Jonny Brason: BA (Hons) Business Management with Marketing 2007-2011 Senior Operations Manager at The Prince’s Trust

25 Feb 21

“Winchester has shaped me both personally and professionally. I thought I would just go to uni, get my degree, then go back to London and work in business. Winchester changed that direction for me. In my job there’s no such thing as a regular day – I’m working with young people who are going through things that are life changing. I wouldn’t have any of that without Winchester.”

Jonny Brason has gone from raising money for charity at the Student Union (SU) to working as an operations manager for a youth charity. After graduating with a Business Management with Marketing degree in 2011 he became Vice-President (VP) of Activities at the SU.

Jonny now heads up the South as a Senior Operations Manager at The Prince’s Trust, a youth charity that helps young people aged 11-30 get into work and education. Jonny says his time working for the SU, along with other experiences he had while studying at Winchester, helped him to realise he wanted to work for a cause and with young people.

“It was a great opportunity; it’s rare to be your own boss at that age and it was a good foundation but I got to the point of needing a job. The charity work I did with the SU led to the idea of finding a role in a charity supporting young people.”

“A post to cover for maternity leave for The Prince’s Trust came up. I realised that I needed to prove myself in the role to get something more permanent as I knew I wanted to work there. Six months in and I got a permanent job and from then I have progressed through the Trust. I’ve been in a love affair with The Prince’s Trust since working there.”

Jonny says that although his work is not directly linked to studying Business, the skills he learned while doing a degree have helped him throughout his career.

“Just doing a degree in general is a big transition from college and sixth-form life. At university you need to use your own initiative and have that same approach to your education. That mindset has helped me in my career – I use that academic approach of solutions and research and I’ve never accepted the status quo.”

“Studying for my degree gave me a fundamental understanding of how business works and that has given me the ability to understand young people who are setting up a business. University life can really empower an individual.”

“My understanding of marketing also led me to create ‘Team Winchester’ a unifying brand for all sport teams at the University which enabled us to secure cheaper kit deals and promotions and encouraged a stronger feeling of belonging to something bigger.”

Jonny is very happy in his current role in which he manages a team of twenty people across the South Coast, an area which he says has shared issues of unemployment. It has always been a goal of Jonny’s to reach this level of management. However, he is open to opportunities and has learned to never say no.

“Where I am at the moment has been a personal goal since university. I am at the same level of autonomy as I had when I was VP for activities; being able to set the tone, culture and strategy of a team is incredibly satisfying and rewarding.

“Who you work with is really important as well. I love the team I work with, but I wouldn’t say no to the right opportunity. Never say no to anything – I learned that at Winchester.”

Having been Vice-President of Activities, Jonny is very fond of the different societies and activities Winchester has to offer. When he was a student, Jonny used these opportunities to do new things and make new friends.

“The best thing about Winchester is that if you think there is a team or club missing, you can make it – people will be interested in the same things as you so put something together! A lot of my current friends come from the teams and clubs that I was involved in, so I am a big advocate for it.”

“I signed up to lots of things such as tennis, archaeology and St John’s Ambulance first aid. I also agreed to a 10k run even though I’d never run before! Teams and societies give you whole new friendship groups”

“Doing extra-curricular activities gives you a lot to talk about in potential interviews. Winchester has so much going on relative to its size. It’s a real smorgasbord of opportunities.”

Jonny has many happy memories of his time at Winchester. These include meeting his wife and his friends. However, he particularly remembers Freshers Fortnight as a busy and exciting time at the start of each year.

“It is seriously difficult to pick out one thing. Winchester is not just one memory; it’s a real feeling of energy and friendliness. It’s a bubble in the best sense and it’s an amazing place to grow into an adult.”

“Looking back, you only remember the good times – every day was exciting because during the week there was so much to do. The best time for this was Freshers Fortnight – going into each one felt like it was going to be the best year of your life again.”

Jonny credits Winchester for changing the direction of his career and getting into The Prince’s Trust where he has worked for nearly eight years. Jonny really enjoyed studying at Winchester and adds that it is important to work somewhere that makes you happy.

With many years of experience in the charity sector working with young people, Jonny has great advice for current students who are wondering about their skills and opportunities.

“I can’t give too much advice because you’ve already made the wisest choice by choosing to be at Winchester. However, my advice to students, including Business students, is don’t feel you have to be pigeon-holed into a career – your skills are universal and infinite. Who you are after three years will have a far greater impact on your career than what your degree says.

“The people you’ll meet and the relationships you’ll keep will help you longer than your degree will. Friends will be there through highs and lows for years and years.”

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