We believe

We had our annual 'Festival of Learning' in the college today. Frankly, it was a game-changer. We have a new pedagogy, a new learning and teaching strategy. We had a presentation of 200 slides in 13 minutes from the architect behind our new campus, which will open in just three years. I maybe company man, but it's a breathtaking vision, a wonderful concept. If I tell you one aspect drew influence from Rome's Spanish Steps, you'll have just a small idea of where we're going with this. Concrete block it ain't. Phenomenal stuff.

It was fantastic, albeit internally, to share and discuss and get passionate about what we believe in. Students front and centre, but our ripples in the city, the nation and globally. I so wanted to blip about this and the only pic I thought anywhere near appropriate is this Lloyd's TSB billboard.

'We believe borrowing should be simpler'. It's a basic line, and follows their animated theme which, combined with the music made for such an outstanding ad campaign. 'For the journey', again so dramatically simple and so good.

But in between the two lines, there was something of a banking meltdown which led most of us to consider whether the 'under the mattress' idea of banking really wasn't such a bad idea after all. I don't bank with TSB (used to, then twice as a young entrepreneur they failed to show up when I was seeking start-up cash - I went elsewhere). I think they're on the money with this ad though. We believe is a good thought as rebuilding trust. There's almost a degree of humility about it - who'd have thought in the banking sector? Set our what you believe and start to rebuild trust. Good strategy.

Meanwhile back at the college we believe we have a strong future, and today we started to map it out. How will we be in 2025? Well we set out our thoughts and visions, almost scenario-planning a banking crisis - how would we be in an education crisis, or in terms of competition, with MOOCs and more. No resting on laurels, no fear - we say 'bring it on'. Loads of work to do, but we embrace what's coming. I guess we believe.