2012
"Many 23-year-olds don’t get the chance to experience the real challenges of working for an international corporation. But when Southampton Solent University offered me the BA (Hons) Business Studies course, with a one-year industrial placement, I got the incredible opportunity to work for one of the world’s electronics giants — Panasonic UK.
"I gained valuable insight into the functioning of large corporations, which was a mystery to me before. The placement allowed me to access information and talk to real professionals in the e-business arena. I felt a tremendous sense of achievement with the contacts I made at work, national exhibitions, sales meetings and through the other responsibilities I had with Panasonic’s e-business activities.
"Although I had to move away during the placement year, I didn’t feel isolated from the University. I stayed in continual contact with my tutor, David Saxon, who even visited me a few times at work! It was great how he encouraged me to give my best and achieve my goals whilst on the placement.
"I also participated in Southampton Solent University’s three-day Entrepreneurial Business Challenge. Similar to 'The Apprentice', we were divided into teams and had to come up with a business idea. It felt great when our team was in the Top 3 out of 11 “companies” participating in the challenge. It was like running your own business! The event gained media interest in local newspapers and television programmes.
"I would thoroughly recommend the experience I’ve gained so far at Southampton Solent University."