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?
Joinery Teacher. 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.
Ulyssa MacMillan
What did you study at Harrogate College?
Fine Art
What are you doing now?
After leaving Harrogate College, I did a BA in Fine Art at Kingston University. Then I did an MA at Goldsmiths. Both these experiences were fantastic and really helped me grow as a critical thinker and creative human being.
I started my working career as a HTML/Javascript programmer after leaving Goldsmiths, and doing a BTEC in website design & publishing. Then I moved more into the design & user interface of websites, as a Website Producer for a company based in Amsterdam. Not exactly a direction I expected to take, but it was fantastic!
My current occupation is Vice President of Product – Platform & User Experience (in the Strategic Intelligence division, for Evaluate. Evaluate is a global provider of strategic insights and data solutions for the life sciences industry. The company specialises in delivering comprehensive market intelligence, regulatory information. )
In my role I am the leader of the Strategic Intelligence Product Platform Team. Key responsibilities include:
- Defining and driving the Platform portfolio vision and strategy.
- Leading the Product Platform Team (Product Managers, UX/UI and User Insights).
- Overseeing the ideation, design and development of the web and data platform.
- Putting in place great people, teams, processes and technology.
- Fostering a collaborative, innovative culture that drives excellence and accountability.
- Coaching and mentoring product managers, helping them to be their best at work.
Before Evaluate, I was at the Guardian for 4 years, working as a Product Manager. I developed mobile apps, and worked closely with the E-Commerce team helping them come up with creative ideas and design for mobile products in the Guardian’s E-Commerce portfolio; which included Soulmates, Jobs, Masterclasses, Readers Offers, Holidays, Books and onsite merchandising.
Prior to that, I was at the BBC for 10 years, starting as a Producer, and leaving as an Executive Product Manager. Highlights included relaunching the BBC mobile homepage, travel news mobile site, mobile search, putting in place a content management system and rolling it out across BBC English Regions, working with BBC R&D on a number of creative initiatives, and working on the then BBC Listings database. I led a team of around 30 people.
How did college help prepare you for your career?
It was the start of my journey into being a creative and curious individual, and equipped me with lifelong skills that include questioning everything, thinking outside the box, understanding people, and a passion for delivering innovative and new user experiences. It was a great course, allowing student to try out different types of fine art, as well as graphic design. It opened my mind up to endless possibilities.
What do you wish you had known as a student?
That I would still be able to get a job, with a fine art degree, and not to worry about how I would survive! It’s been a fabulous and interesting journey. That there are creative people and jobs in all manner of industries, and you don’t have to ‘make it’ as an artist to have a rich and fulfilling career.
Beth Martin
What did you study at Harrogate College?
Performing Arts
What are you doing now?
Student Life Lead – Engaging students in the wider College life and promoting student independence outside of the classroom.
How did college help prepare you for your career?
Harrogate College reengaged me to learning after a challenging secondary school life. Harrogate College nurtured my creativity and gave me the confidence to be my absolute authentic self. The College encouraged me to challenge myself and push my personal boundaries. I made some extremely important friends whilst on the course and including my wife when I was only 16! We have now been together for 15 (long) years. Harrogate College honestly changed my life in so many ways, and I will always be so grateful for my student experience.
What do you wish you had known as a student?
I wish i had known that staff were their to support me and always had my best interest at heart. I wish I had known the impact College would have on my life, and how important this step within Education was.
Nicola Johnson
What did you study at Harrogate College?
PGCE Teaching placement – teaching ESOL
What are you doing now?
Deputy Director of Curriculum – Harrogate College. Worked all over the world, Japan, Saudi Arabia. Came back to UK 8 years ago and started at Leeds City College in the ESOL and Adult and Community department. Started at Harrogate in January this year – great to be back home and working in the and for the town I grew up in.
How did college help prepare you for your career?
Started me in my teaching career with my first teaching experiences. Developed my knowledge as a teacher both in terms of curriculum knowledge and how to prepare and plan fun and interesting lessons.
What do you wish you had known as a student?
Confidence is key, always go for opportunities as you never know where life takes you.
Jolyon Drew
What did you study at Harrogate College?
Level 2 Diploma in Bench Joinery, 2021-22 and Level 3 Diploma in Bench Joinery 2022-23
What are you doing now?
I am currently employed as a joiner and also recently became a lecturer at Harrogate College.
I was working as a teacher when I enrolled on the Level 2 course to pursue my interest in joinery and that experience gave me a lot of confidence as well as knowledge to be able to leave my teaching job and become employed as a full time joiner straight away.
I was therefore really keen to do the Level 3 course and deepen my knowledge and skills. This has taken me forward to new professional horizons as a joiner and brought me back to Harrogate College where I hope to give many more students the excellent experience I had.
How did college help prepare you for your career?
The vast experience of the teaching staff was the most important part of my preparation for working in the construction and manufacturing industries. Not only did they deliver the course well but improved it by adding their own experiences and techniques to the lessons we had. There was also plenty of support around the college such as careers fairs and updates for jobs in various sectors.
What do you wish you had known as a student?
How much more practice I would need to be half as good as other joiners!
Denise Booth
What did you study at Harrogate College?
Anatomy, Physiology & Pathology; Holistic Massage and accompanying units; Sports Massage
What are you doing now?
I originally worked in a Special Education School delivery physiotherapy to pupils with mobility issues e.g. cerebral palsy
How did college help prepare you for your career?
The course gave me the confidence to deliver the physiotherapy in the correct way.
Alex Skarratt
What did you study at Harrogate College?
L2 BTEC First Diploma and L3 BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts
What are you doing now?
I have taught performing arts in various educational settings over the last 20 years including a private school in Pudsey, the Army Foundation College, a private stage school in Harrogate, and at York and Harrogate College. The Army Foundation College was a real challenge, working with the new recruits certainly wasn’t easy, but it was very rewarding as it allowed the new recruits to use role play and problem solving in real life situations.
I currently teach Level 1 Personal and Social Development, which isn’t strictly my area of expertise but I have been able to utilise the transferable skills that I developed through teaching performing arts to help students to develop and grow their confidence, creative thinking and problem solving skills.
How did college help prepare you for your career?
In gave me a really firm grounding in acting to begin with. I performed at Harrogate theatre for my FMP which was such a great experience and gave me an understanding of the industry and how theatres work. It gave me a specialism to work towards and it grew my confidence massively, having come straight from school with no GCSEs. It triggered my love for learning and lead me to university- a place I never believed I would go.
What do you wish you had known as a student?
I wish someone had told me that failing at school isn’t the end of the road. There are so many alternative pathways to follow, and with a bit of hard work and determination, anyone can do anything they set their minds to.
