Meet our adventure and outdoor management students

With 25 years’ experience in outdoor management, Southampton Solent University are experts at producing knowledgeable and industry ready graduates.

We’ve been catching up with female students and graduates from our outdoor and adventure management programme,  finding out what they love about their course and where they hope it will lead them in the future.

 

Hayley Hawkins

What's your background?

I came from Kidderminster, having previously studied a BTEC in public services.

What’s your best Solent experience been so far?

Everything! From meeting loads of new people, powerboating, Skern Lodge and our course becoming like a family.

What's been your favourite part of the course?

Skern Lodge. It brought us closer together and we got to do amazing things such as the bridge jump!

Have you done any work experience?

Currently I have a part time job at Blacks. I also have a 6 week placement secured at Porthpean Outdoor Centre for the summer.

What are your career aspirations?

I want to take a year out after graduation to travel. Then, I’ll be enjoying instructor roles before working my way up to management.

Are you a member of any clubs or societies?

I’m currently a member of the climbing society.

What’s your best advice for a new recruit?

Make sure you get the work done in good time, listen to lecturer’s advice and always go to them for help when needed. Finally, be yourself!

Gemma Dengate

What's your background?

I’m from Kent and went to St Anselm’s school in Canterbury.

What’s your best Solent experience been so far?

Making so many new friends from my accommodation, course and societies – we’ve created a little family!

What's been your favourite part of the course so far?

Skern Lodge residential; trying new activities such as bridge jumping and a 180ft abseil; and getting closer to everyone on the course

Have you done any work experience?

I worked as an activity instructor at a Girl Guide campsite.

Are you a member of any clubs or societies?

I’m a member of the snowsports and climbing societies.

What are your career aspirations?

I’m going to go travelling for a while – there are plenty of places to explore seeing as I have come straight to university from school. I’ll also do Camp America, and then I’ll see where it takes me…

What’s your best advice for a new recruit?

Don’t be the one that does no work or the one who stresses too much about it. Enjoy the first year as much as you can as it won’t last forever.

Rhiannan Nogan

What's your background?

I came straight from St David’s Catholic College, Cardiff, Wales.

What’s your best Solent experience been so far?

Learning to surf at Skern Lodge and becoming a volunteer at Down to Earth Farm.

Have you done any work experience?

I did 3 months at Cape Lapland Hetta Huskies, helping to look after and train the husky dogs and helping with outdoor activities.

What are your career aspirations?

I either want to be a British Army Officer in the Royal Engineers specialising in diving or bomb disposal, or own my own business within adventure tourism.

What's been your favourite part of the course so far?

Extremely enthusiastic marketing sessions!

What’s your best advice for a new recruit?

Join the Solent Explorer’s Society in 2015/16!

Jasmin Hislop

What's your background?

I’m from Scotland, Perth, Glenalmond College.

What’s your best Solent experience been so far?

Skern Lodge, it really developed my knowledge of how a centre was run. It was also a lot of fun and a good experience to share with my course-mates.

Have you done any work experience?

I’m currently searching and have applied for a role with the National Citizenship Service this summer.

What’s your best Solent experience been so far?

Joining the sports snow club and going on the ski trip.

What are your career aspirations?

A management job in the adventure industry – I’m not sure what yet!

Alumni: Sarah Murphy

What's your background?

I originally came from Brockenhurst College, having studied a BTEC in outdoor activities prior to joining the course.

What was your favourite part of the course?

The dissertation, it was studying something I was passionate about (adventure therapy).

What was your best Solent experience?

Solent Rowing club – I met amazing people and was involved in both coaching the squad and competing.

Did you join any clubs or societies?

I was a member of the rowing club, holding the role of vice-president and ladies captain.

Did you do any work experience?

Whilst at Solent I undertook work experience in coaching for Southampton Watersports Centre and Storm Force.

What’s your best advice for a new recruit?

Jump on every new opportunity and experience what you can – it has helped develop my CV.

Where are you now working?

I’m a Senior Olympic Programme Administrator for the British Sailing Team.

What do you like most about the job?

I get to manage my own projects. At the moment I am organising and planning the sailing team’s attendance at a Eurosaf Championship Cup event next month. I have to research the event and the area to plan the logistics of transporting all our boats and equipment out to Palma, organise travel and accommodation for the team and work within a budget.

What’s been the biggest learning curve?

It has all been a learning curve really! However, the biggest learning curve has been managing and organising a big team of people. Organising training camps for 50 sailors, 10 coaches and 10 support staff involves confirming their attendance, making sure they all have accommodation and arranging proper resources.

Looking back – what part of the course has been most useful?

Researching- the course taught me how to research in-depth and analyse information productively.

Think you’ve got what it takes for a career in outdoor and adventure management? Find out more.