Throwback Thursday: Louis Cannon

This week we’re celebrating former student Louis Cannon, who joined Winstanley from St Bede’s in Ormskirk and studied History, Economics and English Language between 2016 and 2018. After leaving college, he went on to build an exciting career in public transport, beginning with university life in Liverpool.

Louis says:

“After Winstanley, I went on to study Politics at the University of Liverpool, even though I hadn’t taken it at A‑level. Because of the pandemic, I only had around a year and a half of proper on‑campus experience, but I loved my time there and really valued being at such a fantastic university in my home city. When I graduated, I wasn’t certain what career path I wanted to take, so I worked in the finance department at Bidfood for a while — a chance to reset and figure out what direction I wanted to move in.”

“In August 2023, I joined the Go-Ahead Group graduate scheme with Go North West, just weeks before the launch of the Bee Network, which brought buses back under public control in Greater Manchester for the first time since the 1980s. It was an incredible time to be involved. Over the next 15 months, I worked across the business, from operations to control rooms, gaining a real understanding of how public transport runs behind the scenes. In November 2024, I became Road Risk Manager, focusing on safety, incident investigation and claims management across a network of more than 400 buses and over 1,000 drivers. With the company now expanding into the Wirral as part of Merseytravel’s franchising plans, it’s a really exciting moment for transport in the North West.”

“Looking ahead, I’m keen to continue developing as the business grows across Merseyside, taking on more responsibility and helping to improve safety and operations across the network. My advice to future Winstanley students is not to worry if your path isn’t perfectly mapped out — most people’s journeys aren’t straightforward. Be open‑minded, take opportunities even when they don’t match your original plan, and make the most of every experience. And if you’re heading to university, embrace everything it offers, socially as well as academically. Winstanley gives you a brilliant foundation, and if you keep moving forward, things tend to fall into place.”

If you are a former student, we’d love to hear from you! Join our alumni network and share your story: Alumni - Winstanley College