Unsure of what career path to follow, Kaitlin opted to study Eastleigh College’s Enterprise Skills course which develops employability skills while allowing students to get a taste of a wide range of subjects.
The course whet her appetite for learning more about the travel industry and, after completing a Level 3 Travel & Tourism Diploma, she is now studying for an International Tourism & Hospitality Management Degree at Bournemouth University.
"I was home schooled, which worked really well for me but I was keen to take my maths GCSE which is why I first attended Eastleigh College’s open day.
“I decided to do GCSE English as well, even though I really didn’t like it much, and did a Level 2 Enterprise Skills course which looked interesting and touched on lots of different areas. I wanted to keep my options open.
“I was able to quickly move to a Level 3 qualification as the teaching is really personalised and the tutors won’t let you stand back. At the same time, they are really supportive; so experienced, knowledgeable and good at teaching. They made the learning fun.
When I first came to college I barely had the confidence to speak, let alone do presentations and things. They’ve really built my confidence and I don’t hesitate in getting involved in everything I can now.
“We took part in a Dragons’ Den style competition which challenged us to come up with a product idea, develop and market it. The enterprise course was a great opportunity to learn skills and get experience in various areas while I was deciding what I wanted to do.
“I never dreamed I would ever go to university and do a degree. I was surprised when I passed English with a grade 5; I think I did well because of the way Eastleigh College teaches core subjects through the courses themselves. For instance, when I was developing a Bath Bombs business as part of my coursework, I needed to use good English skills to communicate effectively for the marketing, and maths for the budgeting and forecasting.
“I went on to do a Level 3 Travel & Tourism Diploma, and continued to thrive in the ‘hands on’ style of learning at Eastleigh College. I decided this was definitely the industry I wanted to work in and benefited from a really supportive tutor and careers advisor while making my uni application.
"I'm exploring my choices of what to do after university such as working in a hotel as a resort manager or, perhaps, teaching. I’ve experienced first-hand how education can make such a difference to someone’s opportunities and would like to help do this for others in the future.”
Luke, Business Admin
Level 3 Diploma Business Administration
Luke used his Business Administration course to excel in a career as an Account Manager for a finance company, complete with his own company car!
Rachel - Accountancy apprentice
Level 2 Accountancy | Levels 3 & 4 Accountancy Apprenticeship
Rachel was steered to study A-Levels but soon realised she would do better in more work-focused education, and now she's thriving in her chosen career.