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In this episode, Jill sits down with Sumaira Hasan, a fellow tutor at Bromley Adult Education College, to talk about something brand new on the horizon: Python coding and programming courses, designed and written by Sumaira herself. It's a genuinely exciting step for the college — one that opens the door for students to take their digital skills further than ever before. Want to stay in the loop on our latest courses? Sign up to our mailing list below. https://baec.ac.uk/index.php/mailing-list/

In Conversation with the Mayor of Bromley, Councillor Christine Harris In this episode, Jill sits down with Councillor Christine Harris, Mayor of Bromley for 2026–27, for a warm and wide-ranging conversation about her life and her year ahead in office. Madam Mayor shares her journey from Scotland to London in 1979, where she began her career in chartered accountancy — eventually becoming Group Chief Accountant at the Sunley Turriff Group before going on to establish her own accountancy practice, which she still runs today. She reflects on building that business while raising her two sons, and on a lifetime of community involvement, including 17 years as a school governor and 16 years chairing the Langley Park Residents Association. Now serving as a councillor for West Wickham (having previously represented Kelsey and Eden Park since 2018), Madam Mayor talks about what the role of Mayor means to her, and the causes closest to her heart this year: her two chosen mayoral charities, Madlani Cancer Support and the Dyslexia Association of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham. Our Mayor has spent decades quietly serving the Bromley community, and now does so as its first citizen.   Visit the Mayor of Bromley's Official Page for more information. Follow the council on Instagram: @lbbromley Follow the Mayor on Instagram: @mayorofbromley Follow Bromley Adult Education on Instagram: @bromleyadulteducation

Life as an 'Influencer' What does it actually take to walk away from a corporate career and build something entirely your own? This week, Jill sits down with the brilliant Lucy Lord. Twice Sunday Times bestselling author, 187k Instagram followers, and someone landing in 80,000 inboxes every single week, who will be the first to tell you it didn't happen overnight. Lucy opens up about making the leap from corporate life, finding the courage to back yourself, and the question so many of us wrestle with … do you follow your passion, your strengths, or both? Honest, warm, and genuinely energising — you’ll want to listen to this one Follow Lucy: 📸 @lordlucy on Instagram  🌐 lordlucy.com 📧 Sign up to her weekly emails on her website — free recipes straight to your inbox every Friday

How to Explain Redundancy in a Job Interview and Return to Work with Confidence. In this episode of Back to Work with Confidence, Jill Collier, podcaster and tutor at Bromley Adult Education College London, explores how to explain redundancy in a job interview clearly, confidently and professionally. Being made redundant can feel personal, even when it was caused by restructuring, budget cuts or business changes. This episode offers practical interview advice for job seekers, career changers and anyone returning to work after time away. Through two versions of the same interview scenario, Jill shows how a candidate can move from sounding unsure and apologetic to giving a calm, structured answer that highlights their skills, experience and readiness for a new role. Listeners will learn how to talk about redundancy without over-explaining, how to answer difficult follow-up questions, and how to present transferable skills such as customer service, administration, problem-solving, reliability and digital confidence. This episode also introduces the support available through BAEC’s Digital Drop-in and Work Club, including help with CV writing, interview techniques, job searching, digital skills, confidence building and upskilling. Whether you are looking for a job, thinking about a change of career or preparing to return to work, this episode offers practical guidance to help you take the next step with confidence. Visit baec.ac.uk to find out more about Bromley Adult Education College courses and employability support.   Redundancy interview, job interview tips, back to work, returning to work, employability support, CV writing, interview confidence, job search support, digital skills, adult education, Bromley Adult Education College, BAEC, career change, upskilling, work club, Digital Drop-in, Bromley jobs, London adult education.

In this episode, Jill welcomes Nick Travers, a qualified bus driver with Arriva, who shares his genuine passion for a career that many might overlook. Nick opens up about what makes bus driving so rewarding—from the daily interactions with passengers to the strong camaraderie among colleagues. It's clear that for Nick, this isn't just a job; it's a role that brings real satisfaction. With positions regularly available across the industry, Nick walks us through the straightforward application process via Arriva's dedicated recruitment website and highlights the comprehensive training provided to get you road-ready and confident behind the wheel. The entry requirements are refreshingly accessible: you must be over 18, hold a driving licence with no more than 6 penalty points, and have at least 6 months of driving experience under your belt. If a career in bus driving sounds appealing, you can explore current opportunities and find out more at the links below, or search for vacancies with operators in your local area: https://www.arrivabusjobs.co.uk/current-vacancies https://www.stagecoachbus.com/careers

Joining Jill today is Alex Anderson, Technical Co-Ordinator at Thames Water. What does it take to keep London’s water flowing? We discover how their commitment to staff development and maximising your transferable skills makes Thames Water a forward-thinking employer. From career progression to their wide-reaching London locations, learn why this organisation is a top choice for those seeking professional growth.   For more information, please do visit https://jobs.thameswater.co.uk/Search.aspx

In this episode, Jill is joined by Wendy Pearson, a Therapeutic Counsellor and Mentor who has dedicated more than 20 years to supporting young people. Her work began in schools, where she realised that some young people needed deeper, more personalised support than the school environment could offer. This insight led her to embark on her own learning journey, expanding her skills so she could provide direct mentoring, and now counselling, to those who need it most. Wendy’s evolving practice allows her to offer a truly tailored approach for each individual, and this conversation shines a light on the often unseen challenges young people face as they navigate education and transition into the working world. It’s a powerful and eye‑opening episode. For more information, please do visit https://yourautismmentor.com

In this episode, Jill welcomes Samantha Powell, whose career journey is one many will relate to. Samantha began her working life in banking, seeking the security and stability of a traditional career path. However, she discovered that the corporate world left her creatively unfulfilled. What followed was an honest exploration through various roles as she searched for that elusive sweet spot—work that both pays the bills and feeds her creative spirit. Has Samantha found her perfect career? She's not entirely sure—but rather than settling, she's actively upskilling and keeping her options open.  It's a candid conversation about the reality of modern careers: they're rarely linear, and sometimes the journey matters more than the destination.

