Professor Phil Taylor is a globally recognised researcher and industrial expert in energy systems, with over 30 years of experience in both industry and academia. Local journalist and presenter Ali Vowles visits Phil at the University campus in Claverton Down to get his perspective after his first few months as Vice-Chancellor and President.
“I’ve already got one connection to Bath, Ali. I was born in Rome!”
Phil Taylor, greets me with a warm handshake, a big smile and a refreshingly open manner. I’m not sure you’d get this kind of welcome in all universities from a relatively new Vice Chancellor and President!
Not surprisingly after just six months in the post at the University of Bath he has a hectic diary. On the day I met him he’d already had breakfast with some early bird students, met the Mayor of Bath, and after our chat he had several more meetings. He was then catching a train to London to be welcomed as a new Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
With a background in engineering and renewable energy systems – he designed the grid connection for the UK’s first offshore wind farm – he has worked in both industry and universities for all of his career.
Phil moved to the West Country with his wife and three daughters during the pandemic, to work for the University of Bristol as the Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise. Rishi Sunak put him in charge of a £250 million project, building the UK’s largest AI supercomputer. He and his team were given just nine months to pull it off – which they did! The facility can now be used for research by every university in the country.
Phil says “After two years in Italy, my parents came back to the North East. Living in such a friendly place for most of my life means I like people! As a result I’m a bit of an open book. But I’m not afraid to be decisive in my new job leading the University of Bath. There was a period of time here when we lacked confidence as an institution. Moving forward we need to take managed risks and be resolute, to deliver more for our staff, our students and the city. Collaboration with other partners is key. You get a broader diversity of ideas, you can share facilities and with big projects you can share risk.”
So what challenges face the 54-year-old in the years ahead? He says going forward he wants the University of Bath to be truly global, carrying out research to tackle the difficulties that the world faces. He also wants to make sure that the institution has solid foundations for the future. And in a tough, financially difficult time, he thinks it’s more important than ever to encourage a diverse student base, with a range of backgrounds.
“Both my parents were unemployed when I went to university. I was lucky. I got a grant from the government. Without it I couldn’t have gone. I know how difficult it is. We’re lucky here to have a fantastic global alumni community who are generous with their ideas and networks, but also donate funds for scholarships and bursaries.”
But he acknowledges that it’s still far from easy. Universities are not -for-profit organisations. So although fees rose recently after an eight -year freeze, in the same week the National Insurance contributions rose too. As Bath’s second biggest employer, it left the university around a million pounds a year worse off.
Undaunted the VC said “I guess that’s my job, to try and lead the organisation so that we are still pursuing those aspirational goals, but in a way that is financially and environmentally sustainable.”
As a resident and former reporter I know that things like the rise in student accommodation can get full time residents riled. There is also a perception in some quarters that the university stands aloof on the hills above the city. It’s something that the new VC fully acknowledges.
“I know we need to get better at communicating what we add. I think we also need to talk more about how a thriving university can lead to a thriving city, and how a thriving city helps support a thriving university. We need to shout about things like the sports training village that is used by lots of school kids and the talks and cultural events that we put on in the area. Thousands of students volunteer in the community each year. We know we’ve got a great reputation here and a great brand – we need to shout about it.”
The University is in the top ten per cent of universities in the world and is eighth in the world for sports-related research and education.
“Both these statistics are fantastic”, says Phil, “especially for a relatively young university. It’s one of the key areas of distinction that we need to build on and do more of. I recently met some of the 30 Olympians and Paralympians who brought back 17 medals to Bath. They are so inspirational.”
Our time together was nearly up – but in a rugby city one more important question. Is he a round ball or an oval ball fan?
“My team is Middlesbrough FC, where I’m from, so while I didn’t grow up a rugby fan I have enjoyed watching it at The Rec. I played football to quite a high standard and did a lot of sports, including running. When I can I’ve also been watching Bath City FC at Twerton. And I got to talk to film director, Bath City fan and club director Ken Loach on the terraces. He is one of my heroes. How wonderful is that?”
The University of Bath: bath.ac.uk