{"id":24728,"date":"2024-02-26T11:52:16","date_gmt":"2024-02-26T11:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ounews.co\/?p=24728"},"modified":"2024-02-26T11:52:16","modified_gmt":"2024-02-26T11:52:16","slug":"with-the-ou-you-can-grow-academically-and-professionally-at-the-same-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/student-stories\/with-the-ou-you-can-grow-academically-and-professionally-at-the-same-time\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018With the OU you can grow academically and professionally at the same time\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Open University Psychology<\/a> graduate Andrew Newlands is founder and Managing Director of Monty Bojangles, the award-winning chocolatiers taking the confectionery market by storm. Having already scooped the prestigious King\u2019s Award for Enterprise, Andrew\u2019s brand of fantastical fun has captured the imagination of chocolate lovers across the UK and beyond.<\/p>\n

Andrew reflects on how OU study provided both sanctuary and inspiration as he developed his multi-million-pound business.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I registered with the OU in 2005, I was building a design and project management company,\u201d Andrew recalls. \u201cWhen you start a new venture, you don\u2019t know how it\u2019s going to turn out, so I wanted to make sure I had another career option that I would find equally satisfying. Psychology is a remarkable toolbox to take into the world. I knew it would equip me well for whatever I went on to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sanctuary of study<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With his business gathering pace and demands on Andrew\u2019s time piling up, he found sanctuary in his studies.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a creative, with deadlines looming, you\u2019re always under pressure to come up with something amazing.\u00a0 When there\u2019s a mental block, it\u2019s tough,\u201d Andrew explains. \u201cI found that OU learning gave me a safe place to retreat from the stresses of work, giving my brain time to escape and reset. Invariably, after a study session, inspiration would hit \u2013 it felt like essential catharsis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having designed products for several well-known confectionery companies, Andrew fell in love with the world of chocolate and set his heart on creating a brand of his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember thinking that the premium chocolate industry was becoming very serious, and I wanted to bring something different to the market,\u201d says Andrew. \u201cOur products have high-end credentials, but we never forget that chocolate is meant to be scoffed! Unwrapping your favourite treat is a moment to be cherished – at Monty Bojangles we respect that, and we\u2019ll never let you down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Skills for success<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Andrew\u2019s passion for his craft has delivered incredible results. Now a multi-million-pound operation, Monty Bojangles employs a team of people, who love what they do. Andrew shares the qualities he looks for when interviewing candidates for his business.<\/p>\n

\"The

The Monty Bojangles team along with The Mayor and Colonel Ray Wilkinson
Representative Deputy Lieutenant<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cAnyone who can demonstrate independence, autonomy and good time management has an advantage,\u201d Andrew explains.\u00a0\u201cI undoubtedly developed those skills throughout my studies, which helped me succeed in business. I\u2019m certain that I\u2019m a better project manager as a result of my time with the OU.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the best things about OU study, is that you can succeed alongside being a professional in another capacity,” Andrew adds. “I could feel myself becoming stronger, more confident and more capable with every year of study. I didn\u2019t have to wait to use those skills – I could apply them immediately, which is an unparalleled benefit of the OU.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andrew remembers a stand-out module, which still helps him navigate his personal and professional interactions.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiscursive psychology was just fascinating \u2013 it unlocked the wonder and power that words can wield,\u201d Andrew describes. \u201cIt had a profound impact on me and influences the way I communicate to this day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Andrew

Andrew celebrating at his OU graduation ceremony in 2011.<\/p><\/div>\n

Having graduated 13 years ago, Andrew reflects on how the OU\u2019s teaching methods prepared him for running a contemporary business.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor anyone who appreciates modern ways of working \u2013 not commuting, being flexible, having time for other commitments, OU study is a perfect fit. The OU pioneered it and the rest of the world caught up.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/h2>\n

Top tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n

No stranger to juggling the demands of a busy life with study, Andrew shares his top tips for carving out the time and headspace to succeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSet a level of attainment you\u2019re happy with – <\/strong>remember why you started out on this journey. It defeats the object to worry about every grade. When you love a topic, go deep, but don\u2019t give yourself a hard time when you inevitably hit something that feels challenging.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStart the process with realistic expectations<\/strong> \u2013 things will happen in your life that affect your capacity to study. I launched a brand, started a family and moved house during my degree. But with the OU, you can dial down the intensity when you need to, you won\u2019t find that level of flexibility anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCreate your own perfect study space<\/strong> \u2013 don\u2019t underestimate how much it can help to control your learning environment and this looks different for each of us. Be comfy, get the lighting and noise levels to your liking, make sure you\u2019ve eaten and enjoy the experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t think of a better way to unlock a new path <\/strong>– get yourself a killer qualification from the comfort of your own home, with the credibility of the OU brand \u2013 take it from me, that\u2019s priceless!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Open University Psychology graduate Andrew Newlands is founder and Managing Director of Monty Bojangles, the award-winning chocolatiers taking the confectionery market by storm. Having already scooped the prestigious King\u2019s Award for Enterprise, Andrew\u2019s brand of fantastical fun has captured the imagination of chocolate lovers across the UK and beyond. Andrew reflects on how OU study […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":24729,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[1525,1640,1643,2142],"class_list":["post-24728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-student-stories","tag-news-home","tag-ou-home","tag-ou-news","tag-student-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24728"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24728\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}