About

As Head of Access and Participation Policy & Engagement at the University of Derby I lead the development of institutional strategy and contribute to nationally significant policy relating to social mobility, access and participation. Working closely with senior leaders and external partners, I focus on advancing evidence-informed approaches that improve outcomes for under-represented groups and strengthen the University’s role as an influential voice in the sector.

My work centres on building strategic relationships with government, sector bodies and civic partners, alongside representing the University in regional and national forums. I lead policy engagement and thought leadership activity that enhances institutional profile and supports system-level change, underpinned by a strong commitment to the use of data and evaluation to demonstrate impact.

I have over 25 years’ experience in widening access, participation and social justice, and have developed a strong portfolio of sector-leading initiatives recognised nationally as examples of best practice. I have extensive experience of working collaboratively across education, community and policy environments to address inequity and support learners to achieve their ambitions in higher education.

I contribute to a range of regional and national groups, including the Derby City Secondary Strategy Group, the South Derbyshire Skills and Employment Group, the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Collaborative Outreach Partnership Governance Board and the Higher Horizons Governance Group.

I represent the University as a corporate member of the HEAT Partnership and the National Education Opportunities Network (NEON). Based within the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, I am a Civic Champion and a member of the University’s Access and Participation Steering Group and Civic Community Committee, influencing strategic activity across the whole student lifecycle.

I am a published author and expert practitioner in widening access and participation and social justice, recognised for my contribution to advancing evidence-informed practice and policy. In 2025, I was honoured to receive a national NEON Award for Contribution to Widening Access.

Professional interests

My professional interests include:

• Social justice and equity of opportunity
• Fair access to higher education
• Education policy and its impact on practice
• Structural inequity in education systems
• Collaborative practice and learner agency

Research interests

My research interests are:

• Education policy and its impact on practice
• Career development 
• Impact of outreach on under-represented and vulnerable learners
• Social justice and inequity in education
• The application of capital theory to educational participation and progression

Qualifications

• Master of Arts in Guidance Practice
• BA (Hons) in Sociology with Business Psychology

Recent conferences

2025

NEON Supporting Widening Access and Success Through Effective Partnerships Conference, November 2025, Key address: The University of Derby and Chatsworth House Trust collaborative partnership

NEON Summer Symposium, June 2025, Conference paper: Rise High: A collaborative careers and skills programme for young people in low progression areas in rural Derbyshire

2024

Forum for Access and Continuing Education (FACE) Annual Conference, June 2024, Conference paper: Rise High: A collaborative careers and skills programme for young people in low progression areas in rural Derbyshire

NEON Widening Access and Equality of Opportunity Conference, April 2024, Key address: University of Derby: Access and Participation Wave 1 provider

2022

NEON Summer Symposium, June 2022, Conference paper: Progress to Success: A Framework for Working with Schools to Support Attainment, Achievement and Progression

Forum for Access and Continuing Education (FACE) Annual Conference, June 2022, Conference paper: Progress to Success: A Framework for Working with Schools to Support Attainment, Achievement and Progression

Institute for Government and Public Policy Widening Participation Conference, April 2022, Key address: Progress to Success: A Framework for Working with Schools to Support Attainment, Achievement and Progression

2021

NERUPI Annual Convention, September 2021 Conference paper: Derby Scholars: A Collaborative Approach to Address Oxbridge Progression

NEON Summer Symposium, July 2021 Conference paper: Derby Scholars: A Collaborative Approach to Address Oxbridge Progression

Institute for Government and Public Policy Widening Participation Conference, May 2021, Key address: Improving Access and Student Success by Addressing Inequity and Creating Opportunity

In the media

2025 Awards

• UK and Ireland Green Gown Creating Impact Award Finalist for the Science in the City Programme
• NEON Contribution to Widening Access Award Winner
• NEON Widening Access Partnership Award Winner for the University of Derby and Chatsworth House Trust collaborative partnership

Recent publications

2026

Bainham, K. (2026). Rise High: An investigation of a pilot careers and skills development programme for young people in rural and semi-rural areas in Derbyshire. Journal of the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling, 56(1), 163-182.

2024

Robertson, N. & Bainham, K. (2024). Think, Reflect, Succeed: Analysis of the University of Derby’s approach to effective attainment-raising outreach with secondary-age learners in Raven, N. (ed.) Co-constructing Education For All. Peterborough: FACE: Forum for Access and Continuing Education, pp. 115-126.

2019

Bainham, K. (2019) The impacts and benefits of employing a progressive and sustained approach to outreach programmes for universities: a case study – the progress to success framework in Broadhead, S., Butcher, J., Hill, M., McKendry, S., Raven, N., Renton, R., Sanderson, B., Ward, T. and Williams, S. W. (eds.). ‘Transformative Higher Education – Access, Inclusion & Lifelong Learning’. London: FACE: Forum for Access and Continuing Education, pp. 193-213.