GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER!
We are over the moon for Greenhead Alumna Jessica Gunning, who has added yet another incredible accolade to her growing collection!
Jessica picked up the ‘Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television’ Golden Globe Award last night for her role as Martha in Baby Reindeer, fighting off some fierce competition, including Dakota Fanning.
We couldn’t be prouder of Jessica and her journey to becoming a well-deserved, multi-award winning actress!
Over 100 Economics and Business students recently attended a talk by former Greenhead student, Chris Walker.
Chris is CEO of Asda Express and talked about his career so far, including senior roles at Lidl and Asda. Students saw theory brought to life on a range of topics, with real-life examples on efficiency, business growth and objectives from the supermarket sector. It was great to see a former Economics student having achieved so highly, and still using Economic theory he learned with us!
A2 student Shifa studies both Economics and Business A Level. After the visit, she commented
“I really enjoyed the talk yesterday and found it very interesting listening Chris’ career journey which opened my mind to different career paths I hadn’t previously considered. The application of economics in supermarkets was very insightful and provided me with examples of takeovers which I can use in my answers. Thank you Chris!”
If you haven’t yet seen Netflix’s latest sensation ‘Baby Reindeer’, then you have most likely heard about it.
Something you may not know, however, is that leading actress, Jessica Gunning, known for her outstanding portrayal of Martha in the hit TV series, is a former Greenhead College student!
Jessica studied Drama and Theatre, English, Law and Psychology here at Greenhead in 2002-2004, before taking up a place to study Drama at Rose Bruford College of Theatre.
Jessica has previously appeared in a number of films and TV series including ‘Pride’, ‘Back’, ‘What Remains’ and ‘The Outlaws’, and her latest show ‘Baby Reindeer’ is set to become one of the most watched shows on Netflix.
A huge congratulations to Jessica on her well-deserved success. We can’t wait to see more of her on our TV screens!
#GCAlumni
A prominent change to college life is the construction work that fills the old car-parking lot and entrance to the main building. However, in 2025, this construction site will have become a new, state-of-the art building containing labs, facilities for the subjects of Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, and Government and Politics, and study and social areas. While this is an exciting opportunity for our college, in the present, it is obscured by walls marking the perimeter. To grasp a greater understanding of this new-build, we interviewed Mark Dean, a Senior Design Manager at Galliford Try, and also a former Greenhead student, returning to his old college to improve education for future students.
After leaving Greenhead in 1985, Mark started his journey to becoming a Senior Design Manager at Galliford Try, and what he didn’t know at the age of eighteen was that he would eventually end up back in the place that launched him into his career. This new build is Mark’s first big scheme in the local area and he believes in this project to further improve the needs of education in Huddersfield. Although in his words it is “strange” to return, he is set to accomplish an eco-friendly building which will impact students in Greenhead, along with the local area, positively in the many years to come.
As soon as he finished college Mark was plummeted into the world of work at an architectural practice and also continued to study for five years part-time whilst working. Through his choice of the technological path of Architecture, he got a job at Kirklees Council as a Junior in the Architect department and was there for twelve years until he left to work in a private practice in Selby Bridge in 1999, where he worked for a further two years. Mark continued to expand his career and worked in another architect practice in Bradford for eleven years. Then he made the decision to use the knowledge he had built over his career, and establish his own company in 2011, where he worked for six years before becoming a Senior Design Manager at Interserve in 2016. This all led him to Galliford Try, which he joined in August 2021, and to our College where he has provided his own passion for architecture to the new build, and helped to plan for the construction of an environmental-friendly facility.
But what features will appear in the finished product that will help the environment in our local area? Mark offered us insight into the plans and measures put in place that will have a positive impact on our environment. Among these measures is 74000 kw of power generated by solar power, and in addition, the earth will be used to warm and cool the building, so there will be no gas boilers releasing carbon emissions into the atmosphere. Because the construction site has led to a large part of greenery being destroyed, four times as many trees and fauna will be replanted and there will be a green roof, ensuring the biodiversity criteria has been accomplished. The sustainable energy sources and natural ventilation will not only impact the college’s carbon footprint, but provide positive environmental impacts for Huddersfield, setting a high standard for the rest of the local area, and even the country.
Mark and the rest of team at Galliford Try, and those at the construction company MACE, have demonstrated that our college, and schools and colleges around the country can have sustainable, carbon-reducing buildings that will battle global warming, reduce our carbon-footprint and protect our environment. This ambitious decision will inspire future generations of students who want to go into a careers such as construction and building design. Mark offered us advise to give to those who are thinking of going into architecture, which he refers to as the “rewarding profession”. Architecture and similar careers, lend a chance to give back to the community, you can design something that will provide opportunities and positively impact the public. However, becoming an architect takes seven years of training, with hard work and effort to get where you aspire to be. Although, if you are passionate about building for people and the outside space, careers such as architecture provide opportunities to positively transform communities and the world alike.
Victoria Evans, formerly a student at Greenhead from 2003-2005, is currently undertaking a Guinness World Record attempt for the fastest female to solo row the Atlantic. She is aiming to reach Barbados in less than the current world record of 49 days, 7 hours 15 minutes. Victoria is using this challenge as a platform to shine a light on continuing gender inequality in sport and to raise £50k for the charity Women in Sport, the only organisation in the UK that researches sport purely from the perspective of women and girls, and who use the insight gained to instigate change through campaigns and partnerships. All of the money raised by Victoria’s dedicated Go Fund Me page will have a huge impact in helping to drive this change.
Further details can be found here, with details regarding fundraising here. Victoria can also be found on social media at www.instagram.com/seachangesport and www.facebook.com/seachangesport.
