Jack Thompson chose Gateshead College because of the support available to him as a visually impaired learner and the opportunity to continue working with the visual impairment team he had known since childhood.
With a lifelong passion for transport, studying for his level 2 Travel and Tourism course was an easy decision.
“Ever since I was young, I’ve always had an interest in trains and later on buses, so Travel and Tourism was the logical choice,” said Jack. “When I read about the course, it fit my interests perfectly and once I joined, I enjoyed every minute of it.”
During his year at college, Jack combined classroom learning with industry experiences, including visits to Newcastle Airport and SimFly in Darlington, helping him build his understanding of the travel and tourism sector.
A highlight of the course was a work placement at the Maldron Hotel, where he gained first-hand experience in customer-facing roles and learned more about the day-to-day operation of a busy hotel.
“A lot of my time was spent on reception helping guests and making sure they had the best experience possible,” he said. “I also got the chance to shadow managers and see how the hotel operates behind the scenes. I enjoyed every single minute of it.”
Throughout his studies, staff worked closely with Jack and specialist support services to ensure learning materials were accessible, including having work transcribed into Braille.
“They’ve all done an absolutely amazing job,” said Jack. “I built really good relationships with my tutors and they got to know me really well, which made my time at college even better.”
The course has helped Jack develop his customer service skills, grow in confidence and prepare for his next challenge. After completing his qualification, he is progressing onto a supported internship programme with Gateshead Council Learning and Skills, with the aim of moving into employment.
Away from college, Jack has dedicated years to raising money for children’s cancer charity Young Lives vs Cancer. Inspired by the support his family received after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour at just four months old, he began fundraising at the age of seven and has since raised more than £230,000.
His fundraising efforts have included raffles, bucket collections, online challenges and even two charity skydives.
In recognition of his commitment to helping others, Jack was also named an Edge Award winner at this year’s Gateshead College awards ceremony.
“It was amazing to be nominated and to receive the award,” he said. “Out of all the students at the college, to be selected was truly special.”
We wish Jack every success as he begins his internship and continues working towards a career in the travel and tourism industry.
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