- SCHOOL LEAVERS
HOME GROWN
HEROESKIRK ARNOLD
Creative Director at
Sourcefour Ltd
BA (Hons) Design Home Grown Heroes
Mark Smith
Career in counter-terrorism
Access to HE &
BSc Hons Psychology
When Mark left school with no GCSEs, higher education seemed impossible. But after rediscovering his love of learning through functional skills courses, the Grimsby Institute’s Access to HE pathway transformed his life, leading to a remarkable journey from football club supervisor to PhD student with a future in counter-terrorism policing.
Mark explained, “I left school with no GCSEs; school had never worked out for me having suffered severe bullying. As a teen I joined the Royal Air Force as a general technician. Following service, I held several jobs, one of which was with Grimsby Town Football Club.”
“It became necessary for me to undertake functional skills in English and maths to progress as a supervisor. I did the courses and enjoyed them, progressing to complete a Level 3 in spectator safety. I kind of got the love back for learning.”
On recommendation from several friends who had attended the Grimsby Institute, Mark came to an open day in 2019, where it was suggested he enrol on the Access to HE pathway in Humanities and Social Sciences.
“It made sense to come to Grimsby because it had a good reputation and was extremely local to me. Moreover, my friends had really enjoyed their time here. After doing particularly well on the access course, my success coach and tutors encouraged me to apply for a degree in Psychology, an element of the course that I really enjoyed.”Mark’s transformation continued as he gained confidence through the support and encouragement he received during his Access to HE course.
“Because of the support and encouragement throughout my Access to HE course, I had the self-confidence to apply and do something I had never previously imagined doing. My degree started in 2020, graduating with a 2:1 in 2023.”
To university and beyond
As Mark progressed through his BSc (Hons) Psychology degree at the University Centre Grimsby, his career direction became clearer.
“To be honest when I first started, I had no idea what I wanted to do. However, as I progressed it became clear the forensic side of psychology really stuck with me, particularly the psychology of terrorism. As I have an armed forces and security background, it seemed logical to pursue a career in counter-terrorism policing.”
Mark’s academic success continued beyond the Grimsby Institute and the University Centre Grimsby. In 2023, he applied for a master’s degree at the University of Lincoln (MSc Developmental Psychology), graduating in 2024 with a Distinction. Following this, he was offered a full-time research PhD opportunity researching prison environments from a psychological perspective.
Alongside his studies, Mark volunteers as an emergency responder for the British Red Cross, attending floods, fires, and other humanitarian crises, providing practical and psychosocial support to service users. He also works as a volunteer refugee support worker and plans to travel to Ukraine this year for two weeks, delivering aid to towns near the front line.
Mark’s leadership qualities flourished during his time studying in Grimsby, where he served as a learner representative throughout his four years, joining the student senate in 2020 and eventually becoming student senate president and student governor in his final two years.
“This gave me valuable experience of how to network and present yourself in meetings, and gave me an insight into how educational settings function behind the scenes. This all helped me build confidence in myself and my public speaking. My position also provided me an opportunity to speak in Parliament as a representative of students in the UK – something I would never have dreamt of doing before.”
It was during his visit to Parliament that Mark approached Scotland Yard to discuss a potential career in counter-terrorism, resulting in a provisional employment offer which he intends to accept on completion of his PhD.
What advice would you give others?
“I would say go for it! You really don’t know just what you can be capable of, but with the support and guidance available and amazing tutors, you will soon realise it’s more than you could ever imagine!”Don’t put too much pressure on yourself with your exams. I left school with no formal qualifications, and I am now a PhD student! Revise and do your best – there are plenty of options available to progress. The Access course was an incredible experience for me, and it started a whole new chapter in my life.
Go along to events and get to know the different courses, talk to all the amazing tutors and find something you are passionate about. You will know when you find the right course for you. There are so many great courses, and the employability team will guide you to your dream job.
Finally, believe in yourself – it’s possible to do anything! Mostly, I would like to thank everyone at the the Grimsby Institute and the University Centre Grimsby for the patience and kindness shown to me throughout my time there. It’s literally been the making of me – I’m a completely different and better version of myself because of my journey, and I loved every minute of it.”
