Faye Hyslop

Faye Hyslop is the Environment Manager for SGN in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and a double Open University graduate. 

She began studying while employed by the company as a receptionist. SGN is one of the UK's largest and most innovative gas distribution networks, operating across Scotland, the south of England and Northern Ireland. Faye initially joined as a cleaner aged 19. 

Faye achieved a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Environmental Management, celebrating her graduation milestone with family at a ceremony held in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

This was Faye’s second time of crossing the stage to mark her accomplishments. She had received her First Class Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Environmental Management and Technology at an Open University (OU) ceremony several years before. 

To anyone about to start an OU course, Faye advises: “Be prepared to put in the hard work and the feeling of achievement when you finish your qualification is amazing.”

Career success

Glasgow-based Faye says: “My Environment Manager post is quite varied, from waste management issues to environmental compliance and award submissions, like for the Carbon Trust Standard. 

“And I’m often with our staff on each site, doing environmental audits and inspections with them. 

Studying every lunch break and evening for over seven years for my undergraduate qualification was hard but so worth it knowing I have no student debt and have a successful career to go with my well-earned degree.

“I enjoy getting out and seeing people and changing the way they do things so it’s more environmentally friendly. It’s not just about sitting behind a PC. 

"Studying every lunch break and evening for over seven years for my undergraduate qualification was hard but so worth it knowing I have no student debt and have a successful career to go with my well-earned degree.

“I had felt bored and under-challenged and I was living at home with my parents when I decided to look at further study. I’d studied environmental science at college for A level, so I decided I wanted to take that further. 

“I combined my degree studies with working full time, among many other things – like background acting for TV and musical theatre shows.”

Support for studies

Faye’s undergraduate studies were Part-Time Fee Grant funded, and her supportive company gave her time off to study for exams.

“If you’re prepared to study and stick with it, then the OU’s definitely the thing to do. As long as you manage your time then you can make it what you need it to be," she says.

“Sometimes the work connection was actually helpful, I could look at a work document that related to course aspects, or there were people I could speak to. 

“And I was able to apply the knowledge I was picking up from my studies to my day job, as I progressed. It’s got more and more useful I think as I’ve gone on."

Faye says: “My OU undergraduate degree studies were really enjoyable - hard work, but worth sticking with it because when you find out that you’re graduating with a first, it’s the best feeling. You just feel really proud. Everyone was really supportive.”

And Faye did not stop there with her OU studies. She successfully combined gaining her Masters degree with her full-time job and being on maternity leave. 

Faye’s first two modules towards her OU Masters were paid via a Scottish Funding Council taught postgraduate skills scheme, with her employer sponsoring further ones.

Achieving a Masters

She says: “When I realised by doing an initial two postgraduate modules I was already a third of the way through to completing my Masters, I thought it would be an amazing achievement to complete the whole thing.”

Modules included Project management and Environmental monitoring and protection. Faye’s routine was to study at home in the evening, after putting her daughter to bed. 

“My Masters will help me in any future career but also bring additional knowledge to my current role as we help develop a plan for our company to get to net zero by 2045,” she said.

Now a mum of two, Faye says: “I actually submitted my dissertation whilst in early labour with my second child, and then went to the maternity hospital straight after!”

Reflecting on her Masters, Faye says: “That’s probably my biggest achievement now and I am pleased to have balanced it around working full time and having two children.”

She adds: “The BSc and MSc studies with the OU have opened up lots of avenues for me and I get job offers on LinkedIn on a weekly basis.”