“I thought ‘oh, hang on… this is lovely.”

Sophie

Forging a career that’s close to her heart after a move small in distance but big on change

Sophie Kitching didn’t know what to expect when she arrived on campus.

“It was raining,” she said. “Everything looked grey.”

After researching a small number of universities, Sophie’s open day at Warwick perhaps didn’t get off to the best start.

Fortunately, when the clouds lifted, so too did her mood.

“It quickly brightened up and I thought ‘oh, hang on… this is actually rather lovely and there’s a lot of green spaces,” she recalled.

It’s perhaps a good thing that Sophie’s initial impression changed quickly.

Since graduating with a first-class degree in Global Sustainable Development, she has set down roots in the area and kickstarted a career she loves.

“On that open day, I was mostly looking at applying for courses in politics or Spanish,” Sophie explained.

“But Global Sustainable Development caught my eye because it covered such a wide range of subjects and would allow me to study modules from different departments so I could make my course unique to me.”

Sophie’s adopted hometown is only some 30 miles from where she grew up, but it’s fair to say that when she arrived as a new student, it felt like a world away.

“I’m from a tiny village in West Oxfordshire called Shipton-under-Wychwood,” she explained. “It’s the Cotswolds – very beautiful, but there’s not that much to do for young people.

“So I knew I wanted to go to a campus uni where there’d be plenty going on but also a sense of community and togetherness, with everyone a student looking to meet people.”

Sophie soon got used to student life, engaging in local political campaigning and even setting up Autism at Warwick, a society that now has more than 100 members.

“The best thing about my time at Warwick was definitely getting involved in so many things, from running societies to working as a student ambassador,” she recalled.

“My degree was so varied; I got to interview disabled activists in the environmental movement for my dissertation, and I also worked on a project to develop workshops on sustainability and food miles that we delivered to Year 5 school students in Coventry.”

There were still a few doubts about where her post-graduation future would lie, though.

“I suppose in the back of my mind, I was initially wondering whether I’d end up moving to London for work like a lot of my friends ended up doing.

“But I always felt that wouldn’t be right for me; I would hate being crammed in on the Tube and living that kind of rat race lifestyle.”

Thankfully, it was apparent that Warwickshire hit something of a sweet spot for Sophie.

“It’s a great location for a few reasons,” she said.

“You’ve got lots of parks and greenery and the countryside within easy reach, which is great for me; being autistic, I love the openness and quiet of wild spaces that allow me to step away for a bit.

“But then you’re also so close to Coventry and Birmingham, and London’s really quick to get to on public transport as well.”

In her second and third year of studying, Sophie found herself living in the Coventry suburb of Earlsdon.

“I had a nice landlord, so I stayed there and worked over the summer because it just felt easy and right.”

It was decision time, though. What exactly would Sophie do after graduation?

“I looked at a load of grad schemes and the National Graduate Development Programme was my favourite,” she said.

Since rebranded to Impact: The Local Government Graduate Programme, the scheme matches university leavers with councils and fast-tracks them into trainee management positions where they can deliver meaningful projects.

“I put Warwickshire as my top choice because as well as wanting to stay in the area, there seemed to be a lovely culture of flexible working and the interview panel was very friendly,” Sophie explained.

“The programme really helped me learn more about my strengths while giving me the kind of experiences that otherwise might have taken me a lot longer to reach, not to mention a graduate-level salary right from the off.”

After a positive 18 months with Warwickshire County Council, Sophie applied for a permanent job as a Commissioning Support Officer in Disabilities and Mental Health – a role she’s held since April 2024.

“When I first joined the council I didn’t know what to expect in my first ‘proper’ job, but I immediately felt valued and trusted.

“It’s been great because it’s allowed me to continue some of the sorts of work I did at university with Autism at Warwick and feel like I’m making a difference,” Sophie noted.

“And because I’ve moved to the town of Warwick itself, I get to walk for my commute and I can even see trees and the river out of my window at home.”

Choosing to stay in the area after her degree doesn’t reflect a lack of an adventurous spirit, however.

“We’re very near to Birmingham Airport, so while I was at uni I suddenly had this realisation: I can travel!

“I spent a week in Spain on my own, exploring around on trains and buses and having a great time.

“It wasn’t something I’d ever considered before; I suppose the idea had never come to me until I was here.”

The COVID-19 pandemic put a premature stop to Sophie’s city break plans, but now she knows where her short-term future lies, the desire for exploration has returned.

“I’ve been to six more countries since I graduated, including a day trip to Barcelona – and there’s still lots of things I want to do on my doorstep as well,” she said.

“I like going to Stratford-upon-Avon so I keep my eye out for the £10 tickets the RSC does for up to 25-year-olds, and I’m taking an evening course in printmaking at the local college.

“And recently, my partner and I started going to a different cafe in town every week; there’s loads, so that should keep us busy.”

When she stops to look back on her decision to study at Warwick, Sophie feels proud of her younger self.

“When you finish your degree, it’s a great place to live and you get the best of both worlds: thriving cities and quiet spaces,” she said.

“Some of my friends have moved to London after uni, but others who don’t want the crowds and stress have stayed in the Coventry area like I did and not looked back.

“I know lots of people who now work for the larger employers around here like the councils, universities, National Grid and Jaguar Land Rover, but equally there are lots of smaller businesses and start ups as well.

“I’d have to say that anyone who’s thinking of coming here really should come in person and see the area for themselves, because it has so much to offer.

“Just don’t let a bit of rain put you off like I nearly did!”