Rt Hon Gerry Sutcliffe MP
Member of Parliament for Bradford South and Home Office Minister in the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, the Rt Hon Gerry Sutcliffe, completed his Junior Retail Trade Certificate at Bradford Technical College in the early 1970s and, as his career changed, later studied various Trades Union Studies programmes.
“From 16 until I was 18, I worked as a trainee
manager at Brown & Muff’s and first came to
the College to study part-time for the Junior
Retail Trade Certificate. I met my wife, Maria,
who was then a trainee manager from the Coop,
on the course. We have been married now
for 35 years so I have a lot to thank Bradford
College for.
I remember the window sets to
practice display advertising and our tutor, Mr
Frear. In those days the retail trade was very
prominent in Bradford with big department
stores like Busby’s, Christopher Pratt’s and
Cresta House, as well as Brown & Muff’s and
Sunwin House. We are now on the verge on
having some big stores arrive in Bradford and
all the staff will need training, so perhaps the
College will develop courses for them.”
Gerry then moved into printing, working at the
Telegraph & Argus. His involvement in politics
developed via the printing union SOGAT while
at Fields Printers. Gerry became the youngest
full-time trades union official in the country.
He was then elected a councillor and by 1992,
he was the Labour Leader of Bradford Council.
Gerry was elected Member of Parliament for
Bradford South in 1994, following the tragic
death of Bob Cryer. Increased responsibilities
and promotions have seen him working in
the Treasury and Whip’s office; becoming
Consumer Affairs Minister at the Department
for Trade & Industry; working at the Home
Office and Ministry for Justice.
In June 2007 Gerry was made Sports Minister
and in this capacity he will return to Bradford
College in September 2008, to formally open
the new Trinity Green Campus, which features
extensive sports facilities for students and the
local community.
“Bradford College has played a key role in
my life; in personal terms, by introducing me
to my wife, and via Trades Union Studies, in
getting me started in my political career.”
Photograph supplied by the Rt Hon Gerry Sutcliffe MP