Salford Business School Case Studies

SALFORD BUSINESS SCHOOL

CASE STUDIES

What’s life like as a Salford Business School student?

Who better to ask than the people who are here now or have studied here in the past…Here is a small collection of the experiences of life as a Salford Business School student.

You’ll have loads of opportunities at University; you won’t just be in a lecture theatre or a seminar room (or even the library!).

There are fantastic opportunities for work placement which everyone agrees really expands your practical knowledge and boosts your confidence. Our Law students learn mooting (did you know the Salford team won the national mooting competition in 2019 and represented the UK at the Commonwealth mooting competition in Zambia?). Some students choose to study abroad for a term or a year, some take part in national business competitions.

You can read lots more, not just about studying but advice direct from our students about settling in at Uni, the best places to party in Manchester or tips for being a sustainable student. It’s all here on blogs.salford.ac.uk/made-in-salford Keep up to date with the latest info, events and student stories on Twitter and Facebook @salfordbizsch

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CHAZIDA BEGUM BSc Accounting and Finance Chazida took a year out from her BSc Accounting and Finance studies for a work placement with Salford City Council in the accounting department. We speak with her about her experience in the job and her plans for the future.

Tell me about your day to day role in your job. What sorts of things have you been working on?

I have two tasks which I need to complete daily and those are to complete the balances spreadsheet and the funds reconciliations. Besides these, my work load tends to come in at different points of the month.

How has this experience helped prepare you for life after university?

I’ve gained practical experience and insight into some of the tasks and procedures that take place within a finance area, so I feel like I know what kinds of things to expect now if ever I work elsewhere within a similar department.

The placement has also been a major confidence booster as I used to be a very shy and timid person, so it’s definitely given me the push I needed. After I graduate and I’m applying for jobs I’ll be more confident in myself.

How did you secure your placement opportunity?

The application process was really simple and easy. I found the position through the University’s advantage site and then all I had to do was submit my CV and cover letter. They got back to me with an interview, I attended the interview and they got in touch to tell me I got the placement. I think the best thing about the application process was that they didn’t overcomplicate it.

How do you think your course at university has prepared you for working life?

The professional development module in second year was very helpful because I was shown how to prepare and structure my CV and what kind of questions to expect from a job interview and how to answer them. I knew what to expect and what was expected of me by employers.

The other modules just provided us with the Accounting and Finance skills that we needed to come here and the knowledge that we needed, I think I’d be clueless had I just walked in here without having gone to university first.

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What are your plans for after you graduate?

Before I came here, I had no idea what I wanted to do after university. After I graduate, I hope to try and secure myself a permanent job or graduate scheme in either the public or private sector and try to achieve a professional qualification such as CIPFA or ACCA. I would say taking a placement year has helped me to put my career plans into perspective.

Are you looking forward to going back to university for your final year?

I feel more motivated to go back to university. The placement has helped me develop a good work ethic. I used to struggle to make it to 9am lectures but now I get to work at half 7 in the morning.

JENNIFER MALPASS BSc Business & Management Jennifer, who studies BSc Business & Management, shares her experience of her work at Deeset for her placement year and what she has learned from working in a new environment.

What sort of job are you doing?

I’m a central operations analyst. We put merchandisers into jobs and analyse information on them. A merchandiser is somebody who will go into a store and will implement, replenish and demonstrate products for brands.

We have 2000 merchandisers across our company and we allocate them into jobs, to different stores like Asda, Tesco, Morrison’s, Waitrose all the major retailers and Superdrug, Boots, companies like that. We get the merchandisers to demonstrate the products from the brands.

What is your role within that?

It’s a lot of juggling but really interesting. We have quite a lot of clients and once the merchandisers have been out and done what they need to do in the field we get a load of reports back, we have to analyse them, we do a bit of report writing for management.

Moving into employment, what are the things you’ve learned from this experience that will help you?

I’ve developed my competencies, things like time management, communication skills, project management. And also have gained further experience in a role in a company which will be useful at interviews and grad schemes.

Any advice about how to get a placement?

