London Met Lab: Empowering London

London Met Lab: Empowering London We are on a mission to tackle the inequalities facing London, to improve people’s lives and to deliver social justice.

In the latest episode of Placecast from the Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub (LPIP) posted on University of Birmi...
02/07/2026

In the latest episode of Placecast from the Local Policy Innovation Partnership Hub (LPIP) posted on University of Birmingham's blog, Sophie Cloutterbuck (Director of London Engagement and the London Met Lab: Empowering London) at London Met, shares her insights on why successful place-based innovation starts with trust, relationships and community engagement.

Along with host Dr Gerardo Arriaga-Garcia and fellow guest Nina Ruddle, Sophie discusses:

🤝 Why strong relationships are the foundation of innovation
🌍 The role of universities as civic institutions within their local communities
💡 How collaboration across sectors can unlock lasting impact
🧩 The importance of the often unseen "glue work" that brings people and organisations together
❤️ Why trust and participation should be at the heart of place-based development and policy-making

Drawing on her extensive experience in civic engagement and community partnership work, Sophie highlights how meaningful connections can help drive positive change for people and places alike.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://shorturl.at/ZWcSm

London Metropolitan University is developing a new digital heritage project to mark 40 years since the opening of the Lo...
27/05/2026

London Metropolitan University is developing a new digital heritage project to mark 40 years since the opening of the London Irish Women’s Centre (1986-2012).

The collection will bring the organisation’s history to life through a virtual 3D space that uses archival material from the University’s Special Collections.

The project is funded by the Emigrant Support Programme which supports Irish communities and groups abroad, and will be delivered by a student on the BSc (Hons) Games Animation, Modelling and Effects course.

The project, titled Celebrating 40 Years: The London Irish Women’s Centre 3D Project, will recreate selected rooms from the now closed centre in Stoke Newington. Online visitors will be able to navigate the immersive digital environment and discover 40 archive records drawn from the London Irish Women’s Centre collection within the Archive of the Irish in Britain.

London Met marks a major sustainability milestone this spring as the University celebrates five years of annual tree‑pla...
26/05/2026

London Met marks a major sustainability milestone this spring as the University celebrates five years of annual tree‑planting at Mudchute Farm, one of London’s largest city farms and a close neighbour to our Aldgate campus.

Since 2022, students and staff have joined forces with the farm each year to plant more than 400 native saplings, thanks to continued support from the Woodland Trust. The partnership has enabled London Met volunteers to help expand biodiversity on the farm while strengthening green corridors across Tower Hamlets.

This year’s event brought together students and staff from a wide range of disciplines – from Architecture and Design to Business, Law and Health Sciences – all united by a commitment to climate action and community collaboration. Many participants were planting trees for the first time, supported by our staff and the Mudchute farm team.

London Metropolitan University, Excursions Ltd, and Blue Badge Guides came together to organise a special half-term expe...
20/05/2026

London Metropolitan University, Excursions Ltd, and Blue Badge Guides came together to organise a special half-term experience for London Met students and their families on 16 February.

Lucy Li, Civic and Community Engagement Officer at London Met Lab, worked with both organisations to arrange a free coach tour of London for London Met students and their children aged 6–13. The group, made up of 43 participants in total, enjoyed visiting some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, etc. Free lunch was provided for all attendees by London Met.

Three Blue Badge Guides generously volunteered their time as part of an initiative to introduce young people to the highlights of London.

A big thank you to Excursions Ltd for arranging transport through DJ Coaches, helping to make this memorable day possible.

Two new studies produced by London Met's Cell Communication in Disease Pathology group which is led by Professor Jameel ...
15/05/2026

Two new studies produced by London Met's Cell Communication in Disease Pathology group which is led by Professor Jameel Inal, offers a potential explanation for why cancer rarely spreads to skeletal muscle, and points toward a non-invasive urine test that could one day replace the painful tissue biopsies currently used to diagnose prostate cancer.

In one of the study, they found that human cells release tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs), which serves as messengers between cells. These messengers in muscle cells may actually stop cancer from spreading there, which could explain why cancer rarely spreads to muscles. This could lead to new treatments to prevent cancer from spreading.

The second study, conducted in collaboration with colleagues at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust's Lister Hospital and part-funded by London Met, found that these EVs in urine could help detect prostate cancer early and could open the door to less invasive cancer tests.

Beautiful portraits of Irish nurses who dedicated their lives to the NHS were on display at the Whittington Hospital, ce...
13/05/2026

Beautiful portraits of Irish nurses who dedicated their lives to the NHS were on display at the Whittington Hospital, celebrating a vital but often overlooked chapter in British healthcare history.

The exhibition draws on the oral history project 'Irish Nurses in the NHS', led by Professor Louise Ryan at London Met, in collaboration with freelance radio producer and retired nurse Grainne McPolin, and PhD student Neha Doshi.

