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Ellie Moore

Marketing - BA (Hons)

Explore Ellie's remarkable journey at BCU, where her pursuit of marketing excellence and resilience through personal challenges paved the way for a thriving career at Mitchells and Butler's.

“Before deciding to go to university, I took some time to experience different industries and explore what was out there to ensure I would enjoy whatever degree I chose. I spent a few years working full-time in various roles, but marketing always stood out to me. Being naturally curious and enjoying using my creativity while also embracing structure, I knew marketing was the right fit.

I conducted thorough research into which university I should choose, even going as far as creating a spreadsheet to weigh the pros and cons. During my research, BCU proved to be the clear winner for me. Coming from working full-time, I desired academics that had real industry experience, and the lectures at BCU had exactly that. Additionally, the location was perfect since I wanted to stay close to home.

Once I started with BCU, it exceeded my expectations greatly. The lectures not only taught me in ways I understood but also had a wealth of great experience I could learn from. The learning environment was so supportive, and there was someone to help me every step of the way. University became more than just a place to learn but evolved into a supportive community for me. 

One thing I loved about BCU was the Link Marketing Agency – this played a pivotal role in my career journey. The Link is a student-run, in-house agency that provides students with the opportunity to work with clients and gain real-life experience. During my time at the Link, I got to work on a live brief with the Bullring as my client – this experience was beyond anything a textbook could offer. In addition, I also got to partake in a professional placement year at Mitchell and Butlers in Media and Promotions – which threw me in deeper into the world of marketing. This placement gave me so much experience and an opportunity to apply what I learned at university.

However, university did not go without its challenges. My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer during my studies. This was an incredibly difficult period and could have easily taken a toll on my academics. For a period, because of my mum’s condition, I was not able to leave the house to prevent her from getting worse. I was isolated often, and this affected me in many ways. Thankfully everyone at BCU was supportive and incredibly encouraging during that time. And my resilient spirit allowed me to overcome this great difficulty. 

Fast forward a year or two, and I have now graduated. The journey from BCU to my current position is seamlessly facilitated by the theoretical foundation and practical experience gained during my time at the university. I now work once again at Mitchells and Butlers, I proudly serve in the central marketing team, where I actively engage in a diverse range of marketing activities. This position allows me to collaborate with different brands, presenting an exciting challenge every time. The multifaceted nature of my role keeps me on my toes and continually expands my skill set as Mitchells and Butlers have many sites and brands under it. I never stop learning.

I AM BCU means so much to me; it is not just a phrase; it's a testament to the pivotal role the university plays in shaping my professional journey and opening doors to exciting opportunities. The values and experiences at BCU have significantly shaped my identity and professional career, reinforcing the importance of community, learning, and resilience even during hardships in my career.”

Martin Svejda

Computer Research Degrees - PhD

After graduating with a first-class degree in Computer Science, Martin continued in further education and is now in his first year of research towards a PhD in Computational Neuroscience. He has also been able to start a career in his desired industry as a Senior Technician at the University. Amongst this he is able to help and support students, in the same way that his lecturers did for him.        

Pravjoth Gill

Business Management - BA (Hons)

Pravjoth’s hemiplegia cerebral palsy meant it was important to her to attend a university that provides the support she needs. Her time at BCU has given her much more. She’s created her own online disability-focused fitness and nutrition company, produced two podcasts, and raises awareness about causes she is passionate about both in and outside of her university life.

Kirie-Lea Cussen

Fashion Design - BA (Hons)

Kirie-Lea was having a difficult time dealing with post-natal depression, especially juggling it alongside University. Her personal circumstances also deteriorated, dealing with domestic abuse and later on having to uproot and flee home. Mentally the stress took a huge toll on her health, but with the support available at BCU, Kirie-Lea has become more confident and has grown as a designer.

I chose BCU - actually, the deciding factor for me was industry experience. It was making sure that the lecturers and the faculty and the staff that were essentially helping me start my career had actual, relevant industry knowledge. BCU have as a whole really supported kind of like my employability. I actually was able to volunteer with the Link Marketing Agency which is kind of like an in-house student-run marketing agency within BCU. That was a really, really good experience for me. I got to work with live clients within Birmingham. So within my first year, I actually got to work on a live brief at Birmingham Bullring, which was really cool personally. They've helped me to develop my confidence, they've helped me to develop my knowledge and also just kind of like my interests. They provided me flexibility when I needed it within my second year. Just like kind of getting a lot more comfortable. My mum, unfortunately, was, diagnosed with breast cancer. So a lot of isolation, a lot of treatment. And that personally was really, really hard, especially when you obviously tried to focus on doing a degree and also work part-time. Every obstacle I feel like could have happened has happened, but I'm glad it has because I think I am the definition of resilient. And I'm actually really proud to say that BCU were absolutely excellent when it came to work with my mum and the illness, I didn't even know extenuating circumstances were a thing. Being able to kind of like get extensions for assignments that I needed to at the time and just extra support, ask for help if you need it because BCU are there.