Member Article

My Study Bridge: How a Newcastle international student turned advice into enterprise

Newcastle University graduate Alice Lam, who hails from Hong Kong originally, is scaling up her Newcastle-based business by taking office space in the city centre, following a period of soaring demand.

Alice initially established My Study Bridge in 2012 as a home-based business to support other international students.

Following such high demand for her knowledge and services, the aspiring businesswoman has now taken office space in central Newcastle to allow students and their families to speak to her in person.

Based in the Grade II-listed Bruce Building, formerly the headquarters of Newcastle Breweries, the firm provides practical advice and support to students, primarily from China, who are moving to this country.

Alice become known within the international student community as an invaluable resource with matters including university applications, translations, and advice on practical aspects including paying bills and getting to know the local area.

Many of Alice’s clients are students at the two local universities, but she also works much further afield with those moving from overseas to different parts of the UK.

Alice explained: “I know from my own experience of moving to Newcastle from Hong Kong that there are many questions students will have, many things they are unsure of.

“University applications are the main thing the business helps with, but we provide a lot of additional services free of charge, and a lot of international students come to us regularly. Moving to a new continent can be difficult, but we try to help with that as much as possible.

“The fact we now have office space is very important, as people can come in to see us and speak to us directly.

“They love the fact we are in such an impressive historic building. Our office is a perfect size for a small business and is perfectly located too. The Bruce Building has been a great move for us, and allows us to grow too.”

The Bruce Building is let and managed by property business Walton Robinson, which has its own regional headquarters and sales and lettings office within the building, which recently underwent a £5m restoration project to restore it to its former glory.

Alice counts Walton Robinson among her clients, to help with Chinese translations for their specialist international student service.

Mark Walton, managing director of Walton Robinson, said: “Alice is such a valuable resource for the vast community of international students we have here in Newcastle, and across the wider UK.

“Her own experiences as a student coming here have allowed her to build a business to help thousands of other young people and their families, which is a superb achievement.

“My Study Bridge is a great example of a small, growing business which has taken advantage of the unrivalled location and appeal of the Bruce Building to help take them to the next level.

“By having an office location that can accommodate its growth and that Alice is proud to show off to clients, My Study Bridge can fully take advantage of the many opportunities that will come its way.”

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