In this episode, Jill welcomes Rebecca Bently, who brings extensive experience from years of working in housekeeping, cleaning, and care sector roles. Rebecca shares valuable insider knowledge about what it's really like working in these essential industries—from day-to-day responsibilities to the training and qualifications you'll need to get started and progress in your career. If you're interested in pursuing opportunities in housekeeping, cleaning, or care work, there are numerous employment websites featuring available positions in these sectors, including: https://uk.indeed.com/?from=gnav-homepage https://www.cv-library.co.uk/ https://www.carehome.co.uk/jobs/

In this episode, Jill welcomes Craig Hollinshead, an experienced Theatre Practitioner within the NHS, who shares insights from his dynamic healthcare career. Craig explores the diverse pathways available in nursing, from ward-based care and outpatient services to the specialised world of operating theatres. He discusses the exciting career progression opportunities available and how these can work alongside the demands of being a working parent. For those unfamiliar with the role, a theatre practitioner is a skilled allied health professional who provides comprehensive patient care throughout the entire surgical journey—from pre-operative preparation through to post-operative recovery. Working at the heart of the operating theatre, they ensure surgical environments are properly prepared, support both surgical and anaesthetic teams, and deliver essential patient care when it's needed most. Whether you're curious about nursing careers in general or specifically interested in theatre practice, you'll find valuable resources and information at the link below. https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/we-are-the-nhs/nursing-careers

Join Jill in this episode as she welcomes Yvonne Tomlin Miller, Head of Bromley Adult Education. Yvonne takes us through her personal story, reflecting on her school days and the transformative power adult education has had on her own life. Despite leaving school with limited qualifications, Yvonne's unwavering self-belief propelled her to remarkable achievements, including successful business ownership and her groundbreaking role as one of London's youngest college principals. As the current Head of BAEC, Yvonne will share her strategic vision for the college's future. Learn about her plans to advance adult education, both through established methods and utilising the borough's recently refurbished libraries. For more information on Yvonne Tomlin Miller https://baec.ac.uk/index.php/head-of-colleges-welcome/   For more information on the College https://baec.ac.uk/

In this Episode, Jill is joined by Lady Juliet Atako who has travelled the world helping women, children and any groups she can.  Lady Juliet has dedicated her life to making this world a better place sometimes through specific projects but mainly through volunteering.  Lady Juliet talks about volunteering for the Metropolitan Police and The Rotary Club.  If you are inspired by this phenomenal woman and would like to volunteer for either organisation, please click on the links below. https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/c/careers/police-volunteer-roles/ https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/page.php?PgID=951613&ClubID=2260

In this Episode, Jill is joined by Lorena Braithwaite who shares her wealth of knowledge of working in the retail sector.  This a great career as it can be an option for school leavers, right the way through to any working age.  You get to speak to all different customers so no day is the same.  Retail gives the option of joining with minimal knowledge or as a graduate and beyond.   Do look at all the major retail outlet websites to see the vacancies available in your area.  Here are a few examples:- https://jobs.marksandspencer.com/ https://www.jlpjobs.com/search-jobs/ https://www.harrodscareers.com/jobs https://sainsburys.jobs/ https://careers.tesco.com/en_GB/careers/SearchJobs#

In this Episode, Jill is joined by Kev Muckle who works for the LAS (London Ambulance Service).  Kev knew he wanted to work for the emergency services from a young age, but life took him on another path for some years until his wife encouraged him to follow his heart. Kev has now been working for the LAS for nearly 17 years and is currently the Vaccine Manager and Paramedic for the Trust.  He started out in A&E Support Resources, Student Paramedic to qualified Paramedic (self financed), he then moved on to the Clinical Hub where you call patients who have dialled 111 to give clinical advice. Kev then worked for HART (hazardous area response team) which gave him experience in many different and very challenging opportunities.  There are so many roles in the LAS he  would certainly think about doing something else if the opportunity arose within the Trust.  If you would like more information about the LAS or would like to see the jobs available, please visit https://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/working-for-us/current-vacancies/

In this Episode, Jill is joined by Hannah Cole, a Personal Trainer and Sports Massage Therapist.  Hannah is a highly successful PT who has helped many of her clients transform their health and wellbeing by introducing fitness into their lifestyle.  This includes bootcamps, spin classes, strength building sessions and in person or online 1-to-1 programmes.  Hannah discusses the various avenues she has travelled to get to this point in her life.  After qualifying as a graphic designer and enjoying the creative side of this, her love of sport shone through and she found herself qualifying in various disciplines both in the UK and Australia. If you would like to find out more about getting fitter or massage options, do contact hannah via  https://valkyrieptandmassage.co.uk/  Instagram  @hannah_valkyriept