My name is Tony Waghorne, I am 26 years old, I studied Digital Animation and TV and Television Production and Screen Media at South Essex College from 2012 until 2017 and this is my story.

Before coming to study at South Essex College my background was, ‘I don’t know what I want to do’. I always had a heavy involvement in sport but sadly we can’t all be Premier League footballers. I’ve always been creative and when picking GCSE subjects an art teacher convinced me to take it and I developed an interest. I knew I had the ability to tell a story and it wasn’t until an open day at the college I stumbled across animation. 

South Essex College was perfect for me, especially when it came to Further Education. I was a short 10 minute train journey away and to be honest I really didn’t want to move away to university. I knew I’d get distracted and not get the grade I was hoping for and eventually finish with.

The college prepared me for the workplace by putting me in real world situations. Strick deadlines, communicating with me like a colleague and not a pupil and not to mention the industry-level equipment.

I finished college with a Triple Distinction** and finished Further Education with a 1:1.

I was lucky enough to be accepted for an internship two weeks after completing further education at a digital sports agency in London. The company then employed me full-time and I stayed with them for a further 13 months. I then decided to try freelance work but I didn’t enjoy it. Luckily my previous employer took me back as senior videographer. Shortly after, a video agency in Westminster working for big fashion brands including Ted Baker and GHD employed me to be their sole videographer. My current employer contacted me regarding an opening and I’ve been with them for the best part of  three years now.

I currently work as a senior videographer for Nash Tackle Limited. Nash Tackle are one of Europe’s leading carp fishing brands and in the media department we make anything from studio-shot product videos to feature-length documentaries shot all over Europe.

I do everything you’d expect in terms of shooting and acting as a lead on these shoots, but I also do a lot pre and post-shoot. This can be anything from booking hotels, contacting venues, assigning shoots/edits, watching edits and providing feedback and am just a general point of contact to the other videographers in the team. My manager is hoping to develop me into head of video in the not too distant future.

I think I would have been lost if I just left secondary school and attempted to get into this industry on my own. The college guided me into employment that I wanted to do and a career that I can strive in. I was able to change course easily and therefore find the right path for me through great mentorship and available opportunities.

At South Essex College I gained all of the basic skills I need to do my job. When I started further education I didn’t even know what aperture was and just five years later I’m leading crews of six on European shoots and being considered for a head of video role.

One of my most recent achievements was being flown out to Thailand to shoot. One of the many reasons I wanted to do this career was because of the travelling aspect and an experience like that is one many don’t get in their career.

The equipment at the college, especially the editing software's and machines are identical to what I use and what I always have used in the industry.

My time at the college helped 100% with my confidence. I’m not a confident person and there’s many moments you don’t look forward to when studying, presenting in front of a class for example, but these are the things that really help develop you and confidence is something that has been key to my career development.

My name is James Mitchell , I am 38 years old and I studied/at South Essex College from 2002-2007 and this is my story.

I studied MND Moving Image and then a degree BSC Television Production and Screen Theory. South Essex College was local to me, it had the course I wanted to study on and it allowed me to stay at home and work in a local theatre. Industry kit is evolving all the time but a basic understanding of the college kit was very helpful.

It was a great base unit to help you realise your career aspirations. My most memorable aspect of the college was the relationship with the lecturers. This gave me the confidence more than anything else. The chance to prove myself. 

Since completing my course, I have worked in the West End in various theatres in Stratford Upon Avon for the Royal Shakespeare Company and in London at the National Theatre. I also worked at the college as a lecturer and technician for a couple of years, followed by working in Peterborough in shopping television and now work in Media City, Manchester for ITV News as a Lead Production Specialist.

My job entails looking after a team of fifteen production specialists and operating in television production roles. Which include head of lighting for ITV news, sound mixing, directing, floor managing, weather recordings etc. By working my way up, I was able to work as a trainee production specialist in 2013, to then being the Lead Production Specialist.

My proudest achievement so far, is winning two BAFTAs as part of a team, also winning Production Specialist of the year in 2017. I hope this will lead to my dream aspired role as an Operations Manager.

Are you an ex FE or HE student? Do you want your story to be told? Then contact us at marketing@southessex.ac.uk 

My name is Emily Burrett, I am 23 years old. I studied Media Television and Film production Level 3 Diploma, and Film and Television production BA (Hons) at South Essex Colleges Group (SECG) and University Centre South Essex (UCSE) from 2017 to 2023 and this is my story.

