Consultant biography - Mike Cox

Mike began his career with 20 years in the textile industry working in clothing research, as a factory manager and in sales and design. Ultimately he worked for two of the major mail order companies as a technical representative, travelling throughout Europe and the UK, setting standards and maintaining quality levels.

In 1987, Mike returned to college to study for a degree in English & Sociology which he completed with first class honours. After examining options he followed the degree with a PGCE and taught English at secondary level for three years. During this time Mike became interested in working with long-term unemployed adults and began to run job clubs and courses in job search and employment training for a company offering programmes on behalf of the Employment Services. After two years of building up the level of the programmes offered he decided to develop his own career by going to Manchester Metropolitan University to complete a PostGraduate Diploma in Careers Guidance.

Mike went on to work as a careers adviser in higher education for over four years with Liverpool Hope University and Middlesex University. His career development continued with work for the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) Information Committee, and he wrote and edited AGCAS Information Booklets and acted as Regional Trainer for Prospects Planner and liaison for the Institute of Logistics and Transport.

For the last 5 years Mike has been working as a careers consultant with the Graduate Prospects E-guidance services for graduates whilst also working part-time as an adviser within the university sector and as a tutor on a university career planning module offered via the internet.