Aberdeen piper Calum Lawrie is all smiles after bagging a degree in business management while working full-time and starting up his own bagpipe company.
Mr Lawrie studied at RGU through a part-time distance learning course as he worked full-time as a recruitment consultant.
The 25-year-old took to the Music Hall stage yesterday to collect his degree, saying it had given him the skills and confidence to launch his own part-time business – Calum Lawrie Piping Promotions – a specialist bagpipes performance and tuition company.
His mother’s partner Derek Thomson also graduated yesterday with the same degree. Both passed with distinction.
Mr Lawrie said: “I wanted to explore opportunities for study, having gone straight into work from school.
“The BA Business Management offered an insight into numerous forms of business – HR, finance, marketing, environment etc. which I found enjoyable and engaging.”
The talented musician had to be tough on himself when it came to balancing his social life and his studies.
“I feel this has helped me become a more rounded professional though, and will help me in the work place too,” he said.
“I’ve brought a lot of stuff back to work throughout the course.
“It will be nice to see how the amalgamation of everything works.”
However the degree is not the only thing
Mr Lawrie should be proud of, having had a successful stint with the Bucksburn & District Pipe Band.
He was a founding member of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland (NYPB) and has a number of key performances under his belt, including a sold-out concert in Vigo, Spain, which was shown on live TV.
