After leaving CCS in 2011, Alice Bennett (2004-2011) went onto study History at Southampton University. Her dissertation focused on country house management, and volunteering during school holidays helped secure her first job at English Heritage as an Assistant Retail Buyer. This led onto working for three years with the charity in various departments, but barely using the specialist knowledge of her degree, "I once worked closely with a lady who thought the Yellow Submarine was a WW2 vessel!" 

While studying for her degree Alice was aware that there was always an attitude that Humanities students don't become leaders in the world of finance.  Therefore, her expectations were limited when she applied for Nationwide Building Society's fast-track project management programme. Following a mini-breakdown in the staffroom toilets and multiple rounds of gruelling assessment, it came as a surprise to all that Alice was offered a place on the elusive scheme. 

Far from shunned, the skills from Alice's degree came to be highly prized assets at Nationwide. Through (a lot of) hard work and determination, she has been fortunate enough to be involved with a range of projects from Digital mobile applications to taking the lead on the Brexit programme of work. Alice declares "Did I ever expect that I'd be overseeing the implementation of Anti-Money Laundering regulation into front-facing services when I left Campden? Goodness no!" 

Alongside Project Management Alice is also a passionate writer, having developed a large fanbase for her style of British humour (often seen as a "real-life Bridget Jones meets Fleabag"). She's working on the manuscript for her first novel and has completed a creative writing course from the London School of Journalism. Alice says "I would whole-heartedly encourage everyone to set career and personal development goals, my interests outside of work have opened so many doors for me over the years. Long may it continue". To read Alice's Blog please www.MyHousematesAMermaid.com and Facebook MyHousematesAMermaid.