Kirsty Armstrong(English, Aberystwyth) works for the UK government in the Civil Service.
“I further developed analytical skills, the ability to understand and concisely convey information, and the ability to communicate clearly.”
Jillian Luke (English Literature: Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh) works in the Civil Service as Senior Advisor to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry.
“Studying English allowed me to develop the habit of independent and rigorous thought.”
Jake Collins is currently on a year in industry, working for Rolls Royce, as part of his degree in English Language and Literature (Sheffield).
“Being in the logistics department as an English student isn’t the ‘done thing’ so it allows for a fresh outlook and maybe approaches that I have learnt through the discipline that most others who work here wouldn’t have thought of.”
Charlotte Raybaud (English Literature, St Andrews) works for the global auction house Phillips.
“English equips you with the skill to find an ‘angle’. That was vital when it came to marketing and press tasks.”
After studying Classical Studies and English (St Andrews) and taking a Masters in English Literature (Sheffield), Charlotte Plews works in social research and international development.
“From teaching to business to diplomacy and beyond, English reminds us to remember the people who are impacted by our work and our words.”
Alfie Coates studied English Literature at UCL, before staying on to complete a Masters there, and is now a screenwriter.
“Reading and writing really quickly without sacrificing understanding/sense is super helpful for development work!”
Tom Barker finished in a Masters in Theoretical Physics at the University of Oxford in 2024, and is planning to go and do a PhD in that field. Below he tells us about what he gained from studying English Literature at A Level.
“I’m glad that I had a broader education at A Level compared to if I had only taken Science subjects. I have been asked about it in interviews in the past and people always seem impressed by it.”
Lucy Easthope is an expert on emergency planning and disaster recovery, advising on major events such as 9/11, Grenfell, and Covid.
“My work is all about words: how they are misunderstood, how they are used.”
Help us choose this year’s winners: shadow the English 4-11 Picture Book Awards
A fantastic opportunity to shadow the English 4-11 Picture Book Awards, ideal for those involved in primary education and interested in children’s literature We invite you to join us in helping us choose the winner of this year’s Margaret Mallett Prize for Children’s non-fiction, as part of the 2025 English 4-11 Picture Book Awards. Established…