You have to apply for quite a lot because there’s just so many students who are applying. So, definitely apply as soon as possible. As soon as you know what you want to do, just keep applying to all organisations. Even if it’s not a company that are necessarily doing a placement, you could try and get a job on a fixed term contract for a year.

Do you think it’s changed your ideas as to what you want to do after you graduate?

Definitely. I might want to go into data analytics. Before I applied for a placement, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do but I thought it was very important to get the experience within the degree which is why I went for a placement.

If someone was saying to you, should I do a work placement, what would you say?

I’d advise them to do it because experience is really, really important when finishing uni. A lot of employers want experience, they don’t want someone with just a degree because you need to stand out from a lot of other people as well. There are a lot of other applicants that you need to stand out from so experience adds that.

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ADAM GOULD Barrister, Parklane Plowden Chambers, LLB Law, graduated 2014 We spoke to Adam who graduated with a degree in Law and asked him his role as he talks us through his experience with ‘Mooting’ whilst at Salford.

What is it that you’re doing now?

I’m a self-employed barrister. I practice predominantly in personal injury, commercial and employment law, which basically sees me go into court here, there and everywhere and arguing the toss as it were on behalf of my clients.

So how did you move from graduating in law from Salford to where you are?

So, from Salford University, after I graduated, I went to Manchester to study the bar professional training course. After that I worked on a case for a firm called Tandem Law, it was a reparations case, known as the Mau Mau litigation which was in the high court at the time. I also came back to Salford to work as an associate lecturer and then after several years of applying, I secured a pupillage in Leeds, which is a 12-month training provision. And after that I got tenancy in the Chambers that I’m currently at.

What was the highlight of your time at Salford and how did this benefit you moving into your current job?

My highlight would have been winning the national mooting competition.

It was actually held here at Salford, I think it was the third year they were running the competition. It was a long day, a full day from nine to five with back to back mooting and I came out on top which I was very happy about.

There was a mooting module and also a mooting society and through that I was able to develop my skills as an advocate.

Prior to starting mooting, I wouldn’t have been able to speak in front of a room of two people much less in front of a judge with an opponent and a client present and so I think Salford really helped me to come out of my shell and become the confident barrister that I am today.

What from your studies is relevant to your job now?

Excellent question. I think the main feature of what I learned at university that I apply to practice would be the legal research. When you are a junior barrister, every day is different, and the starting point is always finding out what the answer is. And, of course, to find the answer I need to know where to look for the answer.

And so that came in really helpful in my legal practice, knowing exactly where to find the answers, how to digest the answers, how to understand and then how to apply the law to the fact and how to get the outcome.

HASSAN RAUF BSc Business and Economics, graduated 2018 Why did you choose to study Business and Economics at the University of Salford?

I really enjoyed studying Business and Economics during my A-levels as I could associate what I learned to real-life situations and understand the practical application of these from a production, distribution, and consumption of goods & services perspective. Studying BSc Business and Economics at Salford Business School allowed me to gain invaluable insight into important issues challenging government and business leaders, while learning how companies operate internally and within a global marketplace.

What was the highlight of your time on the programme?

During my last year I studied Business Forecasting and International Finance modules which involved delivering reports using the latest global economic data and presenting your findings using statistical software known as STATA. These two modules allowed me to develop strong numerical and analytical skills required to analyse financial data and finish recommendations to stakeholders to make effective decisions.

How did use of Salford facilities, such as the Bloomberg Suite benefit your learning and development?

In my final year, I participated in Bloomberg suite training where I successfully completed Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC). This is a self-paced e-learning course that provides a visual introduction to the financial markets by covering four key modules; Economic Indicators, Currencies, Fixed Income and Equites. This programme linked strongly with modules on the Business and Economics programme such as International Monetary Economics and International Finance, this shows that modules are designed to reflect the current needs of employers.

Did you get involved in any University activities or societies?

How did that help you in your studies or subsequent career?

I was elected to represent students for two consecutive years, playing a vital role for the University to improve student satisfaction and other associated issues.

I was also the Vice President and Co-Founder of Salford University Business Society with an aim to increase student commercial awareness and employability skills.

