Understanding and Meaning: A Journey to Clinical Psychology

I’ve always been driven to understand people and situations better. While at Merchants I volunteered with the school’s Listening Service and the Stroke Association – these gave me the opportunity to use my curiosity about others to support people. I loved Biology with Mrs Fairburn, and Politics with Mr Cox. These subjects allowed me to appreciate the complexity of our world, and the chance to start developing an interest in the scientific method, and think about how larger, social / systemic factors impact on our lives. Following from this, it was Psychology that I settled upon for university. Psychology has a basis in scientific understanding, with strong theoretical underpinnings; it also offered me the potential to develop into a career in which I might be able to help others too.

It’s been a long process to finally qualify as a Clinical Psychologist – the academic demands (undergraduate, a master’s and then a doctorate) can seem to take forever! Each step has been varied and fulfilling – I’ve worked with many different people, been part of lots of interesting teams and made amazing friends along the way. Most recently, since I qualified, I took up a post in a Drugs and Alcohol Service in Middlesex.

The role of a Clinical Psychologist varies hugely. In my current job an average week involves: conducting an evaluation of the service, supervising the work of colleagues, working with clients in individual and group settings, and delivering training. I have the opportunity to help people to address their drug and alcohol use directly, but also to support their development of ‘recovery capital’ – the resources that will help someone to recover from drug use. With this in mind, I work directly to support people’s mental health, relationships and parenting skills. I work as part of a team of Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Nurses and Psychiatrists, and together we are able to support most aspects of a person’s recovery – we also link up with voluntary organizations wherever possible.

While at Merchants I had the opportunity to understand some of what I wanted from life, the values I held, and what careers might be able to achieve this. Psychology has given me one way to achieve these values, and as such is both challenging and rewarding.

Dr Fiona Glenn (2002 Leaver)

I left Merchant Taylors’ in 2000 achieving 10 GCSE’s and 4 A levels in Economics, Geography, Design, and General Studies. I also gained a good grounding in many extracurricular sporting and cultural activities, CCF and playing rugby being the highlights. The school provided me with an excellent all around confidence for the world ahead of me.

I decided to study Town & County Planning at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. I had always had a keen interest in how the places we live are shaped. I considered that on a small Island with limited land and an ever growing emphasis on sustainability there will always be a need for planners. I graduated in 2005 with a BA Honours Degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Town & County Planning.

I was fortunate to graduate into a buoyant economic climate, the construction industry was booming and it wasn’t hard to find a job. Having had quite enough of the North East winters I migrated South and set up my own planning consultancy in Dorset. I spent the next 2½ years moving around different local authorities gaining valuable experience in the local government sector. The jobs involved determining planning applications, visiting development sites, liaising with developers, politicians, and interested members of the public.

The benefit of a planning career is that there are many different sectors. For example you can specialise in, Urban Regeneration, Environmental, Law, Historic, Retail, Public, and Private. Upon my return to the UK from a year off travelling I decided to get some experience in Environmental planning and secured a job with the Environment Agency (EA) in 2008. The EA is the government’s advisor on Flood Risk, Contamination, and Sustainability. My job entailed liaising with landowners, developers and local authorities to influence development plans and development proposals to incorporate environmental policies and enhancements. I spent another 2 ½ years in this job before the recession started to bite on public sector budgets.

After 5 years in Local Government organisations I had gained enough experience about how the planning system works and in 2011 decided to move into the private sector to gain experience in the House building Industry. I knew that the recession was going to come to an end soon and with growing populations and the serious lack of building for the previous few years, this industry was going to revive.

I secured a job for Churchill Retirement Living, the largest privately owned retirement housing provider in the UK and a Times Top 100 company. I currently work as a Senior Associate in the Planning Department and have responsibility for the South West Region. My job involves liaising with the land department to buy development sites to suit the companies’ requirements. I then lead a team of consultants to prepare planning applications to secure permission for retirement housing.

My latest project to achieve planning permission in Dorchester – 40 flats for people over 65.

The number of people aged 65 and over in the UK is set to grow from 10 million now to 17 million by 2033, with households aged 65+ accounting for over half of new households in the future. This is going to be a growing industry.

Planning gives you the chance to protect the environment, improve the economy, to work in local government, to travel overseas, to work for yourself, and be a vital part of a large private firm; to be part of those decisions which work towards a more sustainable world.

