Dan’s wheels of success keep going round

Dan Trotter has professional sporting ambitions. The second year Higher National Diploma (HND) Business and Marketing graduate from the University of Teesside is hoping to become a professional cyclist, thanks partly to £1,300 from the University’s elite athletes’ bursary scheme.

The bursary has allowed Dan to quit his part-time job, giving him more time for training. The money has been spent on items such as wheels and shoes.

Dan, 20, from Redcar, has been cross-country mountain biking since the age of 11, and is now hoping to win his ranking within in the top ten in Britain.

Dan said: “I became interested in the sport through my dad’s influence and enthusiasm for cycling. My parents, Glenn and Ann have really encouraged me to do well.”

Dan competes in BUSA competitions and attended last November’s National Track Championship in Manchester, where the University team came third overall, first in the Olympic Sprint and fourth in the Team Pursuit.

The HND was also an enjoyable experience. Dan said: “I really enjoyed all the modules, particularly Information Analysis, as I like figure work. Business Law and European Law are also interesting and whole new concepts for me. I’ve never studied Law before, looking at its effects on lives and businesses.

“I’m glad I chose to study Business and Marketing, they’re very wide subjects and give you varied career choices. The Lecturers are really interesting and treat you with respect.”

Dan has just finished the HND, and is continuing his studies at the University by enrolling for a Business-related degree. Thanks to his HND Dan can go directly onto the second year of the degree. He added: “The course has a wide range of options and that helped me decide to continue.”

For more information on the HND in Business and Marketing please call 01642 342807 or check the University of Teesside’s web site at www.tees.ac.uk

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