March 13, 2025
Ask Alumni… Future Focused Day 2025
We were incredibly fortunate to welcome back six of our former students for our annual Future Focused Day. Our alumni were happy to be back and share with our current Year 12 students what they have been up to since leaving Elliott Hudson College.
Neave Robinson
Class of 2021
Secondary School: St John Fishers Catholic Voluntary Academy
Subjects: Law, Psychology, English Literature
Enrichment: Law Society
Destination: Apprenticeship, Paralegal
Current Role: Solicitor at Black Solicitors
Neve left in 2021 and began a Paralegal Apprenticeship, where she handled a caseload of vehicle damage and property damage insurance matters, alongside completing her Level 3 CILEX Diploma in Law and Practice.
Neave then went on to join Blacks Solicitors in September 2023 as an Apprentice Solicitor and is currently in the Commercial Dispute Resolution team after finishing her first seat of the apprenticeship in the Family Law team.
As part of her Apprenticeship Neave is currently studying towards her Law Degree (LLB) with BPP and will qualify as a Solicitor in 2028 following successful completion of the SQE.
“It’s been really great to be back and inspire current students and encourage people who are in the same position that I was in,” said Neave. “I definitely recommend using the college careers team to support you as they have so many good opportunities to broaden your horizons.”
Josh Newcombe
Class of 2023
Secondary School: Morley Academy
Subjects: Sociology, Politics, Law
Enrichment: Student Union
Destination: University of York, Social and Political Sciences
Josh is currently at the University of York, and president of Halifax College at York, which involves organising events like ‘Freshers’ Week’, charity and fundraising events, and getting involved in student activism. During his time at Elliott Hudson College, he was part of the EHC Student Union which has prepared him for his role at university now. “Right now, we are lobbying against rent increases in the area, and for access cards for neurodivergent students.
Being on the Student Union at Elliott Hudson has definitely helped me prepare for the public speaking I do now,” said Josh. “Seeing how a Student Union works at Elliott Hudson gave me the confidence and background knowledge to continue with student activism on a larger scale now that I’m in university.”
Amy Leeming
Class of 2020
Secondary School: Woodkirk Academy
Subjects: Religious Education, English Language, History
Destination: University of York, Archaeology
Amy went on to study archaeology at the University of York after leaving Elliott Hudson College and was happy to come back to speaking to Year 12 students. “College still feels like such a positive environment, which is definitely how it always felt when I was there.”
Murtada Dafalla
Class of 2020
Secondary School: Ralph Thorsby School
Subjects: Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry
Enrichment: Chess
Destination: University of Leeds, Mechanical Engineering
Current Role: Engineer Rolls Royce
After finishing college in 2020, Murtada attended the University of Leeds to study Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation he was awarded the Presidential Black Heritage Scholarship by Imperial College London, to fund his master’s degree in Advanced Aeronautical Engineering. He now works as an Engineer for Rolls Royce.
“I wanted to come back for Future Focused Day to help inspire students,” said Murtada. “I remember hearing from alumni and employers when I was a student here and it really helped inspire and motivate me, so I wanted to be able to do the same for others. My best advice for current students would be to take advantage of every opportunity you come across in college.”
Holly Walker
Class of 2022
Secondary School: St John Fishers Catholic Voluntary Academy
Subjects: Law, Psychology, Mathematics and Further Mathematics
Enrichment: Karate
Destination: Tax Apprenticeship – Deloitte
Current Role: Deloitte – Indirect Tax Analyst
Holly left in 2022 to pursue a degree in Law at the University of Manchester. She soon found that university life wasn’t for her and switched to take on an apprenticeship in tax analysis with Deloitte – proving that there are many different pathways to success. After completing a 3-year apprenticeship she now works for Deloitte as an Indirect Tax Analyst.
“Elliott Hudson College was so helpful and supportive when I was a student here. There were always people to talk to about the different options available to you in the future. Coming back today has been amazing as now I have the chance to make a meaningful impact on the current Year 12. It’s great to see my favourite staff again and see how much things have grown and changed.”