For Alice, returning to education as a mature student was a challenge – but with the support of her tutors, she was able to balance studying with starting a family and building her own business.
After studying Sport & Exercise Science at UCS, Alice went on to become the Owner and Founder of Iron Ladies Fitness, a female-only gym in the heart of Somerset.
Returning to education
Coming back to education as a mature student wasn’t something Alice found easy. Alongside completing her degree, she was also starting a family and working towards opening her own business. Balancing everything at once meant that having the right support around her was incredibly important.
Alice says the support she received from her lecturers helped her manage the demands of studying and gave her the confidence to keep going.
With their support, Alice was able to complete her degree while continuing to build the foundations of her future business.
Turning her degree into a business
Alice’s experience at UCS helped her develop the knowledge and confidence to take her next steps in the fitness industry.
She went on to establish Iron Ladies Fitness, creating a female-only gym with a clear purpose:
It was about creating a space for women to bring their children if they want, wear what they feel comfortable in, and be supported by other women.
For Alice, the gym is about more than exercise. It is about creating a community where women can feel comfortable being themselves and support one another.
Alice’s advice
Rae is now an Operational Development Engineer at EDF, where she continues to develop her career within the nuclear industry.
One of the things she enjoys most about her role is the variety. Rae says that her job can be very different from one day to the next, while her role has continued to develop over the years.
Her experience demonstrates the opportunities that can come from combining higher education with real industry experience.
Rae’s advice
Alice’s experience shows that returning to education doesn’t have to mean putting the rest of your life on hold.
With the right support, it is possible to balance studying alongside family, work and other commitments while still working towards your goals.
Her journey is a reminder that being a mature student doesn’t have to be a barrier – it can be the beginning of something completely new.
Find out more about Sport at UCS
https://www.somerset.ac.uk/study/subject-areas/sports-coaching-exercise-health/