On Monday 8 March, Richmond upon Thames College (RuTC) celebrated International Women's Day 2021 together with staff, students and alumni.
The College's Student Services Team created a collage, titled 'My Whole Self', featuring photos of female members of staff. Added to the photos were words to describe themselves to show aspects that others might not know or would be surprised about and are now displayed around the College. Descriptions ranged from 'mother', 'sister' and 'carer' to 'scuba diver', 'goal keeper', 'upcycler' and much more.
In addition, RuTC hosted a virtual event with a few of the College’s alumni to talk about their college time, experiences and career paths. Sherwin Mauro, RuTC Catering alumna who met virtually with our students a couple of weeks ago for a Q&A session, worked in several Michelin Star Restaurants and at BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) since studying at RuTC. Working in top level positions in the catering industry can be intimidating, especially since it can often be a male dominated industry. However, Sherwin’s passion for cooking and the confidence and skills she gained from her time at RuTC brought her to where she is today.
Austin Sharp studied Plumbing at RuTC and now runs his own business, WeFix, in Teddington. He frequently comes back to speak to our students, saying, "When I was a student I remember employers talking to us; it always filled me with a sense of confidence that, if I put in the work, I can achieve what they have too." His company WeFix supports RuTC students by offering work experience, and over the years Austin has employed several female apprentices, who completed their studies at RuTC.
TJ Jacobs studied A Levels at the College. Coinciding with ‘Women in Construction Week’, TJ shared the work she does at global construction specialist ISG as Social Value Manager. At College, TJ was a teenage parent and homeless, now at ISG, she helps to drive revolutionary change for communities and social projects, creating opportunities for all our students.
