My name is Ben Marshall, and I studied at The Holgate Academy and sixth form from 1995 to 2001.
When I think back to those years, what strikes me most is the sheer energy of the place. Holgate was alive with possibility. It was a school that didn’t just teach you subjects — it encouraged you to throw yourself into experiences and to find out who you really were. For me, that meant discovering music, leadership, and a sense of community that has never left me.
Music quickly became my world. The music block was where I felt most at home. It was filled with the sound of pianos drifting from practice rooms, guitars being tuned up, and the clatter of percussion echoing down the corridors. Mr Gibbon, our head of music, had a presence that could light up a lesson. He had a way of making music feel serious and fun all at once, and he pushed us to aim higher than we thought possible. Then there was Mr Atkin, who opened the door to music technology. He showed me that music was not just about notes on a page, but also about the craft of recording, mixing, and bringing sound to life in ways that could connect with thousands. That bug bit me early, and it set me on a path that would shape the rest of my life.
The concerts were a highlight of every year. I can still remember the nerves backstage, the hush of the hall just before the curtain went up, and then the rush of adrenaline when the lights hit and the first note was struck. Being part of those performances taught me so much about teamwork, discipline, and the thrill of putting yourself out there. Holgate gave me the chance to play in ensembles, form bands, and perform in whole-school productions. With every show, my confidence grew. Those moments of connection with an audience have stayed with me ever since — whether on stage, in business, or in community work.
I also represented the school on the football pitch, which brought a different kind of camaraderie. Midweek matches gave us the chance to pull on the Holgate kit and test ourselves against other schools. It was never my main focus, but it did teach me lessons about teamwork and resilience that complemented what I was learning in music and beyond.
One of the most formative experiences came through the Young Enterprise scheme, led by Mr Redgraves. He had a gift for encouraging us to think big while also paying attention to the details that made a difference. Our team worked tirelessly to develop an idea and bring it to life, and we ended up setting a national record. At the time, it felt like a thrilling one-off project, but looking back, it was the spark that showed me I had an entrepreneurial streak. It was my first real taste of building something from scratch and seeing it succeed. Years later, returning as a judge, I realised just how much that experience had planted seeds for everything that was to come.
Then there were the school camps at Pooley Bridge. They were the kind of adventures that tested you — with orienteering challenges, long hikes through the Lake District, and afternoons learning to sail. There was mud, rain, and aching legs, but there was also laughter around campfires, the satisfaction of reaching the end of a tough walk, and the thrill of trying something new. Those trips were about more than outdoor skills. They built character, independence, and the ability to dig in when things got tough.
After Holgate, I went on to study music technology at Birmingham Conservatoire. It felt like a natural progression — combining my passion for performance with the technical curiosity Mr Atkin had ignited. But life took an unexpected turn. The company I had started, DRS Ltd, began to grow faster than I could have imagined. Faced with a choice between lectures and clients, I made the decision to leave university and focus on the business full time. DRS was a music production company, and I was fortunate to work with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Coldplay, Bon Jovi, and McFly, as well as many other household names. What had begun as an idea sparked in a classroom at Holgate had become a career that took me into studios and onto stages around the world.
Another major part of my life has been performing with Phil Rostance and The Marshall Band. Phil and I go way back — to Edgewood Primary and Holgate — and he has been a great friend ever since. What began with a few local gigs grew into almost one thousand shows together across the country. Along the way, we played venues like the Royal Concert Hall and Nottingham Ice Arena, won national awards, sold thousands of records, and even enjoyed chart success with our World Cup anthem Raise Your Voice. That single featured the Nottingham Forest squad, Emma and Twiggy from Capital FM, and boxing legend Carl Froch — all of whom were a pleasure to work with. Beyond the statistics, what really mattered was the sense of connection with audiences and the chance to give back through countless charity performances. That journey with Phil remains one of the most rewarding chapters of my life.
That entrepreneurial and creative drive carried me far beyond the UK. Opportunities opened up in places like the USA and Dubai, where I was able to see how music, business, and culture intersected on a global scale. It was a whirlwind — and yet, everywhere I went, I found myself drawing on the lessons first learned at Holgate: seize the moment, back yourself, and never be afraid to try something new.
As much as business has been at the centre of my life, community has always been equally important. I am proud to serve as a trustee of MiTRE, a multi-academy trust committed to shaping education across Nottinghamshire. I have trained with the Institute of Directors to strengthen my leadership skills and bring that learning back into the organisations I care about. Closer to home, I am Chair of Hucknall Sports — one of the biggest and oldest grassroots football clubs in the East Midlands. There, I see first-hand how football can transform young people’s lives, just as it did for me at Holgate.
My church has also been a cornerstone of my journey. It has been a place of service, leadership, and faith — and a reminder that success is not just measured in business, but in the difference, you make to those around you.
Looking back, Holgate gave me more than an education. It gave me the confidence to believe in myself, the resilience to take risks, and the courage to say yes when opportunities presented themselves. It was a school that didn’t just prepare you for exams — it prepared you for life. The lessons I learned in classrooms, on stages, on muddy football pitches, and on windswept campsites are still with me today. They laid the foundation for everything I have done since, and I will always be grateful for the culture of encouragement and possibility that Holgate gave me.
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Made at Holgate
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