{"id":1040,"date":"2022-09-20T09:01:51","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T08:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/?p=1040"},"modified":"2023-01-05T11:17:47","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T11:17:47","slug":"what-happened-next-meet-kevin-24-years-after-he-featured-in-our-prospectus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.uwe.ac.uk\/alumni\/what-happened-next-meet-kevin-24-years-after-he-featured-in-our-prospectus\/","title":{"rendered":"What happened next? Meet Kevin, 24 years after he featured in our prospectus."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kevin Millwood featured in our 1998 prospectus. We came across his profile whilst looking through our archives and wondered what he did next. This is what we found out.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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UWE Bristol 1998 Undergraduate prospectus, Kevin Millwood profile<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kevin has been a DJ, a night club organiser and owner and a Kung Fu practitioner.  Now he\u2019s Head of Information Security at Hargreaves Lansdown, an award-winning financial services company based in Bristol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s clear Kevin\u2019s a man with wide ranging skills and interests. So, what\u2019s his true passion? His dedication to give back to the community of his hometown, Bristol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humble beginnings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Born and bred in Bristol, Kevin was an incredibly hardworking and promising student, however he lacked the funds to move out of home to attend university. He decided he would stay living at home, attend university and work at the same time to keep himself afloat. The first in his family to go to university, Kevin had no blueprint to follow. But that didn\u2019t set him back. Kevin notes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“University was easily the best time of my life”.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For the love of music<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During his time at UWE Bristol he realised his love of DJing. Starting at the university winter ball his success spiralled and with a team of students he created a promotion company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Friday night at Student’s Union, 1998 prospectus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In 2001 Kevin hosted a UK Press Club night for a record label, where he performed to a packed-out crowd. The night was hailed as best UK club event by the national press. He was asked to become promotions manager of a group of clubs, later running one, and even performing on Radio One Live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kevin DJing at event in Bristol in 2014<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Head hunted<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But he knew he couldn\u2019t work in that industry forever. Kevin wanted to use the skills he gained in his degree and gradually gained more experience, moving up the ranks in IT roles, becoming a manager. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He applied to Hargreaves Lansdown but was turned down. This lit a fire within Kevin who worked harder than ever. Later they headhunted him for a job, and now he is their Head of Information Security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supporting young people to achieve<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A trip to South America was Kevin\u2019s epiphany moment, seeing poverty first-hand made him want to give back. He began by working to rehabilitate young people in the prison system, but felt he could do more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now Kevin is chair and mentor of \u2018Stepping Up\u2019, a Bristol based company that aims for fair representation, supporting people to reach where they want to be in their careers. He\u2019s also chair of Bristol Reggae Orchestra and non-executive director of Lockleaze Sports Club, both local organisations close to his heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI have mentored a lot of people and have learnt from them all. You get something back out of it too\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

He gives talks in schools about cyber security, helping to demystify the topic and encourage people to take an interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have gotten where I am without help. There are lots of underprivileged people who want to better themselves and they deserve help\u201d. <\/p>\nKevin states.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n


After a varied career, what Kevin values most is making Bristol a fairer place to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us your story<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What journey have you been on since studying with UWE Bristol? What are you passionate about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019d love to hear your story. Tell us what you\u2019re doing now, share an old photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can get in touch through our memories<\/a> form or post on social media \u2013 tag us and use #30yearsofUWE<\/p>\n\n\n\n