need more. We would ask anyone interested in joining us to contact our Personal Casework Coordinator Andrew Dix (A.Dix@lboro.ac.uk) for an informal conversation about what the role entails. Training will be given, with the next course – delivered by the Union’s Regional Office and lasting only a few hours – to be delivered sometime in January. Do look out, in due course, for the exact date. As you begin your casework, you will also be supported by an experienced colleague. We hope to hear from interested members. 

    Building LUCU: Your branch needs you to become a rep

    There’s never been a greater need for members to step up to becoming a branch rep. The current committee is committed to facilitating a thriving branch reps’ network, empowering you to take an active role in guiding the branch in its negotiations with LU’s senior managers. Reps are our eyes and ears on the ground, the first port of call for members in need of assistance, and crucial to helping us recruit more members across campus.

    The role will be what you make of it, though we are positive in encouraging you to help make Loughborough the best place to work that it can be. Though Reps are not eligible for facilities time, in keeping with the positive working relationship we have developed with management, most reps have been granted some remission in their workload by their managers who recognise the value of working with LUCU on matters of common concern (c. 10-15 hours). We can help facilitate a discussion with your manager about this should you wish to serve as a Rep.

    Come and join the life of the branch and make a difference! Contact our Membership Secretary, Marc Gibson, for more information: M.A.Gibson1@lboro.ac.uk or via Teams.

    LUCU Committee