international womens day

Fired up and ready to go – Apprentice Mia Collins

Alumni Team | 30 April 20253 September 2026

^{Mia Collins candidate on BBC’s The Apprentice 2025}

BBC The Apprentice candidate Mia Collins thrives on a challenge. Discipline and structure are core to her mindset. Constantly looking to develop herself, she uses feedback as a springboard to learn and bounce back.

Soon after completing her Business Management degree at UWE Bristol, she launched a meal preparation company (making up to 700 meals every Sunday) whilst also working in Cyber Security.

But that wasn’t enough for Mia, who now competes in amateur bodybuilding having taken gold in her first show of the season. Her focus and drive has seen her realise many ambitions.

“What keeps me going? The constant challenge to be better than yesterday” says Mia.

Despite not getting to the final in the series, Mia says she feels like she’s won because she’s learnt so much. We spoke to her about her background, her Grandma, and saying yes.

Mia on her graduation day in 2019

With your bodybuilding background and entrepreneurial flair, you must be very driven. What gives you that push to work hard and succeed?

For me, it comes down to self-discipline and proving to myself what I’m capable of. Bodybuilding and business both require consistency – there’s no instant gratification, but you see results when you put the work in every single day.

“I know that the more effort I put in, the bigger the outcome.”

How has your background influenced you?

I spent a huge part of my life growing up with my Grandma. She was a real powerhouse and had a big influence on me. Losing her felt like losing my right arm; she was everything to me. I use her loss to propel myself forward.

“If I continue to work hard and keep pushing, it helps me to manage my grief as I know I am making her proud.”

My family are in the construction industry, my grandma and grandad set up our family business which my Dad now runs, they are entrepreneurs. They taught me that taking risks can pay off and hard work is always worth it.

A proud Mia outside The Bristol Business School in 2019

You recently returned to UWE Bristol to work with students. Why?

Because I know what it’s like to be a student who’s ambitious but unsure of their next move. When I was a student, I had big ideas but didn’t always know the best way to execute them.

“I want to help students bridge the gap between education and real-world experience – whether that’s through career advice, starting a side hustle, or building confidence in their own abilities.”

Women Entrepreneurs talk at UWE Bristol for International Women’s Day – Mia Collins, Emmie Runciman, Krystina Pearson-Rampeearee and Lisa Strutt

“Sometimes, you just need to hear from someone who’s been in your shoes and taken the leap.”

Finally, from your experience on The Apprentice, what one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to progress?

“Put yourself in uncomfortable situations. Growth never happens when you play it safe.”

On The Apprentice, you’re constantly thrown into tasks that you’ve never done before, under extreme pressure. It forces you to think fast, adapt, and back yourself. And that’s exactly what entrepreneurship is like.

“Say yes to things before you feel ready.”

Whether it’s applying for a job you think is out of reach, starting a business, or putting yourself forward in a room full of people – just go for it. You’ll figure it out as you go.

Mia Collins on LinkedIn

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Our Burmese Python, fighting for women

Alumni Team | 27 February 202527 February 2025

Alum Nicola Barke was the first female ever to compete in Burmese bareknuckle boxing, a sport reserved for the fearless. She’s ranked number two in the world. Her fighting name is the Burmese Python.

Not only a high calibre athlete, Nicola also excels at her career in the male dominated field of banking. She’s Global Transformation Manager at HSBC, managing a team of 170 staff.

Nicola knows that women can do anything they put their mind to.

To inspire us to fight for our rights this International Women’s Day, Clare Willard from the Alumni Team spoke to Nicola about her sport, her battles and her mindset.

The interview

Clare: You studied Biomedical Science at UWE Bristol but ended up with careers in banking, Burmese Bareknuckle fighting and women’s leadership coaching.

How did you get into martial arts and boxing?

Nicola: I didn’t get into fighting to get myself out of trouble!

I was almost a little nerdy as a child. Like the geek at school that tries too hard.

