She came to the Middlesbrough-based University with three good 鈥楢鈥� levels in Biology, Chemistry and English Literature from St Thomas More Secondary school in Blaydon. Gateshead Council paid for Catherine鈥檚 books, and she also worked in their Trading Standards Department during vacations.
Catherine added: 鈥淭he degree is tailored towards a career in trading standards. The course modules are relevant and interesting, such as weights and measures and the legal aspects. With the latter, we looked at food law and criminal law, which is invaluable, as we need to know how the courts work.
鈥淭he course lecturers are informal and approachable and you got to know your fellow students really well.鈥�
Catherine now has to complete 18 months training and gain a Diploma in Trading Standards. In future she is interested in exploring the area of urban policy and regeneration. She is daughter of Brenda and Phillip Andison and the first in her family to graduate from University