Since the NHS was founded in 1948, Irish nurses have made up one of the largest migrant groups working in British hospitals. From the late 1940s onwards, hospital staff travelled throughout Ireland actively recruiting young women and men to train and work in the NHS. By the 1960s, over 30,000 Irish-born nurses were working in hospitals across Britain, including the Whittington.

The pioneering project began in 2022 and concludes in 2025. During that time, Louise and Grainne conducted 45 interviews with retired Irish nurses (43 women and 2 men) who migrated to Britain to train and work in the NHS from 1948 to the early 1970s.

London Metropolitan University is working with local residents and members of the South African community to develop a l...
11/05/2026

London Metropolitan University is working with local residents and members of the South African community to develop a legacy mural for the Anti-Apartheid Legacy Centre in Islington. Professor Wessie Ling at London Met is leading this project to commemorate the anti-apartheid struggle’s history.

The mural will sensitively convey some of the history and legacy of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and be installed at the Centre’s site at 28 Penton Street - the former headquarters of the exiled-African National Congress in London - when it opens in late 2026.

The centre will be the first museum in Europe dedicated to commemorating the Anti-Apartheid Movement.

Drawing on archival research, including the University’s Special Collections on the Anti-Apartheid Movement, London Met's Research Centre for Creative Arts, Cultures and Engagement (CREATURE) has co-delivered six art-based workshops with school pupils, adults, local residents, former Anti-Apartheid activists and members of the Southern African diasporic community.

The workshops invited participants to explore the Anti-Apartheid movement’s history and ongoing relevance through creative activities, discussion and reflection, with a focus on social justice, equality and freedom.

Ideas, images and themes co-created by the workshops’ participants have informed the mural’s concept, ensuring it reflects the voices and experiences of the community. The mural will be created to coincide with the opening of the Centre.

London Metropolitan University is celebrating national success after winning the Authentic Assessment for Employability ...
09/05/2026

London Metropolitan University is celebrating national success after winning the Authentic Assessment for Employability category at the Graduate Futures Institute’s Academic Employability Awards 2026, announced last night at the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies in London.

The award recognises London Met’s strong approach to embedding employability directly into teaching and assessment, ensuring students gain the practical, industry-ready skills needed to thrive in competitive professional environments.

The winning submission showcased how its Journalism curriculum has strengthened employability through authentic, industry-focused assessment. Led by Dr Wendy Sloane, the programme immerses students in real newsroom environments through live editorial roles, mock interviews, portfolio development, production journals.

Students also benefit from industry-standard publishing via Holloway Express, and work placements supported by the London Met Journalism Diversity Network.

London Metropolitan University hosted a celebration event for the Islington Anchor Institutions Network (IAIN) on 10 Mar...
21/04/2026

London Metropolitan University hosted a celebration event for the Islington Anchor Institutions Network (IAIN) on 10 March, marking three years of collaboration between the borough's largest employers and public sector organisations.

Collectively, IAIN members employ more than 22,000 people and act as major employers, purchasers and landlords across the local economy.

Around 50 people gathered at London Met's Holloway Road campus to reflect on progress against the three pledges made at the network's launch: supporting jobs and employment, supporting local businesses through procurement, and reducing carbon emissions.

The event was opened by the university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Julie Hall, alongside Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford, Deputy Leader of Islington Council and Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Culture and Jobs.

London Met’s brightest entrepreneurial talent took centre stage at this year’s Big Idea Challenge Awards, celebrating in...
20/04/2026

London Met’s brightest entrepreneurial talent took centre stage at this year’s Big Idea Challenge Awards, celebrating innovative student and graduate ventures with real‑world impact.

🏆 Grand Champion 2026
Elizabet Ciochina – SoulSpan
A platform connecting people navigating emotional challenges and life transitions with trusted therapists, coaches and practitioners. SoulSpan also won 1st place in the Social Impact category.

👏 People’s Choice Award (University)
Imesh Anton – Lumina Home Theatres
Voted for by the public, Lumina Home Theatres designs and installs bespoke luxury home cinemas, creating immersive audio‑visual experiences.

💡 Commercial Category Winners
🥇 Esther Bangura – Neurodivergent Money Coaching
Supporting neurodivergent adults with practical, tailored and stigma‑free financial guidance.

🥈 Margarita Damai & Sajmon Gjyzeli – ConneX AI Ecosystem
An AI‑powered system streamlining real estate operations with a 24/7 digital receptionist and centralised platform.

🥉 Saksham Arora & Namrata Bhowmik – Contextual Mental Health
A preventative initiative helping universities identify early wellbeing risks and develop supportive interventions.

🌍 Social Impact Category
🥈 Nasreen Sultana – Early Detection Prevents
A blood test designed to identify early signs of lifestyle diseases and support preventative healthcare.

The Big Idea Challenge continues to showcase the creativity, ambition and impact of London Met’s student and graduate entrepreneurs — we can’t wait to see where these ideas go next.

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