This mature student quit her job, took the plunge and applied to university at the last minute through Clearing.
And now proud Nichola Wilding has gone from working in McDonald’s trying to make ends meet to graduating with a first class honours degree in Accounting and Finance from Liverpool Hope University.
This time three years ago Nichola, now aged 50, was stuck in a rut.
She’d hit a brick wall with her full-time job, working in the payroll and pensions department for St Helens Council, and felt like her career was being held back.
As a mum to a teenage daughter, Nichola even took on extra work at a McDonald’s restaurant in Warrington in a bid to secure additional income.
But in the summer of 2018 she took the difficult decision to quit her full time job and do something else entirely - go to university.
And having spent the last three years gaining a qualification which unlocks a new - and well-paid - chapter in her career, she’s urging others to follow suit.
Nichola, from Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, says: “In my old job, I felt like I couldn’t get any further than the level I was at. I was at the top of my pay grade and couldn’t get past the salary bandings. I went for so many promotions but nothing ever came of it.
“When I look back now, I probably wasn’t right for some of those roles. But I felt desperate at the time. And in the end, I started working in McDonald’s three shifts a week, on top of the full-time job at the council, because I just couldn’t afford to live. It was just so hard.
“In the end, after a year of doing that, and having missed another chance for promotion, I thought to myself, ‘What am I doing here? I’m absolutely done. I’m leaving, and I’m going back to university. I’m going to finish what I’ve started’.”
Nichola’s education journey began when she left school aged 16 with very few qualifications. She eventually gained important GCSEs, as well as a BTEC in Health and Social Care, at a local college in her mid-20s.
And between 2008 and 2011 she also studied for her Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification, which acts as the foundation of a career in accounting.
She went on to work in various accountancy and HR roles at the Council for more than a decade.
But there was one big problem - because she didn’t have a degree, there was always a barrier to her progress. And that also meant being stuck on a wage that left her frustrated.
Nichola, who now plans to study for her Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) qualification to really unlock her salary potential, says: “After I quit my job at the council, it’s fair to say I was absolutely terrified, particularly about money.
“The thought of going to university as a mature student was also really daunting. But my family and friends were completely behind me, telling me, ‘Just do it’, and that was a big factor in my decision to ultimately take the plunge.”
It was in July 2018 that Nichola came to Hope via Clearing - a system that lets prospective students explore their options and search for courses that still have availability.
Nichola, who hadn’t previously applied in the traditional way through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), said: “I was really late to apply, and kept thinking, ‘I’ll never get in, it’s no use’. But Liverpool Hope University got back to me straight away - and it all felt as if I was meant to be at Hope.”
While Nichola says she was the oldest in her class, she soon made friends and also praises the support and guidance she received along the way from all facets of the University.
That help was particularly important to Nichola, as she has fibromyalgia, a long-term condition that causes pain, fatigue and mental ‘fog’. She says Hope supported her every step of the way, providing access to things like mentoring support and technology, study skills sessions, extra time in exams, and she was also able to record lectures.
She adds: “Everyone was so helpful, all of the time, going out of their way to help me. I also had a great rapport with my tutors, who I felt always went the extra mile to look after the wellbeing of students.”
And just the fact that Nichola was studying towards a Degree had an instant impact on her professional life.
When her employers at McDonald’s discovered her university ambition, they moved her from the restaurant to the franchise’s head office in Warrington so she could work on their accounts - not simply serving food and clearing tables.
That part-time accountancy role at McDonald’s, which she had throughout her studies, could now go on to become a full-time job.
And speaking about her newly-qualified status, Nichola adds: “I’m so relieved, and I’m so happy. It’s been an awesome learning curve, I had a fantastic time at University, and I’ve met some amazing people along the way.
“I hope I’m also setting a good example for my daughter, who has seen me work hard, study and ultimately progress. It’s been a long journey, but I feel like I’ve made a real difference to my own life.
“And I really could not have picked a better university to go to.”
For everything to you need to know about applying to Liverpool Hope University through Clearing, as well as details about the ‘Priority Pass’, head to: www.hope.ac.uk/clearing