Third‑year economics student Alastair Woodrow was attending a Swansea Bay Business Club event as part of his Year in Industry placement when he spotted an opportunity. The guest speaker was Ian Derrick, the Bank of England’s Deputy Agent for Wales — and Alastair decided to take a punt.
He invited him to come and speak to students on campus. What he didn’t expect was that Andrew Bailey himself, the Governor of the Bank of England, was already planning a trip to Swansea.
Within days, the university had been linked up — and the UK’s most powerful financial figure was heading for a lecture theatre full of stunned undergraduates.
Bailey’s visit included a Q&A session where students grilled him on everything from monetary policy and financial regulation to digital currency and AI. He also spoke about his own career and routes into the sector.
Alastair said he was “amazed” when the Governor agreed to come.
“He presented the students with clear and practical examples that bridged concepts with the realities of the financial world,” he said. “Everyone was thrilled he gave his time so generously.”
Bailey said it had been “a real pleasure” to meet the cohort, praising their “curiosity” and “thoughtful questions”.
Swansea University Pro‑Vice‑Chancellor Professor Deborah Youngs said Alastair’s quick thinking had given students an “unforgettable and invaluable experience”.
The visit is now being hailed as a standout example of what a Year in Industry placement can lead to — and proof that sometimes, all it takes is asking the question.
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