March 2018

Alan Pamphilon

HNC Business & Information Technology 1998

1.  Tell us about yourself. 

I am a self employed Environmental Consultant with a passion for local history, over the past four years this has developed into a small business involving writing and running regular historical walks in Chelmsford.  The subjects covered have slowly increased and now include many aspects of the city and its important Industrial past.
Recently the walks have developed into talks and these I now perform for various groups around the mid Essex area. 
In 2016 my historical knowledge was noticed by key members of the Chelmsford Civic Society and this lead to an invitation to run the Chelmsford Heritage Open Days, which part of a national event that takes place each September. The purpose of the event, which is sponsored locally by the city council, is to highlight our local history with talks and tours of some of our local buildings which are not normally accessible.
Running this regular event and my two businesses would not have been possible without the skills I acquired while studying at the Anglia Ruskin University.

2.  What is your fondest memory at Anglia Ruskin University?

I had a great time studying with my fellow students back in 1997, however my best memory was of my graduation day and receiving my award from the Vice Chancellor in the magnificent Chelmsford Cathedral.

3.  What advice would you give to current students as they're preparing to graduate? 

Work and study hard, it is worth making the effort to obtain the best possible results.

4.  What do you know now that you wish you had known whilst you were studying?

Sometimes I added more content and detail into my assignments than I needed to.

5.  How did your time at Anglia Ruskin help you? 

Completing the course gave me a whole set of new skills and really changed my career path for the better.

6.  What did you love about your chosen course?

The variation of the subjects we studied within our Business Information Technology course was amazing. These ranged from understanding the functions of a business to computer programming, database design and even included building computer hardware.

7.  What would you tell someone thinking of studying at ARU? 

The support provided from your tutors and staff at ARU will help you achieve great things and could change your life.

8.  In one word how would you describe Anglia Ruskin?

Inspirational

9.  Who was the biggest influence on your career?

I admire the achievements and business models created by Sir Richard Branson. However, the support I have been given from both my wife and my son has really helped my career.

10.  What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Through my life there have been many but becoming self employed was for me the most significant.

11.  What advice would you give your younger self?

Work hard in the evenings, but do not stay up too late to finish those assignments.

12.  What drives you?

I always get a sense of achievement in completing a task that I have carried out to the very best of my ability.

13.  What’s next?

I have performed many different roles in my working life and seem to be able to adapt to situations well. So I guess I will continue to use my acquired skills to evolve into my next role but at the moment I am not sure what that will be.