Stuart Wareham

What brought you to study at Teesside University?

The course was ahead of its time – the internet and email were just beginning to take off and I wanted to learn about something new and exciting. Plus, the open day was the best that I attended, the staff and students were great hosts on the day.

What was your course like?

It was very much an experimental course. It covered so many areas and subjects – TV and radio production, web design, business studies, marketing, physics, computer programming and graphic design. I have fond memories of using one of the first digital cameras that cost £1000 and now these are a part of our daily lives in the form of smart devices. I spent countless days in a TV studio, learning how to produce and direct – these are treasured memories.

What was the best thing about your course?

My class was relatively small and very much team driven and I made lifelong friends. The course was great as we never knew what to expect from one semester to the next.

What was your favourite module?

TV and Radio – it was sheer joy appreciating the behind the scenes complexities of something you’ve previously watched or listened to. To be creative and create something all on your own was thrilling. Working as a team and learning the different roles within production has carried through into my working career.

Where did you live when you were studying at Teesside University?

In University accommodation, which was affordable. It was amazing to be 18 years old and meeting people from all over the country, making new friends and discovering yourself.

What was your social life like?

I spent a lot of time in the Students’ Union. Nightclubs The Madison and The Cornerhouse were also old haunts. I was also in a student band and we did lots of gigs around Middlesbrough – it was so much fun.

What have you done since graduating?

When I graduated I returned to my home in Birmingham to decide my next steps. I took a sales job at PC World and realised I enjoyed working with people and managing customer relationships and that is where my career has taken me. I have worked in sales and account management primarily and have now worked in the IT industry for 20 years.
I work as an Enterprise Business Development Manager for Westcoast Ltd, an IT distributor that supplies Hewlett Packard Enterprise. I manage key relationships within our partner base and grow their business and spend with my employer.

Did your time at Teesside University help you to achieve your goals?

I look back on my time with great fondness. Teesside University provided me with the greatest of life experiences and I doubt I'd recognise the 18 year old who started freshers’ week in 1995. It gave me a platform and grounding to flourish and take on the world.
I still have a bunch of friends 20 years after graduation to swap stories with, which is testament to those years at university that are often the best years of your life – marriage and children make up the rest!