I never had big dreams to become a world champion in martial arts, I just followed my passion.

Clare: I heard you used to do ballet but switched to martial arts and then Burmese boxing (Lethwei), widely recognised as the most brutal of the martial arts. That was a bold move.

What gave you the courage to take on such a dangerous and male dominated sport?

Nicola: For me it was the only sport that forced me, every time I stepped through the ring, to be the best version of myself – emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually.

With every fight I had, I’d step up another level. Not just in the ring, but outside of it, as a person as well.

There was always this little voice saying “Well, if you can’t deal with that, how are you going to deal with someone who actually wants to hurt you?”. I didn’t find any other sport that pushed me in that way.

Everyone sees the brutality of the fighting in the sport, there’s so much more that goes into it in terms of making sure the rest of your life is in check.

Clare: Today is International Women’s Day, and we’re thinking about the need for momentum, urgency and decisive action to address the systemic barriers and biases that women face.

What has Lethwei taught you in terms of mindset, that you use in your fight for gender equality in everyday life?

Nicola: Lethwei has shown me how to step out of my comfort zone. My first Lethwei fight was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done. It was a very brutal fight in a third world country with limited access to specialised healthcare support. There were pretty much no rules – no gloves, head butts, punches, kicks, knees, elbows.

It was a choice. I chose to grow myself. Once I had conquered my fear, the feeling of euphoria and accomplishment was like nothing I’ve ever felt before.

It’s taught me to manage my mindset.

Instead of feeling like the underdog, and seeing the male dominated environment as a negative, I just flipped it on its head.

I thought “I’m the only female and I’ve got an opportunity to represent lots of other women who are going to be coming through”. It motivates me to work to the absolute best of my ability.

It’s pushed me and encouraged me to be as fit as strong as the men and even see if I can overtake them in some areas. I’ve found that my strengths have come through. It’s given me a relentless nature.

In my banking work, I see females who want to progress on the ladder, but who just don’t ever feel like they were a valued voice or see a way to progress that’s authentic to them.

My sport has given me that courage and self-confidence. Now I coach women and help empower them.

Clare: Life has dealt you challenges. You were born with narcolepsy, survived a life-threatening car crash and have battled PTSD. Injuries in your line of work are commonplace, but in 2023 you found out that you have a brain tumour.

What advice do you have for any of our current female students who may be facing challenges in their lives, on how to overcome them?

Nicola:

If there was one piece of advice I could give anyone and everyone, it’s to talk to someone and share how you’re feeling.

I have to put my hands up to being that kind of person who didn’t have an appreciation for depression or being in a bad mental state.

I thought that by talking to others I was going to bring down their positivity, so I just shut myself away from the world. I thought you could just put a smile on your face and control what you feel. But in the end, I just knew that wasn’t really helping me.

Don’t guess how people are going to react. Make sure you go and speak to someone.

Clare : Lastly, you fight professionally, but what else in life would you put up a fight for?

Nicola: Equal opportunities. Whether that be actual opportunities or even just pay as a female athlete. I speak to a lot of male athletes, and they never have to negotiate or barter for a fair salary.

That’s why I’m passionate about empowering women through coaching. We need more inspiring and authentic leaders, fighting for change.

Find out more about Nicola:

Nicola on LinkedIn

Nicola on Instagram

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From vision to reality: two Bristol entrepreneurs share their journey

Alumni Team | 6 March 2024

To mark International Women’s Day 2024, we asked two alumni who are driven female business founders, about their unique journeys. They shared the toughest challenges they’ve encountered and what makes them most proud.

Aisha Thomas founded Representation Matters, an international training consultancy championing diversity in education.

Beck Prior founded Priormade, a sustainable homeware brand, and Prior, a shop stocking artist and designer made products, based in Cabot Circus.

Aisha Thomas

Studied LLB(Hons), 2006
Founded Representation Matters in 2020
Mission is to challenge the lack of representation and the inequality in our current education system
Author of no 1 best seller on Amazon about becoming an anti-racist educator
Awarded MBE in 2022

What does it mean to you to be an influential and successful woman in your field?