We’re thrilled to reveal that Greenhead College alumna, Brogan Crowley, has been selected to represent Team GB in the women’s skeleton event at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Brogan attended Greenhead College from 2010-12 and studied A Levels in English Language, Law and Physical Education, and an AS Level in Psychology.
Whilst at Greenhead, Brogan competed in the Heptathlon and won the English Schools 100m Hurdles. Brogan’s motto is ‘Don’t Give Up!’, which is amazing advice and has certainly served her well throughout her sporting career.
We send Brogan all our best wishes for success in Beijing!
Our very own GC Alumna, Nicole Bower, is celebrating as her heartwarming news article is published in the national press.
Her article shares the story of a 7 year old boy, Stanley, who was inspired by Marcus Rashford’s Free School Meals campaign, fighting for underprivileged children to have access to food during the holidays. Stanley, who starred in a recent advert for cadbury’s, has hand-written letters and delivered to his neighbours asking them to donate food.
Nicole, who studied English Literature, Politics and Modern History at Greenhead College from 2018-2020, is delighted to be able to share Stanley’s story and we are so proud of her success. Click here to read the full story.
Commenting on the article, Nicole, now a student at the Manchester School of Journalism, said:
“I saw a post on Facebook about the little boy sending letters to his neighbours for food in aid to help the free school meals campaign and spoke to his mum only thinking it would be a little story but the national paper ended up wanting it! Even though I don’t have a by-line I can still proudly say that I sourced, interviewed and wrote the story!”
“The advice I’d give to other students wanting to get into journalism would be just to be confident and know your stuff. This will come in really handy when wanting to interview people, even if you aren’t a employed journalist tell them that you are a journalist because anyone can actually be one, they will be more likely to speak to you then. You also have to show you are interested not just for the title but show that you are interested because you love doing it, write articles and stories on things you like, hobbies, reviews, this will all show to employers or universities that you really really want to do it. And especially, no story is too small, you never know where it might end up or who likes it!”
A huge congratulations Nicole, we can’t wait to see even more of your stories hit the headlines in the future!
Meet GC Alumnus, James Clare. James is Head of Technical & Facilities at Lawrence Batley Theatre.
Last Wednesday 30th September, Greenhead College joined thousands of other organisations around the country to light up the building red, supporting the national #WeMakeEvents campaign.
We have many alumni, including James, who have thrived in the events and arts trades and we recognise the importance of cultivating the next generation of talent within creative arts and playing our part in saving the industry.
The current Covid-19 crisis has impacted many jobs in the events and arts industries, including James’, and as part of the campaign we are reaching out to our alumni to comment on what they would be doing in their job roles right now and how they have been impacted.
Commenting on the impact of his job role, James said:
This time of year is usually our busiest, and I’d be working to coordinate all the shows coming to the theatre. I’d also be getting ready for our pantomime season in December (oh no he wouldn’t….).
Although we’re currently running a small season of socially distanced events, it’s nowhere near our usual output.
COVID may have damaged the larger industry, but it’s been lovely to see the smaller, grass-roots theatre companies taking their moment to shine and produce unique, alternative works.
If any GC alumni currently work in the events/arts industry, please email parts@greenhead.ac.uk and join the campaign!
#WeMakeEvents
We are excited to reveal that Greenhead College is preparing to light the building red, on Wednesday 30th Sepember at 8pm, in support of the national campaign – We Make Events.
We have many alumni who have thrived in the events and arts trades and recognise the importance of cultivating the next generation of talent within creative arts and playing our part in saving the industry.
Tom Mills, Head of Drama & Theatre Studies at Greenhead College said
‘As a Live Theatre and Music venue, as well as a hub for aspiring future creatives and artist, it is essential that we show unified support and solidarity with our colleagues and peers across the events and arts industries.
History has taught us that in times of hardship, events and the arts are our source of comfort, shared joy and community spirit. Yet history also teaches that they are always the first causality to government funding cuts.
We need events. We need the arts.’
We look forward to when we can open our doors and work with other art and events institutions across the country once more. In the meantime awareness, support and funding is essential to ensure the industries thrive again!
#WeMakeEvents #LightItRed
Emily, who studied Biology, Chemistry and Maths at Greenhead College from 2014 to 2016 before pursuing Optometry at the University of Manchester, has been announced as the winner in the Student of the Year category in the AOP Awards 2020, which is organised by the Association of Optometrists (AOP).
Emily’s award recognises her hard-work and dedication to Optometry. In her second year she was the Opsoc President where she organised study and support sessions for first year students. She is also currently the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) representative and a Senior Student Ambassador for the university. Passionate about volunteering, Emily spends her spare time taking groups of people with disabilities on fun days out. She says:
“It’s a great way to meet new people, gain new skills and find out things about yourself. It’ll help you meet people from so many different backgrounds which will help you in your profession and beyond!”
Speaking about her award win, Emily commented:
“Winning this award proves that hard work really does pay off. It is not only my award, but an award for absolutely everyone in optometry at the University of Manchester because they are so amazing and inspiring. It’s a real honour being a representative for them and a highlight of my university journey so far, and hopefully inspires other student optometrists to get out there and give everything their best shot.”
The Awards, now in its ninth year, recognises the highest levels of achievement in UK optics. The Student of the Year accolade recognises an optometry student, dispensing optician student or pre-registration optometrist who can demonstrate initiative and drive to improve their fellow students’ participation in, and awareness of, optical issues.
AOP Chief Executive, Henrietta Alderman commented:
“The AOP Awards shines a spotlight on the extraordinary individuals and teams who are propelling the profession forward with their knowledge, expertise, dedication and passion. This year is no different – with all the winners, and indeed finalists, giving an impressive account for optometry, I wish them every success in the future.”
