Alumni of Harrogate College

Claire Baxter

What did you study at Harrogate College?
I completed a BTEC Art Foundation Course following my A Levels.

What are you doing now?
I am a professional oil painter and own two Art Galleries – one in Pateley Bridge and the other in Knaresborough.

How did college help to prepare you for your career?
My Art Foundation course allowed me to experiment and explore all areas in art from life drawing and painting to printing, ceramics, photography and printing. I chose to study Fashion at Salford University but then fell back on the ‘art’ side of my studies when I retrained as an Art teacher and then as a self-published artist.

What challenges have you had along the way?
I got into university on clearing and it wasn’t my first choice uni but you make it work. After 4 years in retail, it took me 7 years to finally qualify as a teacher and I had 12 job interviews to get my first post. I’ve had more rejections for art opportunities than I can remember BUT I kept going and never gave up!

What do you wish you’d known as a student?
Not to plan everything out too carefully and to grab opportunities as they arrive. You create your own ‘luck’ by never giving up, you need to take on board constructive criticism and it’s ok to follow your dream.

To learn more about my work and journey, please visit: https://clairebaxterfineart.co.uk/

Mandy Barker

What did you study at Harrogate College?
Photography & Digital Imaging (HNC course)

What are you doing now?
I am an international award-winning photographic artist whose work involving marine plastic debris for more than 13 years, has received global recognition. Working with scientists I aim to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the world’s oceans, highlighting the harmful effect on marine life, climate change and ultimately ourselves – leading the viewer to take action.

How did college help to prepare you for your career?
It helped me realise that photography and art could be a profession that could be used to educate and inform people, to tell a story and share a message with the viewer. Art and photography can help change things. It taught me the history of photography and of photographers, underpinned with their various techniques – from working in the darkroom, printing from film, to using digital images on a computer, both of which I use in my current working practice.

What challenges have you had along the way?
To find the people that I could work alongside when initially starting out, to gain their trust, and to find people and publications that could help share my work. Being confident enough to believe in what I was doing and to get my work ‘out there’.

What do you wish you’d known as a student?
That anything is possible. Don’t think that because you aren’t studying in London, or that you don’t have an expensive camera you won’t be able to get to where you want to be, it is still possible to achieve. It takes hard work, but if you are determined and want to make an idea happen, there is nothing to stop you. When I was studying famous photographers in books that I greatly admired, I never imagined it would be possible to be one of them, but now I have gone on to have exhibitions with those very photographers. If I can do it, so can you.

To learn more about my work and journey, please visit: mandy-barker.com or on Instagram: @mandybarkerphotography

Dimitrios Karapilafis

What course did you study?
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)

Harrogate College has been the catalyst for an incredible transformation in my career, and I owe much of this success to the college and my teacher, Anne Morley. When I began studying English (ESOL) there, I had just arrived in the UK and was working as a geospatial processor at NM Group in Knaresborough. Anne’s remarkable teaching style and unwavering support guided me through the ESOL program, enhancing not only my language skills but also my confidence to take on greater challenges.

With my ESOL certificate in hand, I swiftly transitioned from a geospatial processor to a project coordinator at NM Group. The foundation I gained from Harrogate College equipped me to excel in this role. As I embraced project management responsibilities, I caught the attention of my superiors and continued to advance.

Empowered by the education and encouragement from Harrogate College, I earned acceptance into Alliance Manchester Business School’s MBA program. This opportunity refined my leadership abilities and strategic mindset, propelling me to the position of project manager overseeing a diverse portfolio at Kalibrate, an international company in Manchester.

Looking back, I am immensely grateful to Harrogate College for fostering an environment where my potential could flourish. The education I received there was a holistic experience that empowered me to break barriers and seize opportunities. The ESOL program was the first step in a series of accomplishments that have defined my career.

Today, I stand as a testament to the value of education and mentorship, proudly steering a portfolio of projects with the skills and wisdom I acquired. Thank you, Harrogate College, and a special thank you to Anne Morley.

Jack Williams

What did you study at Harrogate College?
Joinery

What are you doing now?
I started my journey at Harrogate College as a joinery student, after showing my skills and passion for joinery the college noticed this and invited me for an opportunity to have an interview for the then unoccupied Trades Technician role, from here I used this opportunity to develop my joinery skills and knowledge and my confidence in the classroom by supporting the teacher in lessons. Doing 1-1 teaching developed my teaching skills. From there this got noticed and I have the opportunity to study for my Cert Ed with the college. Through my time at Harrogate College I have been fortunate to work with some amazing colleagues and create new friends, within this supporting environment it has helped me grow as an individual.

How did college help prepare you for your career?
The college has been a massive part of preparing me for a career, through the skills I learnt as a student and all the knowledge I have been privileged to learn through my time as an employee. One massive benefit is the importance the college sees in continual professional development which whilst being an employee I am encouraged to develop my knowledge to greatly increase my teaching abilities. I couldn’t thank the college enough for giving me the opportunity that it has, and I feel very lucky to work here and hope to keep developing my skills as an employee to become an important part of the college.

What do you wish you had known as a student?
How difficult and stressful a career can be, and how to cope with stress. The college is very proactive in looking after it’s own employees, in which I am very grateful for.

Logan Saunders

What did you study at Harrogate College?
Level 2 BTEC Hospitality Services
Level 3 National BTEC Business
Level 2 AAT Accountancy

What are you doing now?
My current occupation is a ‘Finance Assistant’. After first graduating, I got my first job as an accounts apprentice within a modular house building company called Ilke Homes. I worked there learning accounts payable skills and then transitioned into a management accounts role. I worked there for 1 year and 6 months before they made everyone redundant and shut down. So I promptly found a new job residing within Yorkshire Cancer Research as an accounts assistant.

How did college help prepare you for your career?
Studying 3 different courses allowed me to gain different insights which helped me prepare for my future careers. Firstly, in hospitality I gained skills in customer service, communication, and working as a team. Secondly, in business, I gained knowledge of types of businesses, CV building, and we even did work experience 1 per year. Lastly, AAT provided me with all the knowledge I currently need in my day-to-day workings, allowing me to understand more intricately the effect of what I was doing at work.

What do you wish you had known as a student?
I wish I had known the importance of money allocation in my first years of college. When I first started college I remember I had all my money in one current account. I wish I could go back and explain the importance of investment portfolios and what bank accounts provide the best interest etc. Although I did learn this around 2020, I wish I could’ve known it earlier.