I had no background in media before I came to the college. I had some experience in working backstage but I used to film and edit YouTube videos in school which I think pushed me into wanting to study Film and Television production.

In both college and university I wanted to receive the highest marks possible, which I worked quite hard for. In college I got a distinction* distinction* distinction* and in university I got a First.

I viewed a few colleges and universities before I decided on Southend, after seeing their equipment and tutors I decided that was the right one for me. I also have a sibling who studied fashion at the college, and her experience there was really good.

My time at college and university allowed me to understand the industry a bit more. In college I got to understand industry standards and how different filming and editing styles worked. This then carried over in to university where I took these skilled I learned in college and developed them even more.

I think also having access to tutors who have worked in the industry or still were during my time was also really helpful as they shared their knowledge into different things.

Confidence really helps working in media. The confidence I gained really helps me pitch ideas to other producers and even presenters and celebrity guests that we get in.

I was quite quiet before I started college and wasn’t super outgoing either however, when I joined Southend, I met a great group of people and it gave me the confidence to speak more in classes, work with different people and even share my ideas more.

During my time at college and university we also got to use industry standard software as well which proves really useful as it gave me more knowledge when going into my job and it looks great on a creative CV that you know how to use them!

My favourite memory has to be getting to work on little films and music videos with my friends and class. I got to meet a lot of like-minded people who enjoyed Film and TV just like me.

Since leaving college and university I have worked with an international media and radio brand along with enhancing my skills in film and photography. I now work for Bauer Media which is a multi-media company which specialises in Radio and Podcasting. I mainly work for Magic Radio as a Social Media Producer, but I also work for other brands under Bauer including Hits radio, Absolute radio and Kiss radio.

My job entails a lot, firstly I write articles for the Bauer, these mainly consist of news relating to music or the West End. I also create graphics for social media platforms to help promote our radio station and what we have going on at the moment.

Along with articles I also help produce Magic Radio social media content. This includes writing scripts for shoots, directing shoots, filming shoots, editing shoots, taking pictures of guests in the studios, cover red carpets, work with other brands such as Disney or Universal, creating social formats, location scouting and much more.

Before I got this job I was actually working in a bakery whilst I was at college and on the side I was still filming, editing and photoshopping outside of University and work just to build together more of a skill set for my CV. I then applied to a wide range of different media jobs either being a runner on sets or helping make content for small businesses to no avail. I then applied to Magic to work as a social media assistant and have progressed from there up to a producer role!

I would recommend SECG and UCSE especially to those who are looking to get into a similar field that I’m in currently.

My greatest achievement so far is probably getting this job! It’s allowed me to do so much of what I dreamed of in college and university. I’ve met so many amazing people and got to go/do so many amazing things. I’ve been able to attend prestigious award ceremonies, direct my own shoots, meet celebrities I would of only dreamed of meeting!

In the future I would like to progress in my role and work higher up in my company, I would also like to work for different well-known brands and companies such as the BBC, Universal, Disney etc.

The Magic of Resilience

At eleven years old, Emily Burrett was already a director. Armed with an iPad and a group of willing friends, she was busy building digital worlds long before she understood the technicalities of a frame rate or a jump cut. Today, Emily is entering her fourth year as a Social and Video Producer at Magic Radio, directing celebrity guests and managing high-stakes shoots for one of the UK’s most recognisable media brands. 

Since her graduation from the BA (Hons) Film & Television Production programme, we have followed Emily’s journey from the “endless” job hunt of her early twenties to the fast-paced broadcast suites she now calls home. Her path was forged in the heat of a local bakery, sustained by a bespoke portfolio, and driven by a level of grit that defines our core values of Resourcefulness and Personal Success. Today, Emily offers a candid look at what it takes to stay creative when your job is “always-on,” and why the “little wins” are the true markers of a meaningful life. 

The Evolution of Professional Grit

When Emily first shared the story of her transition from retail into the media industry, the focus was on the “hustle” – the need to stand out among thousands of applicants. Four years later, that resourcefulness has evolved from an external search into an internal instinct. In the fast-paced environment of Magic Radio, the luxury of “university time” – where a student might have days to deliberate over a concept – has vanished.

“I have to come up with solutions a lot quicker now,” Emily explains. “I use my creative spark to manage last-minute shoot changes or late guests on the spot. I’ve had to become much more resourceful in handling challenges in a shorter time period.” Whether it’s pivoting a script during a live recording or jumping on a trending social media topic before it expires, Emily’s ability to solve problems “in the moment” has become her professional signature.

