16 year old assaulted on Formby Beach

MERSEYSIDE Police have issued CCTV stills of a number of males Police believe could have information which would assist an investigation into an assault in Formby . This follows on from a report being received that a teenage boy was assaulted, on Formby Beach, on Tuesday, 23 July 2019.  Merseyside Police said that:- "It was reported to us shortly after 4.10pm.  We where told that a group of around 10 male youths had assaulted another group, which included the 16 year old victim, and some of the offenders allegedly used sticks or bats during the incident. The boy sustained cuts to the head and has subsequently made a formal complaint of assault. The offenders were reported to have dispersed into the sand dunes before the attendance of Police Officers. The victim was subsequently taken to Hospital for assessment and was later discharged."

Detective Inspector Catherine Walsh added:- "We are hoping to get a good response to our further appeal as this was a shocking incident on a teenage boy who should be able to go to the beach without fear of being assaulted. This happened on 1 of the hottest days of the year and there were many people there enjoying the sunshine so someone must have seen something. We believe members of the public who witnessed the offence itself have not yet come forward and we would appeal to them to help us in our investigation. If you have any information at all about the incident, do the right thing and help us bring the offenders to justice by contacting Police."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police via calling:- 101 quoting incident reference:- '19100401147' or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously, on:- 0800 555 111 or via their online form.

University shortlisted in Outstanding Entrepreneurial University category at annual Times Higher Education Awards

THE University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has been recognised for its entrepreneurial spirit after being shortlisted in the 2019 Times Higher Education 'THE Awards.'  The Awards are regarded as the Oscars of the higher education sector and UCLan has made the final 6 in the Outstanding Entrepreneurial University category.  It is the 5th time in the past 6 years that UCLan's entrepreneurial work has been shortlisted in this prestigious category, reflecting the University's status as one of the most innovative institutions in the higher education sector. The nomination is for UCLan's transformation into an Entrepreneurial University thanks to the work of its Centre for SME Development, which sits at the heart of the institution to lead an entrepreneurial culture and acts as a gateway for the Region's SME's to access relevant services within the institution. The Centre also support staff and students to transform their ideas into businesses by developing their entrepreneurship and employability skills through its Propeller Enterprise Hub. In the last academic year alone, the Centre's business mentors provided 936 hours of 1 to 1 support and delivered workshops and networking events to 1,546 students. This commitment is reflected in UCLan's latest HEBCIS survey results, which highlight that the University helped to establish 201 new student start ups in the 2017 to 2018 academic year.

Professor Sue Smith, Interim Director of Innovation and Enterprise, at UCLan, said:- "We are delighted to once again be recognised by the Times Higher Awards for our growing entrepreneurial culture. The Centre for SME Development is led by our members' demands to make sure it's in a position to make a significant contribution to the communities it works with. Through this ground breaking approach, we have created an environment that allows for knowledge exchange and collaboration across campus and beyond. We aim to build on this success by harnessing the entrepreneurial spirit of our students and empowering them to drive change, develop their skills and inspire the same spirit in others."

UCLan is no stranger to success at the:- 'THE Awards.' Last year it won in three categories; International Collaboration of the Year, Excellence and Innovation in the Arts and Most Innovative Contribution to Business University Collaboration. This year, nearly 80 institutions have been nominated across 23 categories in a bigger than ever sector celebration. The winners of the 2019 gongs will be announced at the Awards Ceremony, which will take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, in London, on 28 November 2019.