Globetrotting career
A globetrotting start to life led to an equally international career for Staffordshire University alumnus Geoff Sanders. Born in Runcorn, Cheshire, he grew up in Perth, West Australia, before moving back to the UK as a teenager. After graduating with a degree in Applied Sciences, Geoff has lived and worked in the UK, Germany, Thailand and Italy.
“Career is the wrong word for my life,” Geoff explained. “I took Applied Science as I like practical things and love starting again with something new. A list of cities where I’ve lived and worked might give you some idea: Dudley, Wolverhampton, Gießen, Frankfurt, Siegen, Aachen, Bangkok, Verona, Ingolstadt and Munich.”
Now 50 years of age, Geoff established a software development and training company in 2013, called sukSEs GmbH. The company has been going from strength-to-strength since its launch, this year increasing to 10 employees and generating a turnover of €1.1m. The name is a combination of Afrikaans and German, testament to his international background.
Computer science
Geoff’s start in computer technology began at Staffordshire University, where he gained his BSc (Hons) in 1990. His majors were in Computer Science and Ceramic Technology, which led to his first job in Dudley, in the West Midlands. However, Geoff didn’t have a smooth introduction to higher education, and his early interest in computers was temporarily put on hold after leaving secondary school.
“I visited several universities during my A levels but had a disaster when my parents got divorced,” he explained. “I went to London on a Sainsbury’s trainee manager programme. After completion, I realised that graduates move up faster so I applied to Staffs as it was the one that I had the best memories of.
“During the course, all the ceramics students were invited for an interview by Alan Baxter, managing director of Baggeridge Brick plc in Dudley. I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship from him and I worked there for a year-and-a-half after graduation. I can honestly say that a great deal of what I learned at Staffs was relevant and helpful.”
Staffs return
As well as gaining his degree, Geoff helped start two societies at Staffordshire University with friends: The Outward Bound and Beer Monster Society and the Staffs Ski Club. He has fond memories of his time in Stoke-on-Trent and has kept in touch with two of his fellow Applied Science graduates, recently returning to the UK to meet them.
“We were best friends for the whole of our courses and are still in touch after 25 years. Dan lives in North Carolina and is a project manager for a large software company and Steve lives in North Yorkshire and is chief operating officer for a very large firm. When Dan mentioned he was heading back to the UK, we all agreed to meet in Stoke. I called the University accommodation office and they were kind enough to rent us our old house on Leek Road for 3 days. We even got our old rooms. It was fabulous!”
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