Linsey Chaplin – Page 2 – Sheffield University Management School Postgraduate Blog

Fun days out in the Peak District

By Abigail Cook, MSc Management

If you’re looking for somewhere to go on a day trip and escape the city, the Peak District has many beautiful and exciting places that are waiting to be explored.

Chatsworth

One of my favourite places that I have visited whilst living in Sheffield this year is Chatsworth. Less than an hour’s drive from Sheffield, Chatsworth is a stately home that has been featured in several films including Pride and Prejudice. You can spend a whole day exploring the grand house and the impressive 105-acre gardens. In addition to guided tours, Chatsworth hosts several events throughout the year, including a Flower Show, arts and crafts workshops, garden parties and outdoor cinemas. This is the perfect place to take friends or family if they are visiting Sheffield and want to explore the surrounding area.

Bakewell

Famous for the sweet treat, the Bakewell tart, the quaint market town of Bakewell is located on the River Wye, a short thirteen miles from Sheffield. The town is busy all year round with several attractions including gardens, coffee shops, museums, pubs and shops selling books, clothes and gifts. There are also plenty of opportunities for walking, cycling, climbing and horse riding in the area. One of my favourite places to go in Bakewell is the Bath Gardens, a beautiful, peaceful place in the heart of the town which is free to wander in. The gardens are not that big, but the vibrant flower displays are well worth a visit.

Castleton

Castleton is a beautiful village situated at the Hope Valley in the heart of the Peak District. The village is popular for its caves, history, shops, Winnats Pass, Cave Dale and numerous walks in the area. The village is surrounded by dramatic hillsides and overlooked by Mam Tor (the shivering mountain). It is also possible to walk up the hill to the ruins of one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses, Peveril Castle, which stands above Castleton. One of my favourite things about doing this is the beautiful views over the valley, which make a good reward for climbing the hill! Another unique thing to explore in Castleton is the caves, which are accessible by guided tour. In the caves you can see the stalactite formations, and even take a boat along a flooded tunnel. This makes Castleton a unique and exciting day out for anyone looking to escape the city!

My favourite restaurants in Sheffield

By Abigail Cook, MSc Management

If you’re a food-lover like me, Sheffield has so much to offer you. As well as all of the chain restaurants that you can get in many cities in the UK, you can also try out delicious authentic food from around the world.

Mowgli

If you’re looking for an atmospheric and exotic meal, you need look no further! Mowgli is an Indian street food restaurant that opened very recently on Ecclesall Road. The extensive menu offers a range of delicious, authentic Indian dishes, so whatever you’re looking for, you’ll be spoilt for choice. The whole restaurant has a unique atmosphere, with aesthetic decorations and sparkling lights everywhere you look. Welcoming, friendly and helpful service is another aspect which makes this restaurant so enjoyable; the staff are happy to explain the more intriguing options on the menu and to make recommendations if you’re struggling to choose. One of my personal favourite things about Mowgli are its swinging chairs; in addition to the more traditional dining table and chairs, several of the tables feature unique swinging benches which are a great experience!

Proove

Proove is a less expensive but equally enjoyable option, offering the best pizza in Sheffield (in my opinion)! Although the menu does not offer a huge choice, the pizzas are delicious and freshly cooked in an open kitchen and traditional pizza oven. The food is good quality for a reasonable price, and the service is quick and friendly. This makes Proove one of my favourite places in Sheffield to go for a more casual dining experience or mid-week treat. It makes a nice change from some of the larger, pizza restaurant chains, and as a bonus, is only around a 5 minute walk from the Management School.

The Botanist

Last but not least is the Botanist. The Botanist is conveniently located in the centre of Sheffield, in a stunning, rustic building in Leopold Square. This menu has something for everyone, with a range of delicious options from burgers to salads to steaks, and not forgetting their impressive hanging kebabs! The Botanist is particularly well-known for its unusual, extraordinary cocktails, making the drinks menu well worth exploring. An added bonus is that there is often live music in the evenings. The combination of beautiful interior décor and delicious food makes this my favourite place to take visiting friends or family, or for going out for a celebratory meal.

Taking part in the International Graduate Competition in Montréal!