For more information;

http://www.rtpi.org.uk/education-and-careers/planning-as-a-career/

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency/about

http://www.churchillretirement.co.uk/planning.html

Simon McFarlane BA (Hons) DipTP MRTPI

I began my career by analysing football statistics for The Times newspaper’s Fink Tank column. After I graduated from Cambridge in 2005, I was keen to use my passion for Experimental Psychology (the subject in which I specialised) in my career. Psychological football research was a good short-term option.

After 6 months, I was craving a clear career path. I moved to Innocent Drinks, falling into Supply Chain management. I was responsible for planning production for the entire 1-litre range of smoothies to optimise their supply. Within Innocent’s fantastic fast-paced entrepreneurial environment, I spent two years soaking up a wide range of business insight. I also spent four months in Hamburg, helping to establish Innocent’s presence in Germany.

My Supply Chain career subsequently developed through roles at L’Oreal and Danone, this time partnering with customers such as Tesco to manage demand for products, rather than their supply.

I realised that I would never be completely fulfilled unless I returned to psychology. In 2010, I decided to take a risk for my long term career; I speculatively investigated Business Psychology careers – moving away from what had made me successful to date.

In 2011, I began a year’s internship at YSC, a global Business Psychology Management Consultancy based in Covent Garden. I also began an evening MSc course in Occupational Psychology. Looking back, this was the best career decision I made.

I am currently a Senior Consultant and Head of the Research Team. My work specialises in the assessment and development of individual and organisational leadership potential and capability. I work with senior executives from FTSE100 organisations through one-to-one interviews and coaching. I am fascinated by my work and would encourage others to follow their passions.

Matthew Atkinson (2002 Leaver)

A Career in Sports Management

During my years at MTGS, I loved sport, especially tennis and skiing. I never imagined, however, that after a decade in hospitality, I would end up working in International Sport. I joined the Headquarters of Athletics – the IAAF (www.iaaf.org) based in Monte Carlo in 1994.

For those considering Sport Management as a career, yes, it is quite glamorous travelling worldwide and living in luxury hotels, though most weekends are spent working or flying. In 2009, I spent 116 days travelling. The key qualities required, in addition to a passion for sport are: versatility and flexibility, a capacity to work long hours to tight deadlines, an ability to remain calm and target-focused to manage the high pressure of the job and of course language skills are a plus.

I spent 16 years as IAAF Event Manager, overseeing the organisation of Athletics at all the Olympic Games and World Championships in Athletics and have had the privilege to meet many great athletes such as Sebastian Coe and Usain Bolt.

In July 2010, I was appointed Director of International Relations for the 1st Winter Youth Olympic Games, Innsbruck 2012. The first edition of this new event aimed to inspire youth to compete internationally in elite sport and to learn the significance of participating while sharing cultural experiences with new friends.

Rosie Pili 1979 Leaver

Old Girl Cara Henderson has beaten off fierce competition to win Best Student in the National Women in Property Awards.

Cara has completed 2 years of a Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management degree at the University of Central Lancashire which will lead to her charter with RICS and is currently on an industrial placement year with Redrow in North Wales

She won the regional title for Best Student from the Women in Property in March this year and has now been successful at the national level where she was selected from the best of the best.

There were nine regional contestants for the national award which culminated in a formal interview panel followed by a black tie dinner for over 250 people at Claridge’s in London where the excited Cara was announced as victorious.

Women in Property was launched in 1987 to enhance the profile of women in a sector in which women only represent 15% of the workforce

As well as the prestige of the award itself the ex-Crosby student has won a cash prize to assist her in furthering her studies and developing her career.

The contacts that have been made through this esteemed win will give her a springboard for her career as several companies are keen to offer her posts after she completes her degree.
Cara said, “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am! It has been a really interesting and inspirational process for me. Winning the regional award has simply been a fantastic experience and now the National one too!”

Cara Henderson

“Brothers in Law”

Kevin Durkin started at MTS in 1992 and was swiftly followed by his younger brother Jonathan in 1998.

They left in 1999 and 2002 respectively and went on to graduate from John Moores University with an LLB in Law, before progressing to post-graduate diplomas in Legal Practice from the College of Law, which they also attended at Chester. With both gaining their LLB and PGDLP qualifications, they went on secure training contract positions with law firms located in the city centre of Liverpool.

Kevin has now progressed to becoming a Solicitor-Advocate and Director of Michael Lewin Solicitors Limited over in Leeds, specialising in claimant litigation, whereas Jonathan is a second year Trainee Solicitor at Husband Forward and Morgan Solicitors in Liverpool, specialising in private client.

