Catherine started working as a Saturday sales assistant while she was at school and joined the store’s team full time when she left school.
Her career has now moved on to the next level within the business which encouraged her to make the decision to study for Upper Second Class BA (Hons) Education Studies degree at University Centre at Blackburn College (UCBC) with the support of her employer.
She said: “I left school and was really shy and went straight to work at Peter Jackson’s full-time as I was already working on Saturdays there”
“I never thought higher education would be accessible to me and although I wanted to continue to study, I wanted to choose a subject that could be put to good use at work and never wanted to leave Peter Jackson to do it!”
Catherine studied for her degree one day a week whilst working five days a week at Peter Jackson the Jeweller. Then in the second year of her studies she fell pregnant and so ended up juggling work, study and a new baby.
She said: “It wasn’t planned but I wouldn’t change anything and everyone has been incredibly supportive. I had [my daughter] Isabel and so I was juggling work, a baby and my university course but I managed and now I have my beautiful daughter and a degree, as well as a job that I love!”
Catherine Harrington graduated from UCBC with an Upper Second Class BA (Hons) Education Studies degree.