Anna Garrett

Current Employer/Organisation Name

BCHA

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

When I left Exeter I moved to Italy to teach English for three months. Then came back to the UK and began looking for permanent work. I started working for BCHA, a housing association in Bournemouth, in their Employability and Skills department. I was initially employed as a project worker with their NCS team- helping to run youth programmes for young people aged 15-17. My main role was to recruit seasonal staff and to provide pastoral care for young people on programme. After six months, I was promoted and now I jointly project manage the NCS team as the programme leader. My role now is hugely varied and involves programme design, recruitment of seasonal colleagues, liaising with external parties and suppliers and managing our budget.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I started working with the NCS team because I wanted to do something that played to my strengths working with young people that I gained from previous roles. I enjoy the variety of my role and having to solve problems and working with a wide variety of people. I enjoy working as part of a team that is motivated to look after young people and to help them move forward in their futures.

What did you enjoy most about studying here?

I made amazing friends at Exeter and met my partner so that would be the highlight of studying here.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I chose to study at Exeter because the University had such a strong, well established reputation which has helped me in my career since leaving. I was immediately drawn to the green setting and spent a lot of time at University at the beach or enjoying the countryside with various societies.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

The skills I have gained that have been most useful in my career have been, communications and interpersonal skills, an ability to work to deadline and to solve problems creatively.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Get all of the experience working with young people/ children that you can, preferably in a variety of roles. Different challenges come up everyday so the more prior experience you have to draw on the better.

What are your plans for the future?

I would like to move away from working with under 18s and to follow the project management element of my role. I would like to gain more qualifications for my CV and to look at moving into larger scale projects.