‘HSDC gave me the knowledge I needed to step up to university education.’ Jamie Neal came to Havant & South Downs College nine years ago. Now a Creative Lead at Trendjackers, he speaks about how his time at College kick-started his career.
Jamie began an HNC course in Business Studies back in 2009, however he admits that he didn’t always know where it was going to take him.
He said: “Before starting College, I was unsure about the career path I wanted to take. When I visited during one of the opening evenings, the lecturers listened carefully and recommended BTEC Business based on what my skills were and what I thought I would enjoy the most.
“During the course, my lectures at HSDC gave me a strong overview of the core areas that are important in business.”
Jamie left HSDC with the skills needed to succeed in Higher Education, as he went on to complete a Marketing degree at the University of Chichester. He now works across Portsmouth and London at company Trendjackers, focusing on multimedia content and creative advertising.
Looking back on his time at the College, Jamie has said how his experience at HSDC prepared him for the role he is in now.
He continued: “The course material helped me understand the basics of each respective area and gave a taste of the departments in a business. The lecturers were fantastic, they helped me throughout the course and boosted my confidence.”
And it wasn’t just the learning side of College life Jamie enjoyed. He added: “HSDC offered a very social experience as a student. Compared to other Colleges in the area, there was plenty of on-site facilities. And not to forget, the food from Courtyard Cafe, of course!”
And if Jamie was to offer any advice to future students? “Make use of the additional enrichment and extracurricular programmes that are available to you,” he said. “They give you that additional edge that you wouldn’t otherwise have.
“Use the wisdom and experience of the lecturers to garner insights of your chosen industry. Be enthusiastic, never miss a lecture, always turn up on time!”
For more information on our Business courses, click here. Or, you can read more about what our alumni are getting up to by clicking here.