Ashley’s Scored a Bull’s Eye

Ashley Briggs’ scored a bulls-eye in his return to education, for the mature student is graduating this week with a Higher National Diploma (HND) from the University of Teesside. The 39-year-old from John Street, Great Ayton, achieved distinctions throughout his two year, part-time course, and is being awarded the RMC Aggregates Northern Prize at his graduation ceremony.

Ashley is a keen darts player and captains his local team, The Royal Oak. He works for the External Funding Unit within the Regeneration and Economical Division of Stockton Borough Council. Here Ashley assists in the process of advising Council Departments and private and voluntary bodies on applying for external funding like European and Lottery funds. His employers funded Ashley to study for a HND in Business Information Technology to further his knowledge of business management and computer systems.

He said: “The course built on my existing knowledge and has given me greater potential to progress in my career. The University’s facilities were good and I was particularly impressed with the computers in the Learning Resource Centre. All the part-time students got on very well on the course and worked productively together in group work exercises.”

After leaving Stokesley Comprehensive aged 17, Ashley achieved a Higher Certificate in Building Studies and the Chartered Institute of Builders certificate at Darlington College of Technology while working as a Planning Surveyor for Shepherd Construction in Darlington. He has also achieved a Certificate in Management Competence from Teesside Tertiary College whilst working at Stockton Borough Council.

Ashley said: “In total I spent 15 years outside education, before beginning my HND at Teesside. It was a culture shock for the first couple of weeks, but I soon got used to having to study again. I felt self-reliant, and sacrificed much of my free time to learning”.

Ashley is very grateful to his wife, Jan, and children, Sammi, 10 and Jo, 7, for all their support and encouragement.

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