Richard Howarth is studying the BA (Hons) Business and Management course at Leeds Business School. Richard shares his experience of his time so far and what it’s like studying as a mature student.

Course: BA (Hons) Business and Management 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you chose to study your course?

I grew up in Cumbria and half-heartedly interacted with my education, reducing my options as I had not attained grades for university. With Cumbria having few employment opportunities, I chose to sign up with the Royal Navy at the age of 19. I spent eleven years travelling the world in the Navy, participating in operations, and developing a strong work ethic until the government redundancies caught me out in 2012.

After eight years, I moved to Leeds and entered the security industry as a stop-gap job, which I am still in. Finding jobs that suited my skillset proved difficult as many employers asked for a degree as a prerequisite. After hearing those words far too many times, I decided to put myself forward and complete a degree and got accepted at Leeds Beckett.

What have you enjoyed most about the course?

I like the mix of online and face-to-face lectures as it gives you more flexibility around working. Also, meeting new people and making friends, I am 39, and most students I interact with are 20-23, but I’ve been able to relate in some ways to my academic peers. 

The course is excellent, it has a good variety of modules. I really enjoyed the Future Focus, Management for Sustainability and Business Performance Management modules, as they were the most challenging in many ways and different to the other modules. The Future Focus module was very theoretical but had lots of freedom in how you wanted to approach it.

Another highlight from this year’s modules has been reacquiring my confidence in presenting, which was essential in my job role in the Navy. This skill had been unused for years, and seeing myself gain confidence in this area again has been pleasing.

I have enjoyed acquiring new knowledge the most. I already have some experience from my travels.  I also have family experience from being married and raising two boys and being a Security Manager, but gaining knowledge on the how’s, why’s and when’s has been valuable and interesting in equal measures.

What are your plans for when you graduate? 

The information gained through my two years of study has inspired me to alter my approach to many things in my professional life and encouraged me to begin seeking alternate employment in a different industry. 

I am also considering undertaking a master’s in the near future.

What would you say to someone who is thinking about studying your course? 

For those who really want to go to university but worry they are too old, I would say age doesn’t matter and go ahead and do it!

I have a job and work 12-hour night shifts with a minimum of 44 hours per week. I have a wife, and two kids, with lots of Lego and a pending soapbox/go-kart construction jobs from them.

I have been able to mix all these roles together and so far, it’s been manageable. I will not deny that the Café staff inside the Business School know my intake and timings of coffee way too well, but if I can put myself through this, then other potential mature students can too.

I am so glad I enrolled onto the course and yes it’s hard sometimes but I have really enjoyed it. Even with being out of the education system for 20 years, I attained a First overall in level 4 and I am on track for a First in level 5.