Join the Bede Sixth Form College Team

Tell us how you came to be in your profession at the Etc.:

I studied Marketing at Teesside University, graduating in 2004 and knew I wanted a long career in my field. I have since been the strategic marketing lead at a number of big employers across the Tees Valley, in sectors including Renewable Energy, Construction, Oil & Gas and Manufacturing and it was while working for Nifco that I started to engage with local schools, sharing my own career journey and helping young people to raise and achieve their own aspirations – I knew than that I wanted to continue with the marketing I knew and loved but within education. The role at Etc. came up in 2019, I applied, interviewed and the rest, as they say, is history – the job is so rewarding, you can see the impact that our colleges have on our communities and no two days are ever quite the same.

What I like best about Etc. as an employer is:

Etc. is one of the most supportive employers I have ever worked for – whether that is career progression, additional learning, health & wellbeing or just general understanding of life circumstances. There is also a strong sense of autonomy and encouragement to be proactive – meaning we get to make decisions, have impact and own the outcomes.

What does ‘Etc.’ mean to you in 3 words:

People, community, fun.

Tell us how you came to be in your profession at the Etc.:

I have worked at Bede Sixth Form College since 2005. I was hired for maternity cover of A-Level Media Studies. This post was made permanent the following year, where I was also asked to deliver Film Studies.

In 2007, I launched the Music Technology course at the college due to my background in the recording industry. In 2013, I became a manager at the sixth form and was responsible for student recruitment, safeguarding, teaching and learning and the pastoral programme.

In 2022, the opportunity to become College Principal presented itself and I immediately put myself forward for the role which I was successful in securing. In my first year as principal, I oversaw the addition of a £2.4m annex to our existing building allowing the sixth form to accommodate almost 1000 students over the coming years.

What I like best about Etc. as an employer is:

The staff and students are the biggest reason why I have stayed for so long. There is variety in each day and I am surrounded by staff who want to make a difference and students who want to create the best possible opportunities for themselves.

What does ‘Etc.’ mean to you in 3 words:

Approachable, successful and caring.

Tell us how you came to be in your profession at the Etc.:

I taught Maths at a secondary school (11 to 16 only) for 20 years. I have always wanted to teach A-level Maths and Further Maths. I’m very lucky to have got that opportunity at Bede, which is my local college.

What I like best about Etc. as an employer is:

The relaxed atmosphere around college makes it an enjoyable place to work. I find the students to be respectful, polite and hardworking. Other members of staff are friendly and fun to work with. I feel that a lot of decisions made at Bede genuinely take staff wellbeing into account. I love the 10am starts which mean on most days I can drop my daughters off at school and still have time to go to the gym or for a swim before lessons start. I also really like the fact that any meetings we have are held before lessons start so we can finish promptly on these days. It makes planning family life much easier.

What does ‘Etc.’ mean to you in 3 words:

Achievement, Wellbeing, Enjoyment

Tell us how you came to be in your profession at the Etc.:

Having enjoyed media studies in both school and college, I decided to study Broadcast Media Production at University and successfully graduated with a 1st Class honours degree. I then worked in a variety of roles including an internship as a Graduate Project Assistant at Arc in Stockton, a Film & Media Producer and then moved into a Social Media Assistant role where I started to gain more knowledge and skills in marketing. I started at the Etc. in 2016 as a Marketing Officer in the Business Development Team where I put myself through a Level 4 marketing course along with a range of leadership and management qualification to upskill myself which has successfully led me to the position I am in now as the Marketing Team Lead for the group.

What I like best about Etc. as an employer is:

What I like best about Etc. as an employer is the support for progression within the group. During my time at the Etc. I have gained a promotion from Marketing Officer to Team Leader and have also been supporting in studying a range of qualifications including a Level 2 in Team Leading, a Level 5 Management Apprenticeship and I was successful in joining and completing the first cohort of the Etc. Leadership programme. As I continued to work my full-time job alongside these qualifications, the Etc. allowed me time to attend lessons and my line manager supported me throughout every process, allowing me to shadow her to see what is involved in the next step of my career.

What does ‘Etc.’ mean to you in 3 words:

Opportunity for growth.

Tell us how you came to be in your profession at the Etc.:

Having spent a number of years at the group previously, and thoroughly enjoying my time here, I was excited to see a vacancy that I could apply for. I immediately thought, “I would love to return to where my journey started”

What I like best about Etc. as an employer is:

I love the strong sense of community here, and as someone who works across the group, I truly appreciate how we all come together for a common goal. It’s inspiring to see everyone united in providing quality education for our local communities. Being part of a team that shares this commitment is incredibly rewarding.

What does ‘Etc.’ mean to you in 3 words:

Empowerment

Collaboration

Inclusion