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Two talented former Bury College students have been recognised with prestigious Greater Manchester Colleges Alumni Awards as part of the GM Colleges Festival of Technical Education. The Festival celebrates the region’s technical education offer, connecting young people to careers, employers, and training pathways through virtual and in-person events. T Level graduate Holly Clarke and Hair Professional Apprentice Lucy Hardman were chosen as winners in their respective categories, celebrating their achievements since completing their studies at Bury College.
Both students have used their skills to progress their careers, with Holly progressing to university, and Lucy starting her own business.
Holly Clarke studied the T Level in Education and Childcare at Bury College, choosing the existing teaching pathway after developing an early interest in the sector through her health and social care studies at high school.
Since completing her T Level, Holly has progressed to Manchester Metropolitan University, where she is now studying for a degree in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Looking to the future, Holly is aiming to specialise in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), a role she is passionate about pursuing.
“Moving on from university, I want to become a specialised teacher in special educational needs and disabilities,” she explained.
Reflecting on her time at college, Holly spoke of the strong foundation her course provided, both in theory and in practical experience.
“I learned a lot of skills throughout my two-year course, my primary skill that I utilise most is the in-depth knowledge of theory I gained from both in and out of classroom work,” said Holly. “I think it gave me a real foundational knowledge for what I want to do in the future, and it's really a great way of understanding about education and how it's such a complex subject.”
She added: “I think being both in the classroom and on placement really gave me that structured approach to how education runs, and it gave me plenty of opportunity to put my classroom knowledge into practice. And I think it really helped me on my degree so far.”
Holly returned to Bury College to receive her award, sharing her pride at being recognised.
“I am beyond proud to come back today to Bury College as their official Greater Manchester College Alumni award winner.”
Lucy Hardman completed her Hair Professional Apprenticeship at Bury College and has since gone on to successfully launch her own business, Lucy Hardman Hair.
Lucy spoke about how her mum inspired her to pursue in a career in hairdressing.
“I wanted to do this apprenticeship because my mum's a hairdresser and I want to go down the path she did,” Lucy said. “I also wanted to do an Apprenticeship because you're working on the job as well.”
Lucy praised the support of her tutors and the realistic, industry-standard environment at college.
“The salon at college reflected a real salon, which helped, and we cut actual girls’ hair, not just dolls heads. We did a lot of colour experiments too,” she explained.
“Before my apprenticeship I was at school, and the transition was a lot easier than I thought it would be. It was better than school because it's something I wanted to do more... The tutors at college were really helpful, particularly Melissa, she was a star and helped me with all sorts of aspects of the course.”
Her time at college also helped her grow personally and professionally, particularly in areas such as confidence and resilience.
“While I was doing my apprenticeship, my confidence just grew and grew over the months. But also, alongside that, I have built on my resilience, dealing with difficult situations and clients.”
With 100% attendance during her time at college, Lucy has carried forward a strong sense of commitment and professionalism into her working life.
“I believe, if you’re always dedicated to your role, and keep your commitments to your clients, you’ll have success and build your confidence in your professional skills.”
Congratulations to Holly and Lucy on their well-deserved awards. Their journeys are shining examples of how dedication, passion, and the support of Bury College can lead to exciting opportunities and fulfilling careers.
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Two former Bury College students have won Greater Manchester Colleges Alumni Awards. T Level graduate Holly Clarke and Hair Professional Apprentice Lucy Hardman were recognised for their impressive achievements since leaving college, showcasing the skills and ambition nurtured during their time at Bury College.
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