At Corby Business Academy we will work to ensure that our students will be prepared for the world of work when they leave us.

Our emphasis on business and enterprise means that we can equip our students with all the skills necessary to go on to have successful careers and working lives.

To inspire our students, each term this page will feature a local person who has achieved in business.

Our first case study is our own Chair of Governors, Kerry James.

 

Briefly introduce yourself.

My name is Kerry James and I am Chair of Governors at the Corby Business Academy. I am 27 years old and co-Director of my own company called Igneous Solutions. After leaving Brooke Weston College in 2000 with 14 GCSEs and 3 A Levels I decided to venture into the world of work rather than the conventional university route. I spent 8 months as a Management Trainee at HSBC before finding my niche in a Software Development House. Six years later I was running a team of developers, consultants and trainers and ready for my next challenge which is where Igneous Solutions was born.

 

Igneous now employs ten people and we are successful business intelligence specialists in the field of social care IT. Our fundamental purpose is to provide logical, effective and timely information to managers and users in order to safeguard the care of adults and children in the community.

 

 

What has driven you to succeed in your career?

I have always been very driven and have always had the desire to succeed in everything I do. I guess being a woman, in what is still a very male dominated industry, I have always wanted to prove that I can succeed and not only that but exceed expectations. This was always something that was instilled into us at Brooke Weston and looking back I can't thank the teachers and support staff enough for the way they pushed me to achieve everything I did there as it has certainly continued into my professional and private life.

 

 

Can you tell us the importance that education has played in your success?

Education is key. I know it sounds banal and unoriginal but looking back, the education I received at Brooke Weston was the foundation to everything else I have achieved in life. Even the way in which you're taught to revise for your exams becomes key in later life. Sitting in a meeting, it's vital I take down the key facts and remembers the key points in order to relay back to my team in the office. Without a good solid education I would not be able to do this and hence I wouldn't be where I am now.

 

 

What would you say are the most important factors that have contributed to your success?

Determination, hard work and a balanced life have been the most important factors. Determination is so important especially when you feel you are fighting against the grain at work or trying hard to be recognised. It's vital that you keep your head down and plough through any hardships and believe me, there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. Hard work goes without saying. I have not achieved what I have by luck. I have worked hard since leaving school and without that hard work I wouldn't be a Company Director now. However, I also believe it's important to balance work with leisure time so ensure I make plenty of time for holidays and relaxation with my friends and family.

 

 

What are the principles that you live your life by?

Be yourself, be happy and don't accept anything but the best. For many years I wasn't sure who I was and as a result wasn't happy in my life and what I was doing with it. I turned a corner and strived to be successful for myself. I haven't looked back since and by not accepting anything but the best I have worked hard to achieve my goal of a good career and a fantastic home life. To be honest, I never dreamed that by 25 I would have my own house, a nice car and my own business, but that is what I managed to achieve and it was by sheer hard work, determination and the desire to succeed to my maximum for myself.

 

 

What advice would you give to young people who would like to follow in your footsteps?

Anything and everything is possible with the right amount of hard work. You don't have to be the cleverest in the class or achieve straight 'A' grades in your exams or even get the highest paid job. Providing you can promise yourself that you have worked your hardest then you should be proud and determined to move onto the next level. Take each day as it comes and always plan for the future in terms of aims and aspirations.