Come to New Directions and find out how you can take on a new challenge whatever your age
It may seem like a daunting and frightening task but more and more people are finding out how rewarding it is to change their career in later life.
EHDC's event New Directions, coming to Alton College on 27 October, is designed to help people take on a new challenge. People looking to make a change can come to the event and find out what’s new.
Here you can see three inspirational stories of people that changed their careers. You can read about Lianne Richards, who went from an elections manager at EHDC to an emergency responder, and you can watch our video interviews with Ryan Gratrix, a former Paralympian turned volunteer, and Cameron Hill, a building site manager turned barber.
Their stories show what is possible. Come to our life-changing event New Directions to find out what could be new for you.
Find out more about New Directions
Lianne Richards – former elections manager turned First Responder
Lianne Richards, of Petersfield, ended a successful career as an election manager at East Hampshire District Council to pursue her life-long ambition of becoming a medic.
She said: “My dream as a child was always to work in healthcare of some kind.
“Life did not work out like that and I ended up going to college and doing an admin course, I then joined EHDC at the age of 19 in 2003 as an Electoral Services Assistant. I worked my way up to Elections Manager and worked for EHDC for 18 years. I loved my time at EHDC and learnt so much and made so many good friends.
“But I always had this urge to work in healthcare and on the ambulances.
“Then in 2021 I volunteered as a Community First Responder with SCAS and loved it so much, I decided to take a big step and change careers with support of family and friends.
“I joined SCAS as an Emergency Care Assistant in 2022 and, after nine weeks training, I was out on the road working and assisting paramedics and driving an ambulance.
“It was one of the toughest but best decisions I have ever made. I am loving my job, and SCAS are supportive and offer excellent progression.”
Ryan Gratrix – former Paralympian turned volunteer
Watch our video interview with Ryan Gratrix, a competitor in the Atlanta Paralympics who turned his sporting spirit into a passion for volunteering.
Ryan Gratrix will be speaking at New Directions and will describe the huge impact volunteering had on his life and what it could also do for you.
Cameron Hill – former builder turned barber
At the age of 45 Cameron ended his career as a building site manager and retrained as a barber.
He used an apprenticeship to learn the new skills he needed and has now built himself a new career that allows him to spend more time with his family.