Rob Jelly

Meet Rob. Rob gained valuable experience at Herts, which propelled him into a career at the BBC.

Turning a hobby into a career

During his studies, Rob got involved with the Students’ Union, which led him to a career at the BBC. He held several roles at Crush Radio, the former name of the student radio station run by Hertfordshire Students’ Union (HSU), and spent time volunteering at hospital and community radio stations. Rob says, ‘These experiences allowed me to get my foot in the door at the BBC, and I was soon able to present my own shows. The rest is history!

‘I would not be presenting and producing shows listened to by seven million people without my time at Herts. My time in student radio and the encouragement I received from HSU is the reason I get to call my hobby a job.’

Rob has also hosted the Nuclear Races, a popular muddy obstacle course in Essex, for over 10 years.

Overcoming challenges

Rob’s time at Herts was not without its challenges. Rob’s youngest brother fell ill a week before his final year at Herts began, and his brother spent a year in hospital. Rob went home every weekend to visit his brother whilst juggling his studies and playing for the University’s American Football team.

Rob says, ‘This was the toughest year of my life, but adversity helps you become the best version of you. Something I never appreciated at the time was the people I had around me. Just remember that you are never alone, and at Herts, there is a network to support you.

‘I’m pleased to say my brother is doing well. He still uses a wheelchair but leads a perfectly normal life.’

A career in media

Alongside his work for the BBC, local theatre and his ambassadorship of several creative groups, Rob is in talks to create new educational and comedy podcasts. Rob also continues to seek more opportunities to host events.