Pay onlineLucy Clough
A part-time master’s at Teesside enabled to Lucy to consolidate her knowledge and helped her current and future development.
MA Human Resources Management
'The course leader and teaching standards were outstanding.'
I’d initially planned on becoming a PE teacher so my first degree was a BSc (Hons) Sport Science at Teesside University. But I was offered a career at McDonald’s. Having started as a crew member in Middlesbrough, I became a trainee manager, working my way up to restaurant manager, operations consultant (equivalent to an area manager) and then into regional human resources.
After three years in that role, McDonald’s gave me the opportunity to study a formal human resources qualification. Teesside University was the perfect choice – its MA Human Resource Management curriculum matched my needs and I could study on my doorstep. Teesside University served me really well first-time around and it came up trumps again.
I chose human resources as it fitted with my work role. And studying at postgraduate level allowed me to achieve the necessary depth of theory and thinking. The course leader and teaching standards were outstanding.
The best part was being able to study part time – I got excellent support from my tutors and fellow students. Both really helped me manage my work. The biggest challenge was balancing the workload as all the tutorials took place in one day. Access to reading materials, resources and course module guides really helped me save time, managing the workload in the best way possible.
My master’s qualification has certainly helped my career – I’ve been promoted to national training manager. And it’s allowed a greater and wider understanding of all areas in human resources and training so I have the potential to work within and maybe progress in either discipline. It’s been really worth it – a real quality development over two years sustained support and resources.
Outside of work, I’m married to David and have two children. Andrew is 12 and Alice is 5. In my spare time I run for North York Moors Running club – I’ve completed ten marathons in recent years.
