Middle Warden Mark Huxley checks in with Trust beneficiary Billy Dennis

 

It was back in September that Billy Dennis joined us at our annual Election Banquet to be presented with our beneficiary cheque. Three months later and now settled into university life our Middle Warden Mark Huxley sat down with Billy to see how he’s been getting on.

 

MH - So how have your first weeks been?

 

BD - Well I didn’t get off to the best start as I was quite ill when I first arrived. They call it Freshers Flu and I definitely had a proper dose of it. But I was soon over it and have settled into a nice rhythm. At the moment it’s still a 50/50 mix of physical lectures and online. Living on campus means everything is on-hand and I can get to my lectures in two minutes and being a keen sportsman, get to that in the same time.

I’ve quickly made some great friends and looking ahead we will be moving out to a house next year. So all in all I feel like I have settled in well and am feeling really positive about it all.

 

MH - And is the course as you expected?

 

BD - If I’m honest I didn’t expect it to be quite the amount of theory in the first year as it is, I thought it would be a lot more practical. But I presume that will come as we get further into the course this year and definitely in year two.

 

MH - What are some of the foundation modules you are doing at the moment?

 

BD - In terms of what I'm actually studying in terms of modules, I'm doing a compulsory accounting module in the first year, which I think is for the whole year. This comprises the three basic statements and then running through the theory and definitions for things like basic accounting, which I find really useful, because it's something I'll definitely be using in the future. And then there's a module on management and organisational perspectives and how organisations are arranged in terms of a hierarchy and management. I've a marketing module, which I'm really enjoying. Again, I can see the application in that. And then there's maths based database module.

 

MH - How long is the course?

 

BD - It’s four years in total, including a year’s placement. After this year’s foundation I get to choose some optional modules and then in the final year that all comes together into my final’s year and degree submissions.

 

MH - I know it’s really early for you, but do you have any ideas where your focus may lay?

 

BD - As you say, it’s really early days at the moment and with everything I’m learning things will inevitably change. But as you know with my own experiences I am drawn towards startups and entrepreneurship, rather than something more around business management. That said, with it being a business management and marketing degree, I will learn many valuable lessons and pick up a huge amount of skills from the course. Ultimately though I am a naturally creative person and hope that I get to explore the innovation side of my character during the course.

 

MH - And are there any areas where you see that we at the Entrepreneurs could help you?

 

BD - At the moment I am focusing upon the technical, foundation learning. So if there are any people who can help me understand some of the more technical aspects of what I need to understand then it would be great to speak to them. And moving forward it would definitely be brilliant to tap into the life experiences that entrepreneurs have had so that I can appreciate the real world needs and how what I am learning needs to be used.

 

I do of course have my placement/Enterprise year and it would be wonderful to see if any of your Freemen could help me.

 

MH - Finally, as a natural entrepreneur, have you any ideas about something you could launch while at university?

 

BD - I’m definitely fast coming to realise that whatever course any one of us students is doing, we are all learning the same things and having many of the same experiences as we settle into uni life. This will only evolve as we go through the same course. Some people are dealing with it really well, but others are struggling. So it feels like there is something I could create that would help address this and help students better navigate their life here as well as try to address some of the mental health and wellbeing issues that get thrown up along the way.

 

MH - That sounds a really great idea and if you decide to do something I am sure there are many amongst the Entrepreneurs who could help you. Meantime we all wish you well and look forward to catching up with you again soon.

 

BD - That would be great and thank you. Thank you too for the support you are giving me, it really makes a big difference to me and I am truly grateful.