Victoria Makes Studying a Business Degree While Running Three Businesses Look Easy
Victoria Collins is an East Sussex College BA (Hons) Business degree student, alongside her role as Operations Director and Co-Owner of KingsRock Construction, Coastview Windows and Studio Sett Architects.
She is combining academic study with leading multiple businesses and raising a young family, demonstrating that higher education doesn’t have to follow a traditional path.
Now in her final year of a BA (Hons) Business degree, validated by University of East Anglia, Victoria is combining academic study with hands-on leadership across three businesses - alongside award-winning recognition in the construction industry.
For Victoria, 44, the decision to return to education came from a desire to build on years of real-world experience.
“I’ve worked in and around construction from a young age and naturally grew into the operational and business side as our companies developed,” she explains. “Although I’d already gained years of experience across construction sales, marketing, HR, administration, and practical on-site work, I wanted to deepen my understanding of business strategy, leadership, people management, and sustainable growth. I also wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of higher education whilst balancing work and family life.”
Building businesses with purpose
Victoria is Operations Director and Co-Owner of KingsRock Construction, alongside Coastview Windows and Studio Sett Architects. Across all three businesses, she plays a key role in operations, leadership and strategy.
But for Victoria, the focus goes far beyond delivery and output.
“Across all the businesses, we focus heavily on quality craftsmanship, people, culture, and building homes with meaning rather than simply completing projects,” she says. “Mental health, wellbeing, sustainability, and creating a positive team culture are all huge values within our businesses, which is something I’m incredibly passionate about.”
Alongside supporting the operational growth of the businesses, Victoria says her degree is helping her take a more strategic approach to leadership and workplace culture, ensuring areas such as staff wellbeing, communication, and sustainable business practices are properly prioritised and embedded across the organisations.
Growing confidence through higher education
As her degree has progressed, Victoria says her confidence has developed significantly - both academically and professionally.
“In Year 1, I think I doubted myself quite a lot and worried about whether I was ‘academic enough’,” she reflects. “As the course progressed, I realised the value of combining practical experience with theory. By Year 3, I found myself thinking more strategically, questioning processes more confidently, and looking at business through a much wider lens.”
She credits the course with helping her step back from day-to-day operations and think more strategically about leadership, workplace culture, and sustainable business growth. In particular, studying leadership and organisational behaviour has had a significant impact on the way she approaches running and developing her business.
“The leadership and organisational behaviour elements really resonated with me, particularly around workplace culture, communication, wellbeing, and people management,” she says. “Being able to connect academic learning with real workplace challenges has been incredibly valuable.”
Support from tutors throughout her degree has also played an important role in helping her manage the demands of studying alongside business and family life.
Recognition, awards and industry influence
Alongside her studies, Victoria has achieved significant recognition within the construction industry.
She has been awarded by the Federation of Master Builders and now sits as a board member for her local area, representing and supporting local builders. This has included contributing to industry discussions and engaging with policymakers, including visits to Parliament.
Victoria has also appeared on industry podcasts, spoken at events, and most recently received the South East Construction Award for Woman in Construction.
“For me, those achievements wouldn’t have happened without doing this degree - not purely because of the academic side, but because of the confidence, growth, and self-belief it has given me as a person.”
Balancing business, study and family life
And if running three businesses and completing a three-year degree course wasn’t enough, Victoria is also a mother to two young boys - a reality that requires careful balance and resilience.
“[To balance business, study and family life] It’s taken a lot of organisation, resilience, late nights, and learning to be kinder to myself. There were definitely moments where assignments were being written around rugby training, packed lunches, and bedtime routines.”
And Victoria says that studying locally has been a key factor in being able to balance everything.
“Studying in Hastings made higher education genuinely accessible for me,” she explains. “Being able to continue working, support my family, and still pursue a degree gave me opportunities I may not otherwise have had. It also showed me that education doesn’t have to follow one traditional route.”
Looking ahead
For Victoria, the degree is not an end point, but a foundation for future growth across her businesses and the wider construction industry.
“Studying while running my businesses has actually helped me apply what I was learning and then immediately put it into practice. It made the whole experience feel very worthwhile.
“Once I graduate, I want to continue developing businesses that are commercially successful but also genuinely people-focused,” she says. “I’m passionate about making a difference for future generations coming into the industry, improving the perception of construction, and proving that no matter your age or background, it’s never too late to take a new direction or pursue something bigger.”
If you’d like to develop stronger strategic foundations, confidence, and business perspective, apply for our business degree.