From learning English to loving data

Samima married and landed a job at Marks and Spencer. Her potential didn’t go unnoticed, and she was promoted to Team Leader. “I was responsible for tasks that needed digital skills, like managing inventory and handling returns to manufacturers,” she explains. It was her first real taste of how important digital know-how had become.

Then came the curveball no one expected: COVID-19. The economic shockwaves post pandemic eventually led to the closure of the Liverpool Street branch where she worked, and she was made redundant. With two young boys at home, Samima threw herself into family life. But something was missing.

“My husband could tell I was getting a bit bored,” she laughs. “He suggested I go back to college, do something for myself.” But it wasn’t just about her. Her dad is a self-employed taxi driver, he needed help with his business accounts and tax returns. “I realised I needed to brush up on my digital skills, because I really wanted to help him out,” she says.

So, back to New City College she went, signing up for the Gateway Qualifications Entry Level 3 Essential Digital Skills course. One course led to another, and before she knew it, over two years had flown by. Now, she’s diving deep into Level 3 Data Analysis. “I didn’t think I’d get this far,” She says, ” But once you start, you can’t stop. There’s always something new in IT, always something new to learn.”

College life also opened up a whole new social circle. “I’ve got a bag full of friends now,” Samima said, “People from all over the world – doctors, pharmacists… all of us learning together. It’s amazing.”

Her digital skills haven’t just impressed her college mates. At home, her eldest son thinks she’s a bit of a digital whizz. “He was so pleased when I helped him with his Chromebook,” she says. “I started volunteering at his school and completed the Level 2 Teaching Assistant qualification. He tells his friends, ‘My mum knows everything!’ It’s the sweetest thing.”