Whether Jonathan continues to follow the same path as Kevin across the Pennines, upon qualification as a Solicitor, remains to be seen…

Kevin Durkin (1992-1999)

Jonathan says of his time at Merchant Taylors’:

I am one of the few that has a comparison to Merchants: I was a pupil at De La Salle Croxteth for my first year of secondary school. Ever wanting to follow in my brothers footsteps, as does any 11 year old boy who has an older brother in their teen,. I spent most of that first year at De La Salle studying throughout the evenings so as to ensure I passed that entrance exam. It was one of those satisfying moments when hard work and determination pays off! I must also thank my parents for their encouragement during that time.

I think it was the fact that I had to work so hard to get to here made it a little extra special. I knew, even at that young age, that this school was a wonderful opportunity to build the foundations for my future on. Merchants’ has given me so much: sports, friends for life, academics and now at this age business contacts. But I think most importantly the attitude that if I worked hard then I could achieve anything I wanted. It is definitely the reason I’m a Trainee Solicitor. That and possibly that two of the Senior Partners here at Husband Forwood Morgan, Ian Fisher and Jonathan Davis, are Old Boys also. We like to look after our own?

However it appears that destiny has not changed and I am still following in my brother’s footsteps. Although who knows what the future holds… Durkin & Durkin LLP?

Jonathan Durkin (1998-2002)

Old Boy and Director Guy Unsworth (1998-2005), has won ‘Best New Musical’ with his show Fresher The Musical at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year. The show won the award at the Musical Theatre Matters/What’s On Stage awards.

The hilarious musical, which ran for 24 performances, charts the arrival of Baz, Ally, Tuc, Rupert and Haley, five fresh-faced teenagers, at start a voyage of self discovery as they enter the world of university. Not only was the show given Best New Musical by a panel of industry professionals, it was also nominated for Best Lyrics and Best Music. It received four 5* reviews, six 4* reviews and was rated the number one musical by The List (through official review averages).

Reviews called the show ‘hilarious’ (The Guardian). The Scotsman describe it as having “All the makings of a real Fringe hit – and a show that runs the risk of giving musicals with silly, attention-grabbing titles a good name” and Maria Hodson of The Stage said “Guy Unsworth’s dynamic direction ensures fluid transitions between script and song, maintaining momentum on stage and the appreciative audience is swept along by the show’s good-humoured exuberance.”
Southport born Guy said: “We redrafted the show 24 times before the final product: sometimes a new scene or new song would arrive at the beginning of a day with a performance in the evening to a paying audience. It was at times an excruciating process but ultimately a very productive experience.”

Guy, who is now based in London, originally completed a degree in Industrial Economics at the University of Nottingham. He started off acting on the side, before taking up directing student shows. In his final year, he had already decided he wanted to work in the Theatre industry after directing a play called ‘Proof’ which was shortlisted for the National Student Drama Festival Finals. The play won 6 of the 12 awards, competing against the 12 other finalists and Guy won the Directors Guild award for Best New Director and Stage Electrics Award for Best New Designer.

He went on to do a year at Mountview Academy Theatre Arts doing a postgraduate diploma in Theatre Directing. Since then Guy has been working freelance, directing and teaching undergraduate students at drama schools.

“My work has ranged from directing casts of 32 young actors in a musical, to three middle aged actors in a modern play, or 13 American Students in a classic play. It changes all the time, that’s the fun of it.”

The acting bug started early for Guy who was involved in school acting in West Side Story with many of his close friends, including Chris Cooper and Bex Hinds who are now in the industry too. (“I’m just waiting for an opportunity to work with them.”)

“I won the Mellor-drama prize in my final year, which I remember was somewhat embarrassing. At speech day it was as if I’d won the prize for Melodrama – probably not too far wrong to be honest.”

Guy was heavily involved with the Southport Dramatic Club, cast in Margaret Mann’s Pantomime when he was only four. He claimed he got the part because he was so upset that his sister was in it but he wasn’t, a tactic which probably wouldn’t continue to serve him well. He was in about 30 shows between his first and turning 18. “SDC was a huge part of my childhood, and without them I can’t begin to imagine where I’d be today. The Youth Theatre at the SDC is second to none. I frequently wish I could work in a theatre as good as the Little Theatre Southport – venues in London’s West End are dingier, very expensive, and harder to get audiences to! Stephen Hughes-Alty, Robinb Hirsh, Judith and Arnold Gorse, and Margaret and Ray Mann to name but a few, played such a huge part in my experience there and continue to thrust their enthusiasm and expertise into the life of that building and its youth theatre.