I participated in the National Mentoring Consortium (NMC) programme, designed to help students from disadvantaged and ethnic backgrounds

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to gain insight and mentored by experienced professionals from industries they are interested in. These opportunities allowed me to develop strong leadership and communication skills which are vital in the current competitive market. The Dean of Business School recognised my role at the University and I was awarded The Dean’s Award for two successive years.

What are you doing now?

After completing BSc Business and Economics, I was offered a summer internship at HMRC, Manchester. I’m currently working as a Compliance Process Policy and Guidance Officer, working on HMRC’s strategic objective of Transformation by building digital future for taxpayers.

How do you think the programme at Salford will benefit you in your career?

Studying Business and Economics at the University of Salford enabled me to develop both theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and abilities to make an impact on my professional career.

Would you recommend the University of Salford to potential students and why?

In an increasingly competitive global job market, a degree from the University of Salford will help you to develop key skills required to enhance your career development and be part of great student community. Salford offers a range of opportunities to its students such as a placement years, study abroad and languages. The University of Salford has got something to offer for everyone, so I would highly recommend studying here.

ZAMZAM IBRAHIM BSc Business and Financial Management, graduated 2017 Why Salford?

I never studied business at college, instead I had a massive interest in mathematics, but by the end of the year I achieved an A* in finance and my college professor advised me to continue studying business and finance at university. One of my Accounting academics, Kathy Maguire, made me feel welcome before I even started at the University. She answered all my questions, relaxed my anxiety about university and explained how she would support all the students on the course through their time at Salford. She was a very warm and welcoming person and as a result I accepted the Salford offer.

About my course Some modules are set and approved by professional bodies so you get the opportunity to develop skills for the work place. The lecturers are really passionate about what they do and it really helps you develop an interest because they make the modules and topics so engaging.

They can adapt their teaching styles to benefit the students which helps us obtain high marks.

My future career The course has helped me develop a number of skills such as team working, time management and communication. Now I’m looking forward to graduating and putting my skills to use.

My placement I completed a one year placement at the University of Salford Students’ Union. It was challenging but it helped me develop more than if I’d not done it. I worked as a Sabbatical Officer, or as many people know me, the Vice-President of Business and Law. I had to help improve the life of Salford students.

My advice to someone thinking about studying at the university of Salford Do research into what you want to do in the future, the academics within the School are professionals and have a lot of knowledge about industry and what companies expect of you, so use them while you’re at university.

My time here summed up Interesting, exciting, stressful, but most of all life changing!

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MICHAEL SCAIFE BSc Business Management with Law, graduated 2018 Having done his work placement with Microsoft, Michael graduated in 2018. After working as Business Development Manager for a tech start-up in London, he is now Pricing Analyst with BoilerJuice in Cambridgeshire.

My best career decision!

I’m 10 months into a one year placement as a technical account manager at Microsoft, which I found on Ratemyplacement.com. My placement year has been, undeniably, one of the best career decisions I’ve made. I’m pleased that, in my year, the business school had a strong push to encourage students to apply for internship placements, as I believe that they are an excellent career move

Projects, networking .... and meeting the prime minister!

I’ve had the opportunity to take on real responsibility, both interacting with Microsoft’s customers as well as working on big, influential projects with senior staff members. I’ve gotten to meet a whole host of really great, intelligent people who’ve given me invaluable career advice and helped me build up my network before I’ve even left uni!

I’ve gotten to travel across the UK, hosted events, learned to code, gained presentation skills and even got to meet the Prime Minister!

Microsoft offer a tonne of free education and training opportunities too, which usually cost a lot of money, so I’m leaving with more than just my core job to put on my CV. I live in Berkshire so being based in Reading is great for me, though I’ve worked in London, Cambridge, Edinburgh. But there are placements all over the UK; not just in London.

The application processes can seem intimidating at first and, believe me, at some points, I was SURE I would be dropped from the selection, but, in the end, it’s all just nerves.

My advice to others doing a placement?

As corny as it sounds, be yourself, do your research and demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm to these companies and you’ll get yourself a placement in no time. Beyond all of the networking and skills and opportunities, it’s pretty nice to be on a salary and earning credit towards your degree, whilst you’re at it.

