Joe Ashworth
Joe graduated with BSc Food and Human Nutrition in 2024 and is now working as a Health Improvement Practitioner.
Why did you choose to study at Newcastle University?
I had already heard about its good reputation and on top of this, the course I wanted to do was accredited. I also grew up in the North East, so I knew it would be a nice place to study.
What did/do you love about Newcastle University?
The lecturers on my course were friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. The campus is such a nice place to be, and everyone is really friendly.
What did you enjoy most (or least!) about your course?
All the scientific based research around nutrition is so interesting. It was tough, but worth it in the end (your friends and lecturers will help get you through it!).
Tell us a little bit about career journey. How did you get into what you do now?
I knew I wanted to study nutrition and help people with their diets, so left my previous job working in chemical manufacturing for full time education. I did some volunteering over the summer to get some nutrition related experience, cooking in the community. After my course, I started volunteering for Healthworks, who ended up giving me a full-time position.
What do you enjoy most about your current job?
In my current role, I work with people who have been referred to the service due to health issues such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, arthritis, mental health issues, and a range of other conditions. We take them through a 12-week health trainer programme to help them to improve their lifestyle, referring them to other services where required. So far, the best thing is seeing people losing weight, which is partly down to the diet advice I have given them.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career journey?
It was tough getting a job in a new area with little experience, but volunteering and persevering paid off. I had to apply for lots of jobs!
How did your course and experiences at Newcastle University prepare you for your current role?
I think the various assignments and group work I have done, have given me more confidence in working with people in a new sector. More specifically, I can apply the nutrition knowledge I have gained to real life situations.
What other things did you do at university which helped you to get where you are now?
I was student rep for my course over 2 terms. This was a good opportunity to get to know more students as well as university staff, which really improved my communication skills and gave me experience in leadership and building networks.
What one piece of advice do you wish someone had given you when you first started?
Try to get all the experience you can to help you out with getting a job later.
What support do you wish you had when you first started? And are there any resources that you would recommend to people?
If you like to be prepared, I would recommend downloading a resource straight away to make flashcards with, as you will need to remember a lot of information. I used one called ANKI.
Joe graduated in July 2024 with a BSc in Food and Human Nutrition.