After 36 years of offering education to thousands of graduates from across New South Wales and Queensland, local businessman and Co-founder, Duncan Passmore is retiring from Passmores College at the age of 77.

As he enters a new phase of consulting only, the college will be closing its Hunter Street Campus for face-to-face learning and transitioning towards a purely online study model.

Passmores College was originally founded in 1982 by Duncan; his wife, Pamela Butler-Passmore; and Pamela’s father, the late Hon. Chairman of the Board, Gilbert Manley Butler.

They saw a need for young people to have access to education that would result in absolute employability. Over their decades of service to the community, the college has grown from humble beginnings to an educational empire, achieving their goal of an almost 100% graduate employment rate since inception.

Affectionately known within the college and classroom as Mr P, Duncan’s years in the industry have also seen him delivering hundreds of motivational seminars to HSC students throughout NSW including; Newcastle, Central Coast, Port Macquarie, Taree, Tamworth and Armidale.

Duncan said that it is now time for him to join his wife in retirement.

“Pamela and I, with our dedicated teams over theyears, have worked tirelessly to have students reach their potential and get where they want tobe,” Duncan said.

“We have taken great joy in our life’s work and have seen so many students succeed anddo remarkable things. Now it is time to hang up my figurative hat, join my wife in retirement, and enjoy some time with our sevenchildren and 17 grandchildren.

“Passmores will continue, but from now on without face-to-face courses and with Pamela and myself at the helm.”

An agreement with certain universities will allow students who graduate with a nationally accredited Diploma of Business at Passmores to receive 48 credits (the first year) of a Bachelor ofBusiness at selected universities.

IMAGE | Duncan and Pamela Passmore.