Paul Hagan and I presented some of the work we have been doing within the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Ulster to enhance the first-year experience of introductory chemistry. This presentation gives an overview of some of the innovations that have been introduced. These presentations were given as part of the Innovation In Teaching and Learning Support Programme of Lunchtime Seminars for 2008/9 organised by the newly formed Centre for Higher Education Practice at the University of Ulster. The presentations were given twice in October 2008 at the Coleraine and Magee campuses. Please see the link below for further details: http://www.ulster.ac.uk/centrehep/seminar_programme.html