Protecting the ‘Fun’ in a 24/7 Feed

While the media industry is often romanticised, the reality of social media production can be exhausting. When your office exists in the palm of your hand, the boundary between “work” and “life” can easily blur. For Emily, protecting her wellbeing means being intentional about her digital consumption.

“Social media can be tough,” she admits. “I try to keep my job separated from my life—when I’m out of office hours, I try not to check accounts unless needed.” To combat the negativity that often pervades the internet, Emily tailors her “For You” page to show positive content and maintains a Pinterest board full of art and graphic design to keep her inspired rather than drained.

Perhaps her most effective “wellbeing hack” is her hobby: fixing old cameras. By saving up for vintage equipment and repairing it herself, she creates a physical, tactile separation from the high-tech, digital tools she uses at work. “It gives me a separation,” she says. “And I’ve learned that it’s okay to have days where you just relax. You shouldn’t feel like you have to be creative all the time. Those days help ‘re-charge’ you for when you actually need to be.”

Acknowledging the Hard Work Behind the ‘Luck’

One of the most striking parts of Emily’s reflection is her shift in perspective regarding her own success. For a long time, she attributed her career at Magic Radio to “luck.” Today, she sees the “whole person” behind the achievement.

“In reality, I worked quite hard during College and University, and part of that luck was due to my hard work,” she reflects. As the first person in her close family to earn a degree, Emily has realised that personal success isn’t just about the “big wins” like directing celebrities; it’s about the resilience she showed during the string of rejections she faced before landing her role.

By celebrating the “little wins” - like wrapping a smooth shoot or designing a graphic she’s proud of – Emily has found a sustainable way to view her career. She isn’t just a producer; she is a resilient, first-generation graduate who has protected the joy of that 11-year-old with an iPad. Her journey reminds us that while the industry might be “who you know,” staying in it is about how well you know – and look after – yourself. 

The Art of the ‘Unseen’ Essential

When the theme tune to Strictly Come Dancing kicks in or the Britain’s Got Talent buzzers ring out, the audience sees a polished world of glamour and high-stakes performance. What they don’t see is the logistical engine room humming frantically behind the curtain. For Sam Upton, a BA (Hons) Film & Television Production graduate, that engine room is home. 

Now a seasoned Production Coordinator, Sam’s career began in the most resourceful way possible: in the middle of a global pandemic. Since 2020, he has moved at a pace that defies industry norms – transitioning from Runner to Production Assistant to Coordinator in a fraction of the time usually required. His story is a great example of resourcefulness, illustrating that personal success in the creative industries isn’t just about what ends up on screen, but the resilience it takes to get it there.

The Logistics of Resourcefulness 

Sam’s first foray into the industry was the Britain’s Got Talent Christmas Special in 2020. Entering the professional world during a lockdown required an immediate “freelance switch-on” – a mental agility that allows a person to hit the ground running with every new contract. 

“When starting a career in TV, no one thinks about the Health and Safety, the finance, the logistics, contracts, and catering,” Sam reflects. “However, without the Production Management department doing these things, the show would never get made. We are essential.” This realisation shifted Sam’s perspective on success. Instead of chasing the spotlight, he found fulfilment in being the “unseen essential,” the person who ensures the show goes on regardless of the obstacles. 

The ‘Show Must Go On’ vs. The Whole Person

The world of flagship TV is famous for its intensity. From coordinating contestants on Squid Game: The Challenge to supporting the production of MasterChef, the hours are long and the stakes are high. In an industry built on short-term, high-pressure contracts, maintaining wellbeing and balance becomes a deliberate act. 

For Sam, staying grounded means recognising that his value isn’t tied solely to his job title. He manages the “unpredictability” of freelance life by staying curious and viewing every new project as a fresh opportunity for self-discovery. Whether he is booking talent travel or creating a complex shoot schedule for Next On The Menu, Sam treats each task as a component of his broader professional growth. 

Redefining the Win 

Sam’s progression is relatively unheard of in an industry where runners often spend years waiting for a “step up.” He attributes this rapid rise to a mix of luck and an unwavering work ethic. But more importantly, he defines success as a continuous learning curve. “I consider my entire career up to this point a success,” he says. “I’ve been incredibly lucky to have worked on amazing shows that have taught me so much about what really goes into creating TV.” 

For students currently looking at the “unpredictability” of the creative sector with trepidation, Sam’s journey is a beacon. It proves that with enough resourcefulness, the gaps between contracts aren’t just empty spaces – they are the moments where the “whole person” grows, prepares, and eventually, thrives.