Hannah Wharton has been part of the college management team since 2013 when she joined RNIB College, now Sense College Loughborough, a specialist further education college supporting young people with a range of disabilities. With a background in the voluntary sector and project management and a passion for inclusive education, she has worked across charitable and educational organisations, including the Big Lottery Fund and Enable, a Nottingham-based voluntary sector learning and skills consortium. Hannah wants all young people to receive the support they need to live their best adult life.
“Our college focusses on developing our student’s confidence, skills, and behaviours so that they are best prepared for their next steps after college.”
Shaping journeys and transforming futures
I have a degree in tourism management, followed by an MBA in marketing and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. My career has taken me through various roles in the charitable and education sectors. An early light bulb moment for me was when my manager at The Community Fund talked to my friend and me about volunteering and trying to make a difference in our spare time. This is something I’ve been passionate about ever since and although busy with a family, I have continued to volunteer in some capacity or other (currently a school governor) since that time.
Before joining Sense College, I worked at Enable, a Nottingham-based voluntary sector learning and skills consortium. As head of employment programmes, I was responsible for helping voluntary sector organisations access contracts to reduce unemployment. We were successful at this, and I led several substantial bids and rollouts of contracts. The chief executive gave me tremendous responsibility, and that helped me grow, learning how to manage a range of people and projects through change, build partnerships and carefully manage relationships. I also built my strategic insight, and I was accepted onto a place on the Common Purpose ‘Meridian’ leadership course, making contacts I am still in touch with today!
A friend working at Action for Blind People (actually my Community Fund friend from years back) told me about a role on the management team of RNIB College Loughborough, focusing on the marketing and development of the college. It felt like the perfect fit — my mum had worked in a special school all her life, and this role allowed me to put my services marketing expertise into practice. I joined in 2013, with an initial focus on re-positioning the college and the internal cultural change around the value of customer service excellence to build local positive word of mouth.
I did a lot of work building relationships with local schools and developing initiatives for potential students to experience college. I worked with governors and colleagues around the value and importance of delivering, a great experience weaving in my services marketing theory into training and meetings at every possible opportunity.
Over the years, the college became increasingly popular. As numbers have grown, I’ve switched focus, supporting the experienced team to lead the delivery of these areas, whilst I’ve looked at other areas with greater focus. I did lots of work to develop the strategic direction of our careers provision, equality, diversity and inclusion, and student voice. I have also done much outward-facing work where I get to see other practices, which gives me ideas to bring back to college.
In 2020, the college was sold by the RNIB to Sense to become Sense College Loughborough. From when we were told that we were for up for sale, this was a hard time at college, with the change and uncertainty and many mixed emotions. The management team needed to continue to lead and ensure colleagues maintained motivation and direction, whilst not quite knowing what lay ahead for us.
I think there was a sense of relief when we heard it was the national charity, Sense, that was going to be buying us. They deliver several services to disabled people, and are passionate about ensuring everyone is able to take part in life. This fitted with how our student cohort had gradually widened to support students with a greater range of needs, and Sense was excited we were coming to be part of their organisation.
During this time, we had COVID to deal with and I had a short maternity leave. Once we were through the transition to Sense, our longstanding principal retired and we welcomed our new principal, my line manager, to college, so lots of change!
Laying pathways to independence
Sense College Loughborough is a specialist further education college for young people aged 16–25. We support students with a wide range of disabilities, helping them build the skills they need, to lead fulfilling adult lives. From their first contact with us, we focus on what they want to do after college and how we can support them to get there — whether that’s employment, volunteering, further education or independent living.
Sense College Loughborough’s vision is ‘a world where no one with complex communication needs is isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential’. As part of the national charity Sense, we work tirelessly to ensure every student receives the personalised support they need.
Where every day is extraordinary
As one of our two assistant principals, I have a brilliant and varied role across the college, and the activities play to my strengths and interests. I lead specific strands of work, managing a small team (admissions, marketing, data, IT and transitions) and collaborate with colleagues on college-wide themes that sit under my responsibility.
Day-to-day, I spend a significant amount of time in meetings with colleagues or externally, attending group meetings linked to current areas of focus. I’ve done much work around developing policies, plans, and strategies for staff wellbeing, EDI, careers and student voice. I’ve also started managing the IT support in college, which is an entirely new area for me and an excellent opportunity to expand my knowledge.
I lead on staff wellbeing and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) at Sense, something I feel strongly about. The college has developed massively in this area, with a real passion from tutors to embed this into college life. I believe that when my colleagues are happy and feel supported, they bring their best selves to work. This, in turn, helps create the best possible experience for our students.
I also oversee the development of our student voice activities and work alongside a colleague to enable our student ambassadors to get involved in influencing decisions at college. I love hearing ideas the students have around shaping the college experience and seeing changes being made based on student feedback.
I’m passionate about continually developing my leadership skills, and the leadership skills of others, particularly when it comes to understanding how to get the best out of people, and working effectively with a diverse range of people. I’m committed to building my knowledge in areas like compassionate leadership, recognising different people’s styles, and understanding their motivations in various situations. By learning and growing in these areas, I aim to be the best leader I can, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.
Equipping students for their next big milestone
Every student at Sense College Loughborough has different aspirations, so our approach is highly personalised. We work closely with students to build their confidence and develop practical skills that will support them in the future. A big part of this is giving students access to a range of opportunities — whether it’s work experience, supported internships, or visiting a range of social care funded provision.
Soft skills, such as communication and self-esteem, will play a huge role for students, whether they are looking for a job and building positive friendships at local groups.
We focus on providing a range of experiences of work and have built numerous relationships with organisations that can help equip students with the skills and experiences to help them be a success in their life after they finish college.
Breaking down barriers in education and work
Young people with disabilities often face additional challenges when it comes to education and employment. Many employers are unsure about how to accommodate different needs, but the key is listening to what each person can bring to the workplace. Creating inclusive work environments isn’t just beneficial for employees — it also helps businesses better understand their customer base.
Access to Work is a fantastic scheme that can provide funding to support disabled employees, and initiatives like Disability Confident and the Business Disability Forum help employers become more disability-smart.
Equally important is access to strong career guidance. Whether it’s through a qualified careers advisor or by evaluating a young person’s strengths, interests and dislikes, finding the right role can be crucial. Opportunities to interact with different employers and experience various work environments can also help broaden a young person’s understanding of the world of work.
I’ve been having several discussions around how issues such as AI, automation and the increasing cost of living could make it harder to find entry-level jobs. Many roles now seem to be disappearing. And once employed, a change in manager, location, or role can significantly impact someone’s success in the workplace. This is why educating people on how their behaviour affects others in the workplace is so important.
I’ve had my own experiences navigating the workplace with neurodivergence. I’m dyslexic, currently awaiting an ADHD assessment and likely dyspraxic too. I know my strengths — energy, enthusiasm and a can-do attitude, but I also recognise my challenges with attention to detail, routine tasks and randomly getting complete mental blocks! This can be exhausting as you have to overcompensate or mask. Having an understanding employer and supportive colleagues makes all the difference. At Sense, I sit on the EDI board, and we’re committed to attracting, developing and retaining diverse talent at every level of the organisation.
Shaping a future full of bright possibilities
Moving forward, I want to continue making a difference. Balancing work with family life is a priority — I have two young children, and both my husband and I work full-time. That means being intentional about my time, whether it’s making the most of my workday or finding moments to relax with my family.
I also love the changing seasons. Longer days mean more time outside with the dogs and horse, or heading to places like Belton House for picnics. And yes, I still find myself sneaking onto my laptop at the weekend — I think I’m just wired that way!