MOHAMMAD FAISAN (FAZ) AHMED BSc Business Management with Sport Hi Faz, you’re from India? Why did you choose to come to Salford to study?

When I finished high school I wanted to get a degree, something related to sports as well as business. I did a bit of research on the internet and one thing that drew me to Salford University was its partnership with the sports industry. I searched Salford Business School particularly and the work that they do with the sports industry, in and around Manchester especially, is really wonderful.

So how is your course going, is it what you expected it to be?

To be honest, I thought it was going to be a bit different in terms of the delivery but it has exceeded my expectations. Where I come from, we are not used to lots of self study, but over here you’re expected to do a lot of study on your own, apart from whatever you’re given at the lectures and seminars. But I quite enjoy the fact that you get in a seminar and you discuss real life problems. What they teach you for example in Psychology of Sports Leadership, it’s not just picked up from a book, we have real life examples that we work on.

You’re doing your work placement now, how easy was it to find a placement?

It’s quite easy to find the placement on different websites when you come to the University in your second year. We have a module called Professional Development which is designed for students to find placement jobs, graduate jobs, and how you should make a CV, create a CV covering letter, go through an assessment centre.

The benefit from that module was I knew where to find the placement and how to prepare for it.

During your placement, you worked on a sports project, the Salford Red Devils University takeover; what was that like?

The project was to get students from the University of Salford to the Salford Red Devils rugby league game against St Helens. Initially we wanted to have 100 students, but we moved the target to 150, and we ended up actually having 187 on the day. In terms of managing the project itself, my internship is closely related to events management and project management. I think my course had prepared me really well for a smooth transition to a project management internship because I did project management in my second year, and it details everything that you need to be doing as a project manager.

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When I started organizing the event, I had a few challenges which, I would say, helped me in terms of improving me as professional. Then again I had support not just from my manager, but from the marketing team as well as the Students Union.

What I enjoyed the most about it was, it was my project, you know, in terms of managing the project itself I had the lead on it, it was my decisions and I was making decisions on a daily basis. I had support from everyone, I would go and seek advice but at the end of the day it was my decision and dependent upon my thinking so I think it’s prepared me well for after graduation.

So, what’s the future?

Hopefully, finish my degree next year. I’m going to apply to graduate jobs in the UK itself. I’m more confident in terms of jobs than I was two years ago.

The experience of organising the Red Devils Takeover will definitely give me an advantage.

EMMANUEL ADEBAYO BSc Business Information Technology (now called Digital Business) Ayodeji Emmanuel Adebayo spent the second year of his course at Coe College in the USA by joining the Erasmus programme.

How did you end up spending your second year in America?

You can watch the video of Emmanuel talking about his experience. Hold your phone camera over the QR code to open the video

I decided to go abroad to get out of my comfort zone and find out what it’s like to live independently in another country. In the end I chose to go to Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

I had to fill out visa forms and attend visa interviews. It wasn’t too stressful but time was starting to run out at this point because it was nearing August and we had to start college on the 24th August. I had to get all the visa documents and paperwork fast tracked!

How was studying different in America?

Over in America I mixed and matched my modules for the two semesters, I chose four in one semester and four in the next. I did what was best for me and selected two classes relevant to my course and two classes that would better me as a person.

The courses over there were very enjoyable, the way they study is absolutely amazing. The maximum amount of people in the class was 15 and everyone got to speak to the teacher and got one-to-one time.

Everyone got exactly what they wanted, no one got left out. That’s what I like the most about how they study.

What’s the Coe College campus like?

The campus is HUGE even though Coe College has only 1,500 students.

There’s trees everywhere, it’s clean and there’s no smoking on the campus.

It’s a beautiful day whenever you go out. You can go out to the grass and study and no one’s there to disturb you.

They had dorms, like Salford’s halls. Some are for girls only, some are a mixture of boys and girls, some are boys only. I was in the boys only dorm and it’s like a little community.

What was the most important quality you needed to adapt to Coe College?

