ME proves no barrier to graduate Emma

Despite suffering from debilitating ME, Emma Jobson won a national competition and secured a job while completing a degree at the University of Teesside.

Emma, 21, of Norton, graduates today with a BA (Hons) Retail and Marketing Management. She is now progressing to an MA in Marketing Management.

She said: “My dad Craig Jobson, who manages a leisure facility in Sunderland, had a good experience studying for his MBA at Teesside so I decided to come to Teesside.”

During her degree, Emma won a national competition run by the King of Shaves for its Hed line of hair products aimed at men. She beat 5,000 entrants with her suggestion of placing information about the brand on council leaflets used in Sunderland leisure centres.

Emma said: “I was working on reception at two leisure centres and knew that everyone else in the competition would aim at young people in pubs and clubs, so I tried something different. The company said it saw an upturn in sales thanks to my idea.

“During this time I had just been diagnosed with ME and was tired a lot of the time, sleeping 16 hours a day. But I decided it was a case of mind over matter. I had lost all my confidence, but my successes gave me my confidence back.”

Also during her degree Emma started to work part-time in a marketing position with Co-efficient Outsourcing Solutions, who help small businesses tackle accountancy and administration problems. She continues to work for them as accounts manager, helping new start up businesses and existing businesses with marketing planning.

Emma said: “I would definitely recommend Teesside. The course is great and the lecturers couldn’t be better, they really look after you.”

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