Baiju Thittala, Mayor of Cambridge, has overcome a range of challenges to become Mayor of the city, including emigrating to the UK and going back to education – starting with an Access to Higher Education course at Cambridge Regional College (CRC) which enabled him to progress to university to study law, then practicing law and being a political representative in our region before taking up his official post.

Baiju’s story starts in Kerala, India, where he began preparing to embark on the biggest adventure of his life – relocating halfway across the world to the UK, along with his wife, to chase his dream of studying law and working in the political space – something he achieved in 2004.

Over his formative years growing up, Baiju worked with his father in the paddy fields of Arpookara village in Kottayam district. Later he moved to Delhi, where he worked all manner of jobs to make ends meet. It was in 2004 when he and his wife, Ancy, decided to move to the UK. Led by her relocating to become a nurse in the UK, Baiju followed, and the duo eventually settled in Cambridge.

Here, Baiju spent time working as a care assistant and like many, he and Ancy faced the challenges of settling in a new country, adapting to a different culture, and starting a family. Planning for their future he planned out his educational journey, and the first step was to study part time at CRC and undertake an Access to Higher Education diploma on the Humanities and Social Sciences pathway – which included history, sociology, and politics at that time.

Baiju studied under the tutelage of Debbie Goodrick, now an Excellence Coach at CRC and tutor on the Access to Higher Education courses. She fondly remembers her time with Baiju. “Baiju was quiet to begin with,” she said, “but it was always clear that he was a highly motivated student. It must have been so daunting for him to return to education in a different country but, as his confidence grew, we really began to see what he was capable of. I can still remember Baiju’s debate speech in sociology all those years ago, because it was delivered with such passion and conviction; it was in that moment that I knew he had a great future ahead of him.”

Baiju graduated from CRC in 2009, having achieved the grades needed to take up a place to study law at university, before taking Employment Law and Legal Practice courses. He put his success at CRC down to the support he received from staff, and from Debbie in particular: “From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you to all my teachers and the staff who helped me to achieve what I have achieved.

“They teach more mature students, who often have family commitments, or are working full-time and studying part-time. But their effort makes a real difference to people like me.

“I can wholeheartedly say Debbie Goodrick is the tutor who helped me and gave me a solid foundation. I stood on that foundation and then I moved on. I cannot put into words how grateful I am to Debbie and all my tutors.

“It is not an easy task, but it is one where you are helping people who have the passion to succeed but for many reasons, did not have the opportunity at the time. The staff are doing the job of emancipating these students.

“I say this not as the Mayor of Cambridge but as a former student of this esteemed establishment – the teaching staff’s contributions make a difference to the students. If I had not been given that opportunity or had not been helped to use my skills and polish them properly, I would never have been the Mayor of Cambridge.”

Leaving CRC with a strong set of grades, Baiju went on to study law at Anglia Ruskin University, before qualifying as a solicitor in 2019 – all the while remaining active in politics.

Even before qualifying as a solicitor, Baiju claimed his first electoral victory – taking the East Chesterton seat in a Cambridge City Council by-election.

In May 2023, he became the Deputy Mayor of Cambridge, before being elected as the mayor proper a year later – and in doing so, he became the first non-white person to do so.

“Being the first non-white Mayor of this prestigious city was a significant milestone for me personally and I will always be grateful to my community and to my fellow Councillors for making me part of history.” 

Baiju will serve as Mayor of Cambridge until May 2025 when his term will end, but thanks to his drive, talent and the educational opportunity of the Access to Higher Education course and his tutors’ support he has been able to achieve his dreams – and make a difference to all in Cambridge.