Unlocking fair chances for every student. Challenge accepted.
For Ben Hobbs, a scholarship didn’t just fund his degree, it changed his future. Now a University of Manchester graduate, he’s proof that with the right support, every student can thrive.
From struggling to make ends meet to helping others follow in his footsteps, Ben’s unlocking fair chances for every student. Challenge accepted.
When Ben Hobbs graduated from The University of Manchester in 2024, it marked the end of one chapter, and the beginning of another. Without a scholarship, he says he may never have made it that far.
Awarded funding for all three years of his undergraduate degree, Ben describes the moment as life-changing. Having previously struggled to access financial assistance, the scholarship gave him breathing space - and time.
The financial freedom it provided made an immediate impact. Ben no longer had to balance long hours of work alongside studying. He estimates the first year’s scholarship was equivalent to 350 hours at Greggs, where he worked part-time while studying. That time instead became his to learn, grow and get involved in university life.
He became a course representative, joined societies, and in his second year, ran for Student Union election with a Greggs-themed campaign that earned him a trustee role.
Later, he connected with upReach, one of the UK’s leading social mobility charities. upReach partners with top universities and employers to ensure all students, no matter their background, have the same chance to fulfil their potential. The University of Manchester’s partnership with upReach is funded entirely by donors.
As the charity puts it: “A student from a disadvantaged background who gains a first class degree from a top university is less likely to secure an elite job than a more privileged student with a 2.2.”
Through the programme, Ben received tailored, means-tested career support throughout his studies. He was matched with a mentor who helped him prepare for interviews, write applications and build professional networks. He joined insight days at major organisations and landed an internship at the UK’s top law firm.
Ben’s experience inspired him to help others. Through upReach, he’s mentored students and joined career panels, offering advice to those facing similar barriers. He’s also supported the 93% Club, the UK’s largest charity for state-educated students, travelling to London to help disadvantaged young people secure university places through Clearing.
For Ben, this kind of support has a ripple effect.
Throughout his studies, Ben explored a range of potential careers, from investment banking to corporate law, but it was his experience with upReach that helped him understand what he truly wanted: a career with impact.
Today, Ben is back at The University of Manchester, this time as a part-time master’s student in Urban Regeneration and Development. Alongside his studies, he works for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Salford City Council, supporting major regeneration and investment projects.
Day to day, he focuses on Salford’s development pipeline, from public affairs and revenue grants to bringing government ministers to the region, aligning GMCA’s work with national policy to drive growth across Greater Manchester for the next 20 years.
Regeneration wasn’t the career Ben expected to find, but it’s one where he can see the tangible results of his work. Now, he’s helping shape the city that helped shape him, proof that with support, determination and belief, opportunities multiply.
Through philanthropy and partnership, Ben’s story shows the power of giving back – creating a future where every student, no matter their background, gets a fair chance to succeed. Challenge accepted.
Your support helps students like Ben unlock their potential - creating fairer chances for all and shaping stronger communities for the future.