Higher education trailblazers
CATEGORY
University has the power to change lives – especially for those whose parents didn’t go to university.
Not just a good job
Getting a degree isn’t just about getting a good job. It’s also enriching for students by building their confidence, enabling them to change career and introducing them to new people and ideas.
Meet them
Northumbria University
Durham University
Sheffield Hallam University
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
University of Cambridge
University of Leicester
University of Reading
University of Derby
University of Cumbria
Open University in Scotland
University of Surrey
University of Bristol
Queen’s University Belfast
York St John University
Royal Holloway, University of London
Edge Hill University
University of Bedfordshire
Professor andy long
Vice-chancellor
Northumbria University
Professor Andy Long was the first in his family to go to university, having attended his local comprehensive school. He attended the University of Warwick where he studied applied mathematics and went on to achieve his master’s in computer integrated engineering at Loughborough University.
He did a PhD in mechanical engineering at the University of Nottingham, where he became a member of staff. He served as Dean and then Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Engineering at Nottingham from 2011 to 2018, when he was appointed Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Andy was appointed as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University in 2022.
“Going to university has transformed my life, providing me with opportunities that wouldn’t have been available via any other route.”
Abbie Doherty
BSc Geology/
Earth sciences student
Durham University
Abbie Doherty is originally from Leicester, and is currently in her third year studying Earth Sciences at Durham University.
“Coming here has really transformed my life into something brilliant, better than I ever thought it could be growing up.”
Bilaal Ali
BA Accounting and finance student
Bilaal is in the second year of an accounting and finance degree at Sheffield Business School at Sheffield Hallam University and is severely visually impaired.
During his time at Sheffield Hallam, he’s won an inspirational student award for his punctuality, participation and positivity.
Bilaal also completed an internship with the Financial Times thanks to help from the Thomas Pocklington Trust, an organisation that helps blind and partially sighted people into employment and offers opportunities to help with work experience. He was featured in a Financial Times piece around the support business schools are offering to disabled students.
Bilaal now works at Nicholson & Co Accountancy alongside his studies.
Sheffield Hallam University
“Going to university was something I'd wanted for a long time, but didn’t think I'd achieve due to my visual disability.”
Dean Hardy
Junior Doctor
Bury-born Dean had always dreamed of becoming a doctor but never thought it was possible for someone from a working-class background.
The 30-year-old spent eight years working towards his goal after completing a degree in biomedical science in Manchester before coming to UCLan.
Prior to being accepted onto UCLan’s Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree, Dean received rejections from seven different medical schools and was told to pursue something different. Despite this, Dean persevered and was accepted onto UCLan’s medical degree in 2017.
He graduated in 2022 with a First and is now into his second year working for East Lancashire NHS Health Trust as a junior doctor.
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)
“When I was younger, I didn’t think becoming a doctor was possible for someone like me.”
Kelly
CornwelL
Mental health nurse
University of Cumbria
A year like no other
Kelly is a newly-registered Mental Health Nurse having graduated from the University of Cumbria in November 2023 – and her success comes after a year like no other.
Her husband Kevin, a humanitarian aid worker, was taken captive by the Taliban in January 2023 whilst working in Afghanistan.
Two weeks later Kelly, 49, had to undergo emergency surgery and then spent five weeks at home in Lancashire recovering from her operation. This forced her to put on hold a professional placement working on acute wards of a mental health hospital, which she had to complete to be eligible to successfully complete her nursing degree.
She then went on to fight for her husband’s release at a time that his health was rapidly deteriorating during his imprisonment in Afghanistan.
All of this took place whilst Kelly was in her final year of a three-year BSc (Hons) Registered Nurse: Mental Health Nursing degree at the University of Cumbria, a course that she had delayed enrolling upon for years due to family commitments.
“University has given me the chance to acquire formal education and skills I may not have been able to get earlier due to family obligations. This empowerment has led to increased self-confidence and personal achievement.”
Once well enough after her operation, Kelly had to claw back the 170 placement hours she had missed whilst recuperating, in addition to the 500 hours of the final professional placement she had to do to complete her degree.