Success is really subjective, however to me, it means being the representation that is needed for people that look like me. I spent most of my career, forcing myself to be what I can’t see.

I hope that the pathway I have created has opened doors and provided future opportunities for those following behind me.

How did you get started?

My journey started with the motivation I received from my mum. She was a primary school teacher and often talked about the power of education and how it opened doors and created springboards to new opportunities.

I started out in law, convinced I would be a lawyer, however, after a chance meeting with a young man in prison, I re-thought my pathway and transitioned into education. I had a fantastic time as an assistant principal, however, I wanted to have more of an impact, so after a Ted X talk, a book, and a BBC documentary, I started my business Representation Matters Ltd.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

Being an entrepreneur is not easy.

Making the transition from the classroom, to being on the road, drastically changed my lifestyle. But it has been worth it.

What are you most proud of?

The reach of our work! Just last month, I was in London and I met a woman from Venezuela who explained that she had read my book, and this had contributed to the work she has been doing in Venezuela about the lack of diversity in books in her home country. I guess you never know who is watching!

representation matters website

Beck Prior

Studied BA(Hons) Art & Visual Culture, 2008
Founded Priormade, 2011
Opened Prior shop, 2019
Relocated shop to Cabot Circus, 2021
Supports young talent and community art projects

What does it mean to you to be an entrepreneur?

Really proud.

For me, an entrepreneur is a trailblazing, risk-taker. Someone who is driven by an idea they believe in and won’t give up until it’s accomplished.

I feel quite honoured to be called one.

How did you get started?

Like all creative people who seem to marvelously pinball from one thing to another, it’s hard to find the starting point. Funnily enough, having a retail shop combines EVERYTHING.

I’ve always had a very strong work ethic and left UWE Bristol with many ideas for starting my own business. I worked at Arnolfini, Young Bristol, Creative Youth Network, and as an Art Technician/Post 16 tutor, alongside creating props, puppets, signage, and project-managed public art installations for clients. In 2010 this became product design. I also trained as a hairdresser and make-up artist before starting UWE Bristol and worked in many, many pubs whilst I studied.

On reflection, I can see now how all of these social, public-facing, creative, and teaching roles have combined to help me design and create a retail shop, manage a team of people, and thoroughly enjoy customer interactions.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

Trying to hold on to this huge shop. Main shopping centres and high streets have been designed for large global for-profit companies. We are competing and paying the same as giant retailers such as Apple and Ted Baker! So, we have to work above and beyond to hold on to it.

My other challenge is making peace with the fact that I can’t make my own creations as much as I used to as managing a shop is so time-consuming – I’m still working on coming to terms with this.

What are you most proud of?

Ooofftt… I’m proud every day. Seriously! But the biggest, incredible achievement has to be the amount of money that we’ve made for Independent artists, designers, and makers. Since we opened in Cabot Circus, we have paid out £375,000. 70% of our artists/designers are based in Bristol so it’s huge for the local economy too. The pride I have when thinking about this makes me have goosebumps.

What does it mean to be a woman in business?

I feel powerful being a woman in business. Not just that I am one, but that I don’t feel like an imposter, and I know what I’m doing. I often think women in business feel slightly unconfident and like they shouldn’t be here.

I hope that I’m inspiring other women to not just start their own businesses but to grow them into the global retail sector.

Thankfully the independent retail and craft sector is mostly female-founded and led, so I don’t feel that lonely. However, as both a business owner and a woodworker – I do find myself calling out the comments I receive at huge business networking events, timber yards, and with some customers in the shop: ‘But has it been wired properly have you had it checked by an electrician?; Aren’t you a clever girl; Have you checked that figure with your accountant?’ just to name a few.

prior shop website

Thank you to Aisha and Beck for sharing their inspirational journeys with us. If you are an alum and would like to share your story with us, we would love to hear it.