For this thirteenth episode of the #sideproject blog series I’ve turned to a former colleague who has very much made her own luck. I’ve known Tracy for about fifteen years since we worked together delivering skills training first when I worked at the University of Bristol Students’ Union and later for the University of Bristol … Continue reading Side Project Stories #13: Brainbox Coaching & Fitness

In some ways my own TEDx talk started when I first encountered our twelfth side project pioneer. I met Mel whilst I was working at Bath Spa University and she approached me about getting student involvement in the first of her TEDxBristol events back in 2015. Being on the side-lines of such an amazing event … Continue reading Side Project Stories #12: TEDxBristol

Welcome to the eleventh episode of my #sideprojects blog series. This is the first of the 'second season' of blogs about an array of diverse people pursuing passions, skills, future lifestyles, and maybe a living through spare-time projects. Nick Skelton & Jonathan Chenoweth I’ve bumped into Nick periodically for many years as we’re both long-serving … Continue reading Side Project Stories #11: Nutgrove Kitchen

Devotees of this blog will be delighted to hear I’ve got four new Side Project Stories penned and at least two more booked for interview in the next month or so. However, before I crack on with ‘season two’ I thought it would be good to catch up with the ‘originals’ and see how the … Continue reading Side Projects: The Great Update

About 18 months ago I read a blog by Do Lectures founder David Hieatt on the subject of ‘Side Projects’ little knowing that it would kick-start my own side project. "For side projects read ‘Labours of Love’. You know those ideas that just won’t go away. That little idea in the back of your head … Continue reading Side Projects: The Story So Far

On January 19th 2018 I got to give a TED talk; that's a lifetime goal chalked off right there! It was at TEDxCorsham to an audience of about 100 people and I chose to talk about my #sideprojects side-project! Huge thanks to the team at The Pound, to Libby (the local sixth-former whose idea it … Continue reading #sideproject talk for TEDxCorsham

For what is the tenth in my ongoing series of #sideproject interviews I’ve found an interloper who may not be what I’ve been looking for… In this interview I speak to an old acquaintance who seems to have been doing some incredible things for no purpose whatsoever. George Cave I first met George just over … Continue reading Side Project Stories #10: 67hours

In amongst all the #sideprojects I do I also have a day job, and one of my workplace projects is about to come to fruition. For the last 16 or so months I've been part of a team of University of Bristol academics and professional digital developers assembling a free four-week online course on the … Continue reading Innovation & Enterprise Online Course

One of my own side projects is being a trustee for student social action charity Student Hubs. Student Hubs is a network of student-led social action projects, social innovation acceleration, and community volunteering activities run at a number of UK universities including my own in Bristol. Last week I had I the pleasure of delivering … Continue reading An Innovation Culture for Student Hubs

This latest story in my #sideproject series is an acknowledged superstar of the scene – Gavin Strange. Gav is a senior designer for the interactive arm of Aardman Animation in Bristol but moonlights with an array of side projects including an online shop he runs with his wife – Strange, a multitude of film-making and … Continue reading Side Project Stories #9: Jam Factory