Ultimately Guy’s plans for the future are to build up my work. He says he’d love to do some more work in the North West regional theatres so that his home friends can see it without travelling too far. “There are some very exciting plans in the pipeline including big names and big theatres, but I’m keeping my mouth shut for now…Watch this space…”

John Lewis – “A better place to work”

The great thing about retail is that we never stand still, so no two days are the same, especially in a co-owned business such as John Lewis. Recently I have been in India supporting the business expansion plans, I have also been driven at speed by a world champion Horse Carriage Driver (as part of our work to combine sport and leadership development), and then I have celebrated our 18% profit sharing bonus announcement with my team. So you can see why I really enjoy my work!

Retail provides a wealth of choices if you have ambition and I worked across a number of roles/shops before becoming Personnel Director in 2008. The common thread in John Lewis is a passion to make a difference, to the business and those working in it.  I take great satisfaction from leading the function that is responsible for ensuring we have a Partner (employee) environment which sets us apart from other organisations. This is based on the principles of our founder Spedan Lewis, who believed in ensuring the happiness of Partners, which then drives a more successful business model.

My Personnel Team are key to this success, through the learning and development opportunities we provide, the input we give to business planning and through enabling our expansion plans by opening new branches.  The accolades John Lewis has won over the past year for outstanding Customer Service reflect the personnel strategy to develop and support Partners to be the best they can be. However, we will not be resting on our laurels as we constantly seek to improve our business whilst still ensuring John Lewis is a different, and better place to work.

Laura Whyte (nee Brown) 1971-1977

Learning to Lead starts at School by Professor Sharon Turnbull (1970-76)

Writing this article has cast me back many years to the exciting seventies when I was at MTGS. In my memories I am often in the old library where I first found my passion for books, or sitting in the front row of the classroom, curious for learning and asking the difficult questions. (I have never given up this trait!). Most importantly, I remember the wonderful and often eccentric teachers who dedicated their lives to helping us to develop our inquiring minds, as well as our values and character. These teachers undoubtedly sowed the first seeds of leadership capability in our fertile minds, trusting the process, despite rarely seeing the long term results of their efforts. Together, we learned to share knowledge and debate ideas – skills that I have valued every day of my life since.

My career has followed many unexpected turns. A language degree led me to a job as a graduate trainee with an airline. From there, I moved into Human Resource Management at an airport, then a manufacturer, and a retailer. When finally frustrated with life in the corporate world, I decided to become an academic and to study organisations and management in order to teach others. Today, as Director of the Centre for Applied Leadership Research at The Leadership Trust I talk to many managers about how they first learned to lead. There is no doubt that this journey is very powerful when it starts at school. For me this is certainly true. My years at Merchant Taylors’ gave me one of the most precious and highly valued gifts that I could ever have wished for – the gift of self – confidence. At MTGS, through the many opportunities on offer to take early responsibility, I built the self – confidence that has carried me through my career and has been an essential foundation for my life.

Sharon Turnbull

Christine Liu (2000 Leaver) – Freelance Broadcast Journalist, Sky News, London

It was actually a careers questionnaire that I filled out at MTGS which helped me realise I wanted to get into journalism. After a disappointing work placement at a PR company, I arranged my own work experience at the BBC. They advised against a journalism degree and told me to study something I enjoyed and would do well in.

So I took up physics at Imperial College, London and maintained my interest in journalism at the student newspaper, TV station and hospital radio. After that, I did a year-long postgraduate diploma in Broadcast Journalism at City University. I was lucky enough to win sponsorship from the BBC, which paid tuition fees and included more work placements, which really helped my fledgling CV.

My first job was at Russia Today, an English-language news channel based in Moscow, which started up just as I graduated. I lived & worked in Russia for two years before being persuaded by colleagues who’d left Russia to move to Al Jazeera in Qatar – that led to two years in the Middle East.

When I finally got homesick, finding a staff job in London was tough. But through more ex-Russia Today colleagues, I secured freelance work at Sky News and have been there for almost 5 years. I also do freelance work for Al Jazeera in their London Broadcast Centre, and have worked for ITV London and Bloomberg business news.

My advice for getting in to journalism: get as much experience as you can, be it paid or voluntary.