By Nicola Hodson, MSc Marketing Management Practice

Just over a month ago, I was fortunate enough to be taken to Montréal in Canada to participate in the International Graduate Competition, along with three other students from Sheffield University Management School. Teams from around the world took part in this competition, representing Australia, Taiwan and Spain, to name a few. After spending a couple of days getting to know the other participants and attending some interesting lectures and workshops centered around innovation, the competition began.

We were given a business case study and had 48 hours working in our teams to resolve it, producing a 20 page report, a 10 minute long presentation and a half hour long presentation. We endured little sleep whilst the competition took place, pushing ourselves to the limit to produce the best work we could. Teamwork was absolutely vital and we all pulled together and kept each other’s moral up when we were tired and struggling, having plenty of laughs along the way! It’s safe to say we were absolutely exhausted by the end of the 48 hours! Almost immediately upon handing everything in, we presented our solution to the business case to a panel of judges and I think I can speak for all of our team when I say how proud we felt at what we had produced under such pressure and with such limited time and sleep!

It wasn’t all work however – We managed to find enough time once we had finished the competition to explore a bit of Montréal including the Grand Prix track! We also saw a wild beaver which we were all very excited about, attended a gala dinner with the rest of the competition participants and visited the Olympic Park!

Attending the International Graduate Competition has honestly been one of the highlights of my university experience- it challenged me, it provided me with lifelong friends and it was just such a fun week. I learnt how to work as a consultant and I learnt just how much you are capable of if you put your mind to it. I’m so grateful for such an incredible opportunity!

A guide to Sheffield’s vintage shops

By Heidi Lee, MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management

After several months of living in Sheffield, I found there are plenty of cute and exciting vintage shops that I’ve become obsessed with. Those shops sell clothes, vinyl records that play classical music, ceramics with old designs, books and many more! In Sheffield city centre, you can find those vintages shops almost everywhere from West street and Division street, to Kelham Island. My favourite one that I’ve found so far is the shop in Kelham Island called The Indie Arcade.

The shop has a mannequin sitting just right in the front door that it is kind of hard to ignore. The first time I took a look at the shop was only because the mannequin was so bizarre and it instantly drew my attention to the shop! Out of curiosity, I had to have a look inside and see what other strange things I could find!

In the shop, I feel like I’ve stepped into a crazy jumble sale. There are so many old dresses from wide ranges of brands such as Roxy, H&M to some unknown brands, and the condition of the clothes are surprisingly good! Elsewhere in the shop is a coffee machine, where you can make yourself a cup of coffee, grab an old book and read on the comfy couch, or just hang with friends and enjoy a vintage coffee afternoon. The best thing about vintage stores are definitely the price of the items, which are much cheaper than what you can find on the high street; for example, you can get a lovely leather cross-body bag for around £3, or a cute flower skirt under £10.

In the city centre, Thrifty Store is another vintage shop that I would recommend. Calling themselves Sheffield’s most prominent and cheapest vintage store, Thrifty is a really welcoming and friendly place where I could spend ages searching through their clothes. I do personally like this shop a lot as the price is affordable and the clothes they have are really cool!

I hope that this has inspired you to get out there and see what you can find in the many vintage stores Sheffield has to offer – you might find a real gem!

My experience of the Postgraduate Advantage Scheme

By Nicola Hodson, MSc Marketing Management Practice

One of the many amazing opportunities you get given as a postgraduate student at Sheffield University Management School is something called the Postgraduate Advantage Scheme (PAS), which offers opportunities for students within the Faculty of Social Sciences to carry out a 100 hour long internship for an organisation in Sheffield.

I recently completed my internship as a Production and Marketing Intern for Sort Of…Films, a film and video production company in Sheffield. During my internship, I tried my hand at many things I have never done before, such as assisting on film shoots, including a shoot about women in engineering and a shoot at Sheffield Town Hall about the care system. Previously, I knew next to nothing about cameras and filming, so to be given the opportunity to learn how to do this was really interesting and fun.

The majority of my internship was spent putting together a marketing strategy for the company. This was a brilliant experience to put what I have learnt during my degree into practice and produce something meaningful for the organisation. I was given a huge amount of responsibility during this process, and can genuinely say I was extremely proud of what I produced. This experience has definitely boosted my employability and has been incredibly valuable in terms of skills I can take forwards into a job.