I’m a talkative guy and I like to know what people are doing. I like to converse with people. Networking is a big part of studying abroad, you have to speak to people, if you don’t talk to anyone it’s a big limitation.

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Tell us about your favourite experience while studying in America.

The best time I had when I was in America – people might not believe me – was participating in classes and being able to present in front of the whole class. I love the fact that I’m able to speak in front of a huge crowd. There were classes where we had to present every week, twice a week, three times a week. That developed me, it changed the way I spoke, changed my body language. It made me more confident.

It sounds like studying abroad helped you develop as a person.

Yes. Doing the programme made me feel like I was one year ahead of all my friends. Within the first two weeks of coming back I got a job, a car and I’m doing presentations in class like it’s nothing. Being on my own I became more independent and I was able to think for myself.

What would you say to anyone considering joining the Erasmus scheme?

It’s an adventure of a lifetime. You’ll never forget it. Definitely go for it, it’s worth it.

JOSH ARMITT Talent Acquisition Coordinator, PZ Cussons, BSc Human Resource Management, graduated 2018 Josh graduated in 2018. We spoke to him when he was in his first job as Resource Consultant at Oscar; he has since moved on to work in-house with PZ Cussons.

What was the highlight of your time in Salford?

The highlight of my time, as clichéd as it sounds, was meeting the people I did. I still have really good solid friendships!

On the academic side of things, I think cross-qualifying with the CIPD was invaluable, because now I don’t have to do that in-house while I’m working at the same time. This really put me up there and set me up.

Did you get involved with any extracurricular activities?

I was in the Business Society, the Rugby Union society and Salford Snow in my first year. In second and third year I was just in Salford Snow, the ski and snowboard society; first as Social Sec and then as President.

What are you doing now?

I’m a Resource Consultant at Oscar, an IT recruitment firm. My job involves two main areas: the first is finding candidates and placing them in the right jobs and the other is actually generating new business for the company.

This involves speaking to clients, networking and meeting potential clients to find out about their staffing needs, budgets and current projects. This is where the Salesmen side comes on!

How has BSc Human Resource Management benefited you?

I always knew I was going to go into HR. I was in a law firm before coming to Salford and moving on from working in HR at the firm, I did an HRM degree.

Recruitment is a key HR process and while agency recruitment is a little more salesy, it’s still fundamentally a HR process.

Having the academic knowledge alongside my commercial experience pretty much set me up to get an HR or recruitment job!

Would you recommend the University to potential students?

Absolutely. Tutors like Martin Walsh were just phenomenal. Martin is a member of the CIPD, he’s an ex-employment lawyer and this is just what you need to learn proper HR and why it’s relevant in the industry.

The HRM course itself from an academic point of view is great, because as I said earlier, you cross qualify with CIPD so you don’t have to do this later on down the line while you’re working full-time.

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GOODWILL NDLOVU BSc International Business As part of his course, Goodwill had the opportunity to study for a term at TAMK University in Tampere, Finland on an international exchange. We talked with him about his experience there.

What did you hope to get from the exchange, before you went?

There was so much I hoped to get from the exchange. I hoped to increase my knowledge within my study field, to explore a different culture and experience living life away from home, family and friends. It’s fair to say, I managed to achieve what I had hoped for and many other things.

What preparation did you have to do before you went?

You can never really know if you’ve prepared yourself enough for the exchange life. Everything needs to be thought about thoroughly. My exchange was within the EU, so there wasn’t much to prepare for in terms of Visas and other travel documents. But I had to make sure that I did some research on the local prices and the life style over there so I had enough finances to cover my time abroad and in case of any emergencies. I also had to look for reasonable accommodation near the city and University.

What was the best bit?

The best bit was learning about the Finnish culture, because it’s totally different. Finns are different from the Brits, how they live and communicate, everything is different and just amazing. I liked how the teaching is delivered.

Group work and all the presentations helped me to be more confident and more open. Overall, I surprisingly enjoyed learning and taking part in all the group works and lectures.

Was there anything that surprised you?

