A first class Business UCLan Burnley student and aspiring project manager has secured a role on a dynamic graduate scheme within the marketing team at a cutting-edge local business.
After achieving an Advanced Level Travel and Tourism qualification at Burnley College Sixth Form Centre, Joseph Edwards gained work experience at a bookmakers where he recognised he had a passion for business. Based on his positive experience of Burnley College Sixth Form Centre, he made the life-changing decision to enrol at UCLan Burnley to study business.
UCLan Burnley Graduate Joseph Edwards commented:
“I wasn’t sure I’d be able to complete a degree – the academic side was daunting. However, I really enjoyed studying Travel and Tourism and I felt that UCLan Burnley would have the same supportive and friendly atmosphere. I was right! I am grateful that my tutors gave me the opportunity to have one-to-one sessions and gave me the extra skills and knowledge I needed. Their teaching and unwavering support meant I was able to achieve outstanding grades, which my employer recognised, giving me the opportunity of a full graduate scheme place.”
With a passion for student development and a commitment to helping undergraduates broaden their skillset, UCLan Burnley’s Business courses have strong links to local businesses and industries by keeping up to date with job alerts and assessing potential growth within companies. Through discussing Joseph’s aspirations with him in regular one-to-one tutorials, he was encouraged to attend an interview for a new business role at The Senator Group and following the interview, Joseph was offered a position.
Tutor Angela Crabtree commented:
“It’s so important that we recognise the wide range of talent amongst students at our college and that we give them the best chance at gaining valuable work experience in a professional environment. We are very privileged to have such well-established connections with prestigious local businesses, which often have a variety of opportunities for our students”.
The determined graduate completed his business degree as a top-up using remote learning from UCLan Burnley while The Senator Group paid for his tuition fees. With access to new learning and practical projects through his course and a dynamic approach and attitude to work, Joseph Edwards gained a First Class degree in Business and has recently been promoted to Junior Project Manager on a graduate scheme within The Senator Group.
The UCLan Burnley Graduate believes that the knowledge and transferrable skills that the course equipped him with helped him get the job he has now, commenting:
“We made our own improvement project as part of one module in the second year of my Foundation course and I think that experience was one of the key factors that helped me get the job I have now. When I got hired, I was told that for management positions, people need a deeper understanding of business concepts and flexibility. My degree and tutor definitely helped me to develop those specialist skills”.
Principal Hugh Bramwell said:
“We are always delighted to see students returning to the college for further studies based on positive experiences they have had in the past. It’s fantastic to see that the communication between tutors and students is effective as it is helping students recognise their strengths and career goals. We wish Joseph the very best of luck at The Senator Group and for the future”.
