Forever Keele 13
retouch and deliver the final assets
to all of our global channels and
platforms. The assets are used for the
life-cycle of the product, all around
the world in advertising, print and all
digital platforms. I’ve been involved in
some really exciting campaigns, with
advertising being used in international
airports and magazines such as
Harper’s Bazaar.
fond memories. One of the girls and
I came for a drive around campus
a couple of weeks ago, it’s certainly
changed a bit since we graduated, but
fundamentally looked the same, sun
shining and students milling about.
After graduating from Keele what
led to your current career?
After graduating I contracted for a few
months before working at Bentley,
where I initially started in after-
sales marketing as a contractor for
six months. As my experience and
knowledge of the business grew I
progressed from coordinating printed
collateral and events for after-sales,
through to now where I project manage
film and photography for our major
product launches. By working hard and
having the determination to succeed
I’ve been able to work in some really
cool places, from the USA and South
Africa through to Chile and Bolivia.
During my time at Bentley I have
undertaken a Chartered Institute of
Marketing Diploma and successfully
completed two internal development
programmes.
Working for such a well known
company must be exciting, how
do you feel about your inspiring
progress since university?
I am immensely proud to work for
Bentley and without my varied degree
from Keele University, I probably
wouldn’t be where I am now.
How has your course helped you in
your career?
My Marketing modules at university
made me realise 100% that’s where
I wanted to be, creating desire and
action to purchase products. The
only question was where did I want
to go after university, this was quickly
answered when I thought about the
type of industry I wanted to work in -
luxury, closely followed by automotive.
Where else is more fitting than
Bentley?
What are your favourite memories of
studying at Keele?
I met some truly fantastic friends at
university that I still see regularly now
(even though a couple are in Australia),
nights out at the union, photocopying
journals at the library, Keele Hall and
the lake, and Horwood D block are all
three years of working in the industry
in London, I decided to return to New
York, much more ready for the city than
I was before, with a full working Green
Card. After two months of landing back
in the city and a couple of interviews,
my agency placed me in front of Ralph
Lauren and I secured an Assistant
Menswear Designer position, for the
woven shirts team for Purple Label
dress and sports shirts and Polo dress
shirts.
Working for such a well known
fashion label must be exciting, how
do you feel about your inspiring
progress since university?
Victoria Reay-Scott is a menswear
fashion designer for Ralph Lauren
in New York. Victoria graduated
in 2008 with a degree in Marketing
and Education.
After graduating from Keele what
led to your current career?
After I left Keele, I went straight back to
London where I’m originally from and
worked as an Events Coordinator for
the Institute of Chartered Accountants
England & Wales in the city. Although
I very much enjoyed my time there, I
knew it was never for me. It was just
before my two-year mark there that I
decided to leave everything behind and
actually pursue my dream of becoming
a fashion designer. It had been my
dream since I was little so I applied to
Parsons The New School of Design in
New York and got accepted. I went on
to study womenswear fashion design
and fell in love with it as I always knew
I would.
After graduation, I actually went back
to London and worked in the industry
for three years. It was there that I
transitioned into the menswear side
of the industry, which was the best
move I made. At this point I took a
short course, in the evening, at Central
Saint Martins in Menswear Portfolio
Design to give me a starting point at
building my menswear portfolio. After
I’ve come a long way since university.
I am very self-critical and I’m the
first one to judge myself and come
down hard for not doing enough, or
wanting to achieve more, but as I sit
here writing this, it makes me realise
just how much I have achieved since
graduating ten years ago. I am now
following my dream, the dream I had
since I was six years old and living in
the city I’ve always wanted to live in
since I first came to visit. It hasn’t been
easy and the fashion and creative
industry for that matter is brutal and
extremely competitive, but I’m here
and I’m doing it, every day.
How did your studies help you
decide what you wanted to do as a
career?
Everything I’ve done has helped me
realise and achieve what I do today,
and while my course at Keele didn’t
directly lead to the career I chose, I
believe it did cement my passion more
to get into the creative industry.
What are your favourite memories of
studying at Keele University?
My favourite memories of Keele… are
of the friends I made, crazy fancy dress
nights at the student’s union, and being
so close to Alton Towers!
If you would like to share your news, especially
if you would be happy to feature in a University
publication or would like to take part in a careers
event or initiative, please let us know by contacting:
alumni.hq@keele.ac.uk