During this period, Kelly’s hopes of her husband’s release were raised twice, only to be dashed before he was eventually freed on 10 October after 272 days of arbitrary detention.
His release meant that he was able to join Kelly at her graduation at Carlisle Cathedral in November 2023, where she also received a special prize as most inspirational student from the University of Cumbria.
Kelly is a mother of three boys, the youngest aged 16. Between them Kelly and Kevin have a total of seven children.
Inspirational student
“I've grown a lot and become more resilient as a result of balancing family responsibilities and academic pursuits.”
“the skills and knowledge you gain can be applied anywhere.”
George Baldock
BA History and Politics student
University of Cambridge
History and Politics student George had to be taken out of mainstream education in his early teens due to severe anxiety issues. He then attended a Pupil Referral Unit. He’s now studying History and Politics at the University of Cambridge.
“Not only do I come from an unusual educational background, but prestigious institutions like this have a facade of unattainability. It doesn’t hold true, though.”
Harry Dudson
Medicine with foundation year student
Harry, from Leicester’s Saffron estate, was one of the first to graduate from the six-year Medicine with Foundation year programme at the University of Leicester.
The course is one of only a few of its kind that exist across the UK. It’s aimed at those who have the ambition and potential to study Medicine but whose background makes it unlikely they will be able to meet the entry requirements for the standard five-year Medicine degree.
Harry has since gone on to take a master’s in Medical Research.
University of Leicester
“I owe everything I am today to the university who provided this local young council estate, single parented carer with a platform and voice.”
“Simply by being first-generation students, we have adapted and gained skills that make us more ready to take on challenges that come our way.”
Sana Rehman
James Fletcher
Deputy director of development, oriel college
University of Reading
James studied Politics and International Relations at the University of Reading and graduated in 2012. University shaped his career choices, way of thinking, and found him friends for life, as well as love.
While at uni, James successfully stood for election as President of the Students’ Union. He was also chair of the Students’ Union Trustee Board.
James credits his time at Reading with starting him on his path towards his career in the charity sector, where he’s found his calling. He is currently Deputy Director of Development at Oriel College, University of Oxford. He’s also a Board member at the KFC Youth Foundation and the John Lewis Partnership’s Golden Jubilee Trust.
“I know just how life-changing university is – it was where my passion for the charity sector began and gave me the opportunity to be myself.”
Jeanette Ashmole
Barrister and TV Crime consultant
University of Derby
Jeanette is a practising criminal barrister who also advises TV crime shows to ensure authenticity, including the BAFTA-winning Happy Valley and Coronation Street.
Jeanette was orphaned at the age of nine and fostered, leaving home and school at 16. When she was 19, she took the opportunity to volunteer as a Special for the police where she soon joined full-time. Her work in the police sparked an interest in criminal law.
At the age of 23, she left the police after her first child was born and wondered how she could take her newfound passion for Law further. Jeanette entered a competition run by the University of Derby and the Derby Telegraph for a scholarship to study at the university.
Jeanette was offered the scholarship and began a degree in Law and Criminology when she was expecting her second child. She completed her degree, studying full-time with two young children and taking her final first year exam while in early labour.
After graduating, Jeanette was offered a further scholarship from Middle Temple in London and trained at Nottingham Law School. After being called to the Bar in 2012, she worked as a Criminal Investigator for the UK Home Office and UK Border Force, before completing her pupillage in London.
Jeanette now works full-time as a criminal barrister, while also running her own company, TV Crime Consulting.
“I can now give my family the future they deserve and that I didn’t have. that means a lot to me.”
Leeanne MacPherson
When Leeanne MacPherson left school at aged 16 to work in a jeans factory, she never dreamed that one day she would have a degree in Mental Health Nursing. Based in Cumnock in Ayrshire, Leeanne eventually went to college which led to an NHS Nursing Assistant role. The OU’s flexible programme for healthcare support workers allowed her to study for her degree with costs for placements and study leave covered by the Scottish Government.
Mental Health Nurse
The Open University Scotland
"The OU course allowed me to remain employed full-time providing financial stability for my family whilst I was working towards my degree."
