The Old Pocklingtonian Old Pocklingtonian 2017-18 | Page 6

CAREERS AND AWARDS
FIRST CLASS
HONOURS
Congratulations to the following OPs who
have recently gained first class honours. Their
names will be added to the honours boards in
the Music School (Assembly Hall) as a lasting
record of their achievement.
Rachel Allison (08-13)
BA (Hons) Politics, Religion and Philosophy
University of Birmingham
Ellie Furby (07-14)
BA (Hons) Business Management
Northumbria University
Hayley Harrison (08-15)
BA (Hons) History
and the David Luscombe Prize in
Medieval History
Sheffield Hallam University
Emma Hawcroft (04-11)
MA Translation
University of Bristol
Emma Hutchinson (03-14)
BA (Hons) Ancient History and History
Leeds University
Faye McFarlane (07-14)
BA (Hons) German and Chinese
Nottingham Trent University
CAREERS AND BUSINESS
NETWORK
As reported in the last magazine the Pocklington
School Foundation has launched a new Careers
and Business Network to help support current
and former pupils as well the wider school
community. The network is open to parents
past and present, staff and supporters, and OPs,
with the aim of sharing advice and expertise to
help each other thrive in a highly competitive
world. The network has been developed with
the support of the OP Association, who have
been offering careers and mentoring support to
former pupils for a number of years.
For the launch event which was held at
school, OP Martin St Quinton (65-75), now
a renowned businessman and Owner and
Chairman of Gloucester Rugby Club, shared his
thoughts on what has inspired him throughout
his career.
Martin, who attended Pocklington School from
1965-75, started a private office equipment
company in 1980, not long after leaving Durham
University. He sold it to Danka PLC in 1993
and served as CEO of Danka’s International
Operations until 1999, acquiring over 50
companies in 30 countries over that time.
In 2000, he founded Azzurri Communications,
which grew to 700 staff and £150 million
turnover. Martin was named Ernst and Young
Technology Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003.
Ellie Stephenson (06-14)
BSc (Hons) Agri-Business Management
and the Garfield Weston Prize
Newcastle University In 2008, he acquired a 40% stake in Gloucester
Rugby, and acquired the remaining 60% stake
in 2016, taking over as Owner and Chairman.
He also spearheaded the successful fundraising
efforts for Cheltenham Racecourse’s £50m
redevelopment.
Sophie Stuart (05-12)
MPharm
University College London A keen sportsman, Martin has also served on
the board of Hull City FC and Epsom Downs
Racecourse.
In a question and answer session, Martin
spoke about how much he had enjoyed his
career, how he would advise people to try
and persevere if you have a business idea you
believe in, and to focus on working in a sector
you are really interested in. He told how he had
made mistakes along the way but said the most
important thing was that he had learned from
them. He also stressed the importance of having
a trusted business network, as a sounding board
and source of advice.
Guests at the launch, also heard from Julie Good,
Governor, Gillian Jones, the school’s Careers &
University Advisor and Trevor Loten (70-80),
OP President.
Subsequent Careers & Business Network events
have taken place in Leeds and London.
At the Leeds event in March, the focus was
on family businesses with guest speaker
Christopher Oughtred, former Chairman of the
sixth generation family business, William Jackson
Food Group (WJFG).
WJFG is a food business, which trades through
five subsidiary companies and was founded
in 1851 at a grocery store in Hull. Christopher
is the great, great grandson of its founder
William Jackson. In 2017, WJFG won the Ernst
and Young Family Business Award for Excellence
in the UK.
Christopher is a Life Patron and former Chair
of Governors at Pocklington School and was
a founder trustee/director of the Institute for
Family Business. He has also chaired a Financial
Times Masterclass about family business.
The networking event, which was attended
by a mix of former students, current and former
parents of Pocklington School, was held at the
offices of Schofield Sweeney LLP in Leeds city
centre. Kindly arranged by Old Pocklingtonians
David Strachan (67-77), Adam Hastie
Robert Sullivan (02-13)
BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science
Loughborough University
Wesley To (07-14)
BA (Hons) Business and Management
Durham University
keep in touch
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(L to R: James Sweeting, Sheena McNamee, Trevor Loten, Mark Ronan)
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