You can watch a video of Tobias Reynolds who also studied at TAMK University as part of his Salford degree. Hold your phone camera over the QR code to open the video

Travelling to a different country, where you don’t know anyone and the culture is totally different from yours, there’s always going to be something surprising. But, what surprised me the most was the help I received from Salford University, TAMK University and those who were around me. All exchange students looked after each other, regardless of their race or background. Teachers were fantastic and there was always help available.

Everything was tremendous and I enjoyed every minute of it.

What did you learn from the experience?

I learnt a lot during my exchange programme. All the experiences I had, I wouldn’t change them for anything. Now I’m independent, able to take risks when needed, communicate well with people from different backgrounds, I’m able to relate more, I’m more confident and my study skills have increased completely. I’m glad that I made the decision to be part of this experience, because it is a once in a life time thing, and you can never go wrong with it.

What advice would you give to anyone going on a similar international exchange?

International Exchange is such an adventure, a lifetime experience that changes you. Whether you’re a shy or an outgoing person, this is your moment, just take a chance and you will never regret it. I’m telling you, it’s worth it. But, make sure you’re ready for it and save up extra money, because there’s so much travelling and partying going on.

AMY HAIGH BSc International Events Management Tell us about your work placement experience with Marriott Hotels in Brussels?

Watch Amy talking about her experience.

Hold your phone camera over the QR code to open the video.

My motivation for doing a placement year was to gain insight into the events industry and get a chance to apply the knowledge and skills I have acquired through my degree so far in a real life working environment. I would definitely say that I achieved this! Working in the events department at the Marriott in Brussels has been an invaluable opportunity to put into practice everything I have learned about event management and has opened my eyes to the practical and operational side of event management.

What did you learn from doing this placement?

Co-ordinating the conferences and banqueting events at the hotel has really refined my organisational skills, my interpersonal communications skills and my knowledge of the events industry. I have learned how to manage my time and how to deal with stress.

Being part of a team and having my colleagues rely on me to work hard and pull my weight has shown me that I am capable of much more than I ever imagined I was. Having the responsibility of handling large conferences and being the contact point for the client was a huge responsibility and has shown me that doing a job that you love and taking pride in your work is the best motivation to work hard.

I would 100% recommend doing a placement year!

It is the perfect opportunity to get some work experience that is specific to your course.

How has this helped prepare you for life after University?

Applying for jobs after graduation can be a daunting experience at the best of times, especially when you don’t know where to start. A professional experience year will give you a clear idea of what kind of job you’re looking for, as well as having an edge on other applicants from the employer’s point of view.

What advice would you give to students who are considering an international placement?

The thought of going abroad can be nerve racking, however this is the perfect time to do it. You still have full support from your lecturers and your personal tutor, as well as your assigned supervisor throughout the placement, so you are never alone and you know you will be coming back to Salford in a year’s time.

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For me personally, it made me realise that living abroad not only looks amazing on your CV, it’s not as scary as it sounds. I went to Brussels in Belgium and I found that everyone at work spoke English, and people in general day to day life are friendly and willing to help if you need anything.

Meeting new people and learning new cultures and experiences is an added bonus if you choose to go abroad. I know now that when I graduate, I will be looking for opportunities all around the world and not just in the UK; working for Marriott has opened a lot of doors for me.

I hope to explore the humanitarian sector too, and hopefully combine my skills and pursue a career in events management within the humanitarian or charity sectors.

Can you summarise your placement experience in a few sentences?

Summarising such a great experience is hard, as I have learned so much.

To put it briefly, I would say my placement has been eye-opening, as I have learned so much about the events industry, about Brussels and Belgium, about the hospitality industry and most importantly about myself and what I am capable of. My confidence has grown exponentially since finishing my placement and that is probably what I am most grateful for.

KATY NELLIGAN British Council, BSc Marketing, graduated 2017 After Katy graduated, she worked as Marketing Assistant at Independent Clinical Services when we spoke to her about her role and her studies. Since then, she has started a new job as Marketing Officer for the British Council.

What do you do, Katy?

I’m currently working with Independent Clinical Services, a healthcare staffing company which provides complex care and solutions services to the UK Healthcare and Life Sciences industry.

Why did you choose to study at Salford?

