Have you undertaken any kind of further study since leaving Bedales and have you gained any further qualifications?
Post Bedales, I went travelling for one year and then I went to Leeds University to study for a BA in Chinese and Management obtaining a 2.2. I have since then continued with Lancaster University in a completely different field - PG Certification in Energy from Waste - I will be taking this on as a MSc next year...
What kind of work are you currently involved in, and how and why have you come to be doing it?
I am currently working within a new business up in Chester that focuses on the following objectives:
- Development of biological solutions for the waste industries
- Development of solutions that optimise current energy from waste / anaerobic digestion systems
- Development of new "paradigm shifting" technologies that see to guarantee global energy security from sustainable sources.
I love it! I very smugly can say that I dream for a living!
I came about doing it quite randomly...after I graduated, in truth I was uncertain on where my focus should lie (the 2.2 came as a bit of an ego-slap). I fell into recruitment focused on China; I did pretty well however I was recruiting for the market research industry focusing on "how to make people consume more", which went against all of my principles. I left and began recruiting for a boutique firm (I was team mate number 3) recruiting for Private Equity firms focused on Renewable Energy development projects in Emerging Markets - much more like it. The premise was that (as the renewable energy industry was where I wanted to get into) I would make it my market focus whilst I continued my studies.
Energy from Waste seemed the most logical emerging market to focus on as we are a very wasteful species and nothing is really effectively being done at present.
Following my accident (1 year ago in 2 days!) - I completed my studies and whilst in hospital, I had the opportunity to explore my bubbling venture idea: eliminating the costs that hospitals have to pay for eliminating hazardous medical wastes by selling the waste handlers technical machinery that can turn the waste into a fuel alternative and therefore generating a revenue in doing so and also securing a medical waste input as they can afford to charge a handling fee that is much less than the existing medical waste disposal costs. One of my friends recommended I speak with who, is now my current boss, who was focusing on similar "blue sky" projects across the sector. I did and the rest is history :)
I am in the process of setting up 5 different businesses (in the SR) - each with a 1-client revenue generation range of £300,000 - 1,000,000.
As it is a start up, there is still a lot of risk involved. However I think I joined at the right time as I've fast become an invaluable asset across a number of functions within the business. I can say I learnt this versatility and independence from Bedales.
Did attending Bedales help you in getting to where you are now and how satisfied are you with what you are doing?
Without Bedales, there is not a single chance that I would be who I am nor where I am today. Its quality of education was strong, however the life and communication skills it provided me are just as equally important. I take pride in the fact tha I am a highly personable and confident individual. Bedales was definitely the best platform available for me to safely and confidently explore myself.
Have you been involved in any other interesting activities or occupations since leaving school?
Working with my mother's charity [Key To Freedom] - have a look... it is getting a lot of positive PR at the moment: keytofreedom.org/