Glen Kelly

What brought you to study at Teesside University and what was your course like?

I grew up in Middlesbrough and the University has a strong local presence so it was a natural step for me.

My course was challenging, engaging and rewarding. The first year core modules gave me a great foundation for the next two years where I got to choose my own modules and follow a learning path bespoke to my own interests.

Throughout my studies there was a perfect balance of classroom-based seminars, lectures, group work and independent projects – all of which play an important role in the learning process.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

Group projects were a highlight as I made a number of friends on my course who I will stay in contact with for life. In one group project we interviewed the Pro Vice-Chancellor about the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). We then created a presentation for University directors containing our advice on key strategies that we believed would most benefit the University as the new TEF was introduced.

I particularly enjoyed the e-commerce, organisational psychology and digital marketing modules. Companies using technology to innovate and sell products and services online are so interesting and it was great to examine case studies exploring this. I also loved learning about the culture of different e-commerce companies and what retail and e-commerce might look like in three to five years.

Did you complete any work placements?

I took a summer placement at Leonard Cheshire Disability in Marske-By-The-Sea through the University. I loved it. I had six weeks to plan, organise and execute a fundraising event for the charity to bring in vital funding for the service users.

I chose a live outdoor concert for families to come along and enjoy, which involved sourcing multiple bands and artists, hiring bouncy castles and food vendors, all sorts. I even got late Middlesbrough celebrity, Alistair Brownlee to come down and open the proceedings.

The event was a great success – it raised a significant amount of funding for service users and received coverage in several local news outlets.

This was a really fun placement and I gained valuable experience collaborating with multiple local businesses, residents and media outlets and managing a large workload in an efficient manner.

It's a great scheme by the University and I highly recommend it to anyone who's free for a summer.

After I graduated the University’s careers service placed me on a three month internship at Sarabec Limited in Middlesbrough. The support from the University’s careers team and the on-site specialist recruitment team, Reed NCFE was brilliant. Reed NCFE must be one of the best services like it in the country. I’ve benefited tremendously.

What was your social life like?

I worked as the events co-ordinator at the Students' Union throughout my studies, helping to organise and promote huge events like the Final Fling, Dirty Disco and the Nightmare on Southfield Road Halloween event. It's no surprise that the Students’ Union is so highly regarded nationally, it’s a fun, safe and friendly environment and a real gem for students at Teesside.

I captained the Men's Football Team 2nds, which I absolutely loved and made friends for life because of it. I was also a member of the Teesside University Technology and Enterprise Club.

In my final year I worked as a warden in the University’s student accommodation – it was brilliant. I made a lot of friends, stayed in great accommodation and got paid.
I also worked as a student ambassador during my time at Teesside – this provided me with great contacts, great experiences and a great income whilst I was studying.

What have you been doing since graduating?

In my final year of University I launched my own digital healthcare company, Leanplan. Using the knowledge I acquired from e-commerce modules and my own personal learning, I built the website and began providing exercise and nutrition programmes to customers online.

I won the 2017 Entrepreneur Challenge organised by Teesside University Students’ Union Enterprise, which came with over £1,800 in funding. I've been supported by a number of North East stakeholders, including the North East Social Enterprise Partnership and Teesside Launchpad. I've pitched for capital investment from angel investors such as Mercia Technologies and FW Capital. I was also awarded a Digital City Fellowship grant of £2,000 to help towards more bespoke website development.

I love running my own business and it gives me the perfect opportunity to apply the knowledge that I acquired throughout my course to a real-life business environment.

I’m due to start a new role in the University’s Academic Enterprise department as an Enterprise Europe Network Project Officer, which I am very excited about.

I loved my time at Teesside University. I’m absolutely certain that I would not have achieved the things that I have without the support of Teesside University.