For me, it is very much about the community, I think it’s the fact that it tied in with the campus and it encourages more of a community feel, compared to an inner city university. Also, the location as well, the fact that you are on campus but also got the city down the road, they’re the two main things for me.

What was the highlight of your time at Salford?

I’d say the opportunity to take the 3 month internship working as Alumni Engagement Assistant at the University, the fact that Salford prioritises students and graduates with any roles that are suitable for them, from entry level roles or roles like social media.

The opportunity has made a difference for me to get a job straight out of university.

So, what are you doing now?

My role now is marketing assistant. I cover three brands within the group of thirty-two brands, it’s very full on with lots to do. The team has grown within the past five years and that’s gone alongside the growth of the company. So, I do paid advertising, digital marketing and manage social media pages. I also work with events and organising conferences as well as design where I have to brief it so it’s a wide varied role.

What from your studies is relevant to your job now?

I’d say elements of theory so the SWOT analysis which I do in my role, one of the first things I did was a competitive analysis which I used the SWOT matrix for. I think knowing how to research is very important as my role is constantly researching and learning to apply the latest findings and innovations. We’ve always got to think where our candidates are and where to find them and that’s always changing.

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Would you recommend the University of Salford to potential students and why?

Definitely, that is down to the fact that there is so much support available.

There is the employability and careers service, I think it’s a fantastic offer where you can go in and give them the job spec of a job you’ve applied for and they do a mock interview with you. I was offered three roles after finishing my internship from the fact I have gone in so prepared with the help of the employability service.

What tips would you give to somebody who’s moving from university to employment I would say at least try and do an internship or some form of paid experience that’s relevant to the role you are looking to go into. Research and know what it is you are going into, although things can change and you’re not necessarily going to be doing the same thing in 10 years’ time, it’s still important to have an idea of what you want to do.

MONICA OREGNA BSc Tourism Management In her third year, Monica worked on a project for the Business Ethics and Sustainability module; this work saw her earn recognition in the PRME Responsible Business Writing Competition. We spoke to Monica to find out about her project, her programme and the importance of sustainability.

What programme do you study and what year are you in?

I study BSc Tourism Management. I’m in my final year, and have completed a placement so this is my 4th year at the University.

I did my placement at Think Money Group where I worked in digital marketing. I really enjoyed working in marketing, so I think this will be a path I stick to.

Tell us a little bit about your project and the subject of your essay?

We started the project by selecting a startup from Indiegogo. I selected a business named Flow Hive which is a really innovative company! Their work focuses on beehives and how people can be smarter in the production of honey. The way their products work simplifies the process of extracting honey – meaning beekeepers can get honey on tap and the extracting process is far less stressful for the bees.

The objective of the project was to study the business and provide them with recommendations about how to reach certain business ethics and sustainability goals. For my essay I chose two sustainability goals and then explored how Flow Hive could improve their current operations and product in order to meet them.

What did you learn whilst working on your essay?

I learned a lot about bees!

But I also learned about how the company was able to use an innovative product idea to gain a competitive advantage and about business ethics in general.

How did it feel to come runner up in the PRME Responsible Business Writing Competition?

Coming runner up in the PRME competition came as a big surprise. I never expected to come in second place! At the same time, I also feel as though I put a lot of effort into my work, so it’s been really rewarding.

@salfordbizsch /salfordbusinessschool

Why are things like sustainability and corporate social responsibility so important?

Sustainability and corporate social responsibility are extremely important.

These days, to be innovative, you have to be sustainable as well. Adopting environmentally and socially responsible policies and practices can even help to give companies a competitive advantage.

A lot of consumers, myself included, are more likely to buy a product if they can see that it is sustainable and that it has been produced ethically.

How has your programme helped you gain a better understanding of responsible business?

Undertaking a sustainability module has helped improve my knowledge of corporate social responsibility and ethics a lot.

As part of the module, we also had to give a group presentation which involved recommending ways the University can improve its sustainability.

Again this really helped me to understand the part that corporate social responsibility plays in the culture and operations of a large organisation.

Find out more about life as a Salford student, read the student blog at blogs.salford.ac.uk/made-in-salford

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