Alex, 36 - Head of Business Development

I work for an amazing social enterprise called GoodGym. I get to travel around the country finding ways to fund and set up new GoodGyms - ways for people to run and volunteer to help older people at the same time. My job is to make GoodGym as big and brilliant as possible.

A-levels

English, History, French

Degree

French
British Institute in Paris (Didn't graduate)

How I got to where I am now

After utterly failing at university I tried a number of different things

First I worked in suit hire, then I was a trainee taxman, then a tax consultant (hated that), quit that job and did some telephone fundraising before heading home and getting a job at the local council

Then spent the next 10 years in local councils doing lots of different policy and strategy jobs during which I found out about GoodGym

Then I joined GoodGym and became Head of Business Development and I love it.

My big tip...

Every time I've not been happy in a job, I've taken a risk and tried something new. I've never regretted it. Whatever you choose it doesn't define you - university is just one step amongst many you will take.