Geographer’s career journey

Geographer’s career journey

After one brief false start following university, Sam Colman’s career is now firmly on track with a national sales role for a European company.

Sam (OE 1998-2005), who graduated from the University of Manchester in 2008, says: “I was unsure what the best career for me would be, but was lucky to get an internship for three months at UK ad agency Engine. I hated it.”

A keen sportsman who was prominent in water-polo while at QE, he then took a year out to teach climbing and quad biking at PGL.

“I left PGL to take a position at British Sugar, working in the agricultural team, before becoming Co-Products Sales Manager (selling stuff that wasn’t sugar!) in 2012.”

In April 2017, he started work as Commercial Manager UK (Brewing) for Boortmalt, a Belgian company with ten factories across Europe, selling malted barley to both breweries and distilleries. His role, which is based in Suffolk, involves negotiating all UK brewing sales.

Sam read Geography at Manchester. He was among the first at QE to be taught the subject by the current Headmaster, who arrived at the School in September 2002. Mr Enright says he well remembers Sam for his “great wit”.

For all seven years of his Geography lessons at Queen’s Road, Sam sat next to Robert Mills. In 2016, he was best man at Robert’s wedding.

He continued playing water-polo as an undergraduate and, although out of action through injury in his first year, he then went on to considerable success with the university team. “In years 2 and 3, we reached the national finals, winning silver and bronze.” He was awarded half-colours twice.

“I continued to play regularly until 2011, when I moved to Suffolk. I now play occasionally for either Enfield or Hertford.”

Sam was among the Old Elizabethans who returned to the School in the autumn to speak to Year 11 boys and their parents at QE’s Careers Convention.