Brian’s pinnacle of learning

Brian Brown left school at 15 to start work as an apprentice electrician for the National Coal Board (NCB).

Over 40 years later he has achieved a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Teesside University after five years of part-time study.

Brian, 59, from Murton, County Durham, said: 'At school I didn’t have the opportunity to sit the 11 plus or sit O levels later on as a secondary pupil. There were no choices and it was foregone conclusion I would go down the pit. 'Receiving this doctorate is the pinnacle for me and now I’m managing director of my own company. People really need to believe in education and development for themselves. It does pay dividends. My life shows it’s never too late, it’s all about lifelong learning.' Brian worked as an electrical engineer for the NCB for 19 years, and gained his first taste for learning with an Ordinary National Certificate in Electrical Engineering. He followed this with a foundation course in social sciences with the Open University, which included economics, politics and third world study. Brian said: 'I really tested myself with the course. I could see that it was possible to go back to college and it was a passport to my first degree at Durham University.' He took redundancy from the NCB to study for a degree in social and public administration at Durham, and then joined Durham County Council as a social worker. Brian was seconded from the council to York University, where he achieved a master’s degree in social work. He progressed through various roles at the council, including staff development officer and team manager for social work. Brian then moved to managing the newly launched SureStart programme, setting up the initiative for Easington, Peterlee and Seaham. This programme achieved both national and an international award from UNICEF for excellent achievement, presented by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair.

He followed this by working as strategy manager for the development of extended services in schools for the Sedgefield locality, then to head of services for the Child and Family Courts Advice and Support Services (CAFCASS). his post was for the whole of the North East Region. In 2011 Brian launched his own management consultancy, BB Associates. Brian added: 'I’ve always sought out new challenges. I look for the next challenge on the horizon and have never followed a particular career path. The doctorate was demanding and tested my commitment to achieving but I can now carry what I’ve learned into my own business, particularly in leadership and change management.'

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