Alumni Stories – Ollie Brown

This series of posts looks at what our former students do after they graduate in History at the University of Gloucestershire. It demonstrates the various types of employment and further study they can go into. It provides useful guides for existing students, but also highlights the fascinating journeys of our graduates. The next story comes from Ollie Brown (Class of 2017), who talks about studying History at undergraduate and postgraduate level, working in local government, and starting his own business. Ollie also shares his own experiences of managing his mental health.

It has been several years since I completed my Master’s by Research at the University. This followed an undergraduate degree, and those five years were among the most enjoyable of my life. Before starting university, I was so socially anxious that I once hid in McDonald’s during a Freshers event out of fear of meeting new people. Now, I have two fulfilling and purposeful roles and feel much more comfortable in my own skin. One of my roles is as a Democratic and Electoral Services Officer, and the other is as an online and in-person Personal Trainer. In October 2024, I was fortunate enough to open my own studio in central Gloucester for my clients. https://strongandsafefitness.co.uk/.

Experience of BA (Hons) and MA by Research

After graduating, I wanted to take a gap year, so I worked in a library (I am fun at parties). However, I was pining for history, and so, returned to whence I came. My masters was on British Right-Wing anti-Semitism between 1918-1930. I believed that there had been an overemphasis on the ‘devils decade’ of the 1930s and wanted to explore whether the decade prior to it had laid the groundwork for it. I picked Gloucestershire because I knew I would be well supported.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time doing a Masters by Research. Vicky, again, was incredibly supportive throughout. I did it part time, and this was when I started working as a Democratic and Electoral Services Officer. It was by far the most proud I am of any piece of writing I have completed. It is on the research repository if you are struggling to nap.

It is an entirely different experience than a BA. You are solely responsible for finding credible sources. The gathering of sources is similar to an incredibly low stakes investigation. It’s exciting for you but your friendship group will not care if you discovered a previously unknown source on the Loyalty League (anti-Semitic fringe group).

You develop a sense of individualism, but your lecturer is always available when you need guidance. The research piece is three times as long as an undergraduate dissertation and is also examined by an external expert in the field, independent of the University. Somehow, my work even ended up being cited on a Ukrainian Wikipedia page (presumably about anti-Semitism).

Working as a Democratic and Electoral Services Officer

As a Democratic and Electoral Services Officer, I control the Electoral Roll, process absent votes, book polling stations and ensure the smooth(ish) running of all elections and Council meetings. Most authorities require that you have a degree if you want to work in Democratic or Electoral Services (my authority has us do both roles).

The skills from the History course that have helped me in this role are hitting deadlines, writing coherently, communication, and being able to research and complete tasks without supervision.

The ability to communicate effectively, developed through debates in lectures at University and the general growing in confidence I developed whilst doing the course has helped greatly in my role. Whilst generally a background figure in Council meetings, as I am running the livestreams of the meetings and typing minutes, I do frequently have to speak to Elected members and members of the public.

The Importance of Mental Health, Starting a Business, and Future Plans

Whilst doing relatively well on the surface, I had a severe collapse in my mental health in early 2023 when I was diagnosed with depression, body dysmorphia, and anxiety. After I recovered, I decided that I was going to help others improve their physical and mental health. I used my research skills to find a good course and learnt as much as about anatomy, effective training, mental health practices and anything else I wish I had known about before my mental health crisis. It has been a fun year and a half, I have now opened a gym space at the Morelands Trading Estate and I love training my clients. When I started the gym at the end of my first year of university, I was around 154lbs (11 stone), I am now at 210lbs (15 stone).

The ability to do my own research and communicate with my clients – two skills I never would have had without the History degree – has allowed my business to grow. The business is called ‘Strong and Safe Fitness’ because I want people to have a safe environment, where they can physically improve, whether it is by virtual or in person coaching. I even made an advert without including any stupid gags.

My future plans are to ensure that the County Council Elections of 2025 are smoothly run, to expand the Strong and Safe Studio and increase the number of clients, whilst maintaining a healthy work/life balance. I still read history books from time to time. I am currently reading Jonathan Wilson’s Behind the Curtain: Travels in Eastern Europe, which is about football in  Eastern Europe during and shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

I am forever grateful to Vicky, Christian and everyone else who supported me, and would strongly recommend to anyone to do History at the University of Gloucestershire.