Lucy Barnes
Future pupil barrister
Growing up in poverty, Lucy had an extremely difficult childhood and went into care aged 13. At 16 all government support was withdrawn and she was forced to return to an unstable environment with her biological family.
Despite this, Lucy became the first in her family to achieve GCSEs. Then she attained the A level grades she needed to secure her place at Surrey in 2014 to study Law, where she thrived.
Lucy has since obtained a master’s in Law and grown a niche business in being a self-employed paralegal for barristers. Next year she begins her pupillage as a barrister. She’s also become an outspoken advocate for care leavers in the legal industry and beyond.
University of Surrey
“It took me years to integrate my past into my present life. Surrey provided the opportunity to begin that by accepting me for who I was.”
Paul Deal
MA History graduate
University of Bristol
Paul left school at 17 with four O levels. No one in his family had been to university: the expectation was that he would get a job.
In 1971, he became a trainee journalist. Eight years later, he gained his first editorship aged 25. He went on to edit two evening papers before joining the BBC’s Radio Newsroom in 1995 as a producer. From 2010 to 2018 he worked for Wiltshire Police.
After retiring he joined a University of Bristol access course studying the city’s role in the slave trade. Asked if he thought Paul had the potential to handle the MA course, his tutor urged him: ‘Go for it’. Paul started the MA aged 66 and graduated aged 70.
“After a working life wondering if I could cope at university, I am so proud to have gained an MA.”
Philip Rivers
PhD graduate
Queen’s University Belfast
Philip graduated with a PhD from the School of Law at Queen’s University Belfast in Winter 2023. His research focused on transgender activism in conflict and transition.
Tragically, Philip's dad Carl took his own life in July 2020, one week after Philip’s second year annual progress review for his PhD.
In August 2023, Philip passed his PhD viva with no corrections. It was a moment that, at times, Philip had not expected to reach and this made it all the more special.
After studying for 10 years, Philip is currently taking a break from research, but he would like to pursue a career in research and teaching in the future.
“My resilience and confidence have developed as I participate in activities I did not think were possible for a person from a single parent family.”
“At school and college, I’d never met anybody from outside the North West, but at university I met people from across the UK and was taught by people from across the world who had such different life experiences.”
Steph Rimmer
Richard Holmes
Creator of global anthem
Richard is a former model maker in the TV and film industry who was inspired to seek a new career after embarking on a product design course at York St John University.
He’s created Global Anthem, an award-winning Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) system used to break down communication barriers for refugees.
When Richard began volunteering at Refugee Action York (RAY) drop-ins at the university, he encountered a growing number of Ukrainian families and other refugees facing obstacles to overcoming the language barrier.
Using the product design skills and problem-solving mindset learned on his course, he set out to create a universally understood system of intuitive hand gestures to articulate basic human needs related to food, health and welfare.
York St John University
“When I decided to apply to York St John University as a mature student, I never imagined where it would end up taking me.”
SAna Rehman
BSc Criminology and psychology student
Royal Holloway, University of London
Sana Rehman is a third-year student studying Criminology and Psychology.
“Being the first person in my family to attend higher education, I’ve had to figure it all out on my own. Successfully overcoming challenges makes the university journey even more meaningful.”
Steph rimmer
Widening access officer
Edge Hill University
Steph graduated from Edge Hill University with a BA in English Language and is now a Widening Access Officer.
“At school and college, I’d never met anybody from outside the North West, but at university I met people from across the UK and was taught by people from across the world who had such different life experiences to me.”
Dr Suzella palmer
Senior lecturer
Suzella grew up on an inner-city estate. Her parents passed away when she was young and at the age of 14, she dropped out of school, became involved in criminal activity and entered the care system.
Having no qualifications and a criminal record, she struggled to find work and believed that university was beyond her capabilities.
Suzella moved to Luton after having children and embarked on an access to health and social care course to improve her career prospects, in which she gained a distinction.
She then began a criminology degree at the University of Bedfordshire. She achieved a First and, encouraged by her lecturers, went on to complete a PhD in Criminology.
Suzella now works as Senior Lecturer at the university, where she’s found that her lived experience adds value to her teaching.
University of Bedfordshire