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Paul Harkin

BSc (Hons) International Business

Alumni Paul Harkin shows off his business, That Prize Guy.

Similar courses were available at other institutions, but I felt that Fastrack at Edge Hill was the only place to fully prepare you for the course, giving me the confidence that I was starting on a level playing field with other students coming straight from education.

I enrolled on the Fastrack programme in 2017 and since then I have set up a six-figure business. I founded my prize business That Prize Guy in November 2019, which has given away over fifty-five million pounds worth of prizes, one of which made someone a millionaire. I’ve sponsored charities, football clubs, athletes, and events all over the UK and Ireland. I attribute my success and where I am now to the people I met and the experiences that I had at Edge Hill University.

After living in Australia for a short time, I returned home to I returned to Bangor, Northern Ireland. I had recently had my first child and I wanted to go to university to give her a better future. Given my long spell away from education, I chose Edge Hill after looking at the Fastrack programme. I’d previously thought that university was not an option for me as I didn’t have the qualifications necessary to enter via UCAS. Similar courses were available at other institutions, but I felt that Fastrack at Edge Hill was the only place to fully prepare you for the course, giving me the confidence that I was starting on a level playing field with other students coming straight from education.

I chose this degree because the international element of the work allowed me to consider creating a business on a much larger scale, rather being restricted to the UK. I’d also envisaged that once I’d finished my degree, I’d be working for an international company had I not become self-employed.

My lecturers were great, they helped me when I was stuck or struggling with direction on assignments. They were always there for guidance and support every step of the way.

My final year of studies was at the start of Covid, so I completed my degree from home. By this stage I was already heavily invested in my own business. I finished my degree with a 2:1 and since then I’ve had a rapid increase in business.

My advice to anyone considering further study is don’t think twice about choosing Edge Hill. The people I met and the experience I had are partially responsible for the success that I’ve achieved so far.

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