Ian Newman (Economics and Politics, 1987, Grizedale) is a graduate driven to support the next generation of students at Lancaster.

He’s been a Career Mentor since the Career Mentoring Programme was launched and received an Honorary Fellowship in 2023 for supporting more students than any other mentor – currently more than 250.

And it’s thanks to an advert in Lancaster’s Alumni Magazine in 2008 that Ian became involved in the first place.

“I wanted to maintain my links with Lancaster University and give something back.”

When Ian first arrived in Lancaster in 1984, no such mentoring programme existed and he’d never even visited the campus before beginning his studies.

The university had been recommended to him by his politics tutor at the sixth form college in Worthing where he was brought up and where he still lives.

“I remember finding the university a friendly place and was impressed by the facilities. Lancaster is a lovely city too and close to beautiful countryside in the Lake District and Trough of Bowland.”

Having taken Economics and Government and Political Studies A-Levels, Ian began a degree course in Economics and Politics where among his most inspirational lecturers were David Denver, Harvey Armstrong, Jim Taylor, Gerry Steele and Vudayagi Balasubramanyam.

Graduating in 1987, Ian’s first job was as a Committee Administrator at the London Stock Exchange where he set up an information unit and was involved with business planning and communications.

A re-organisation three years later left Ian redundant and after three months of searching for a new opportunity, he joined the Royal Mail in an employee relations and internal communications management role in the South East where he stayed for ten years.

He spent a further decade at the UK Border Agency, part of the Home Office, where he was the Head of Communications for the London and South East Region before heading up a team of 70 people across the country as Deputy Head of Internal Communications at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Having taken early retirement, Ian, now 60, has more time to focus on his two passions – Lancaster University and Jaguar cars.

When he first became a mentor, Ian had just one student under his wing but this year he’s supporting 19 as well as supporting past students and a number of others who have now left university.

He mentors students in person and online with their CVs, job applications and interview skills and also signposts them to the variety of support provided by the university.

Ian encourages students to make the most of all the opportunities which university offers.

“The university provides a massive range of activities where students can not only have fun and build friendships but also build their employability skills.

I always encourage students to join societies, their JCR and Student Union as well as undertaking work experience with charities and community groups which massively enhances their employment prospects.”

And although the current jobs market is difficult, in the past three months, Ian has steered seven people to receive job offers.

“I find it very rewarding getting messages from people saying they have job interviews and even better, job offers.”

And even though they may have left university behind to begin their careers, Ian encourages them, like him, to retain links via the many alumni events which are organised across the country and the world, and perhaps even to become mentors themselves.

Being the first member of his family to go to university, Ian cites graduating as one of his greatest achievements along with buying his first beloved Jaguar at the age of 23.

His fascination with these cars started in childhood with a Corgi model Jaguar and now Ian has three full-size vehicles including a 1965 Jaguar 3.8 litre S Type once owned by Sir Frank Whittle, the inventor of the jet engine.

Ian’s passion for Jaguars is such that he is the Director for Regions for the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club, the largest Jaguar Club worldwide, and has been featured, with his cars, in Jaguar Enthusiast magazine.

“I have an emotional connection with these cars. I admire their sporting pedigree, their beautiful shape and their history.”

He’s even been known to use his Jaguars for friends’ weddings where he has also taken on the role of wedding photographer as photography is another of his interests.