Sort Of…Films were great throughout my whole internship, ensuring that I felt happy with my experience every step of the way and letting me guide the internship depending on my interests. I think the Postgraduate Advantage Scheme is such a fantastic opportunity and one which has helped prepare me for my future career once leaving university.

Fun activities in and around Sheffield

By Anais Cherian, MSc Marketing Management Practice

In the mood for something challenging and fun? Then you’ve come to the right blog post! Here is a list of fun activities in Sheffield that you may not have heard of.

#1 – Jump Inc. Sheffield

Location: 1-2 Meadowhall, Vulcan Road, Sheffield S9 1EW

Is trampolining your forte? Then Jump Inc. is the place for you! And don’t worry if you’re just a beginner, Jump Inc. will brief you on trampoline safety before you start your session so that you can jump around stress free. They also offer student and group discounts, making it the perfect place for you and your friends to jump around. You even get to keep a little souvenir after you’re done jumping! The grip socks are yours to keep forever, you could even reuse them if you plan on visiting Jump Inc. again.

Travel Info: Taking the tram would be the cheapest option. You just need to get off at Meadowhall South – Tinsley and Jump Inc. is a 5-minute walk from that stop.

#2 – Crack the Code Sheffield

Location: Carver Street, Sheffield S1 4FS

If you want to find your inner Sherlock Holmes, then this is the place for you. Show off your problem solving skills to your friends and impress them with your ability to ‘crack the code’. This escape room has a variety of challenges from easy to difficult, allowing you to pick the intensity of your challenges. You and your friends could even compete to break records set by other people who have visited the place before. Their prices are reasonable if you go in bigger groups. You could go in a group of 7 for as little at £12 per person.

Travel Info: Located close to city centre, it is easy to get to by walking. If not, taking the tram or a taxi would be the best bet. If you were to take the tram, you’d have to get off at Rockingham Street. However, taking a taxi would be cheaper since you would probably go with a group of friends and splitting the taxi fair would be easier.

#3 – Laser Quest Sheffield

Location: Unit 3-7, Valley Centertainment, Broughton Lane, Sheffield S9 2EP

Laser quest is one of the best things to do with a competitive group of friends. The adrenaline rush you get while hiding away from laser tags is perfect for the adrenaline junkie within you. The venue provides you with all the equipment you need and automatically counts your team’s score. You could even host a birthday party there! They have great offers for that too. If not you could plan a visit and book your tickets for a price as low as £9 per person. Go on a Saturday or Sunday and you could even play 2 games for £5.95 per person!

Travel Info: Taking the tram here would be the quickest and easiest way here. You would just have to get off at the Valley Centertainment tram stop and you would be at your destination.

#4 – Delta Force Paintball Sheffield

Location: Mortimer Road, Sheffield S6 6JE

Paintballing is not for the faint hearted, and if you are up for the challenge, this could be a life-changing hobby. Delta force is the place to be if you love the wilderness and a competition. This paintball park is located deep within the woods, making you feel like you’re in combat. From body suits to gloves and helmets, the required equipment is provided by the venue so you don’t have to worry about your safety. The training they provide at the start of your combat will make you familiar with the equipment, which is much needed if you’re a beginner. If you seek adventure, this would truly live up to your expectations.

Travel Info: The scenic route to Delta Force can only be appreciated if you take a taxi there. The approximate cost to get there by Uber would be £15- £20, if you travel from the city centre. You could also keep an eye out at society events through the SU website since many societies plan trips to Delta Force and have transportation organized. This could be a great opportunity for you to make friends!

#5- TeamSport Go Karting Sheffield

Location: Tinsley industrial estate, Unit 7-8, Shepcote Way, Sheffield S9 1TH

Ever wondered how you could feel like you’re in a video game? Look no further because all your racing dreams are going to come true. Prices start at £15 per person, perfect for our student pockets. You could either work on beating your own personal score or battle it out with a group of friends, the choice is yours! TeamSport has offers for every type of challenge you’re looking for. You should also keep an eye out on their official website since they update their offers weekly.

Travel Info: To get to this destination you could either take a bus to Europa Way or the tram to FlyDSA arena. Bus 72 from Sheffield Interchange and Meadowhall would take you to Europa Way. The stop is a 5-minute walking distance away from TeamSport Go Karting. If you choose to take the tram, then you would have to get off at FlyDSA arena and walk for about 15-20 minutes to reach your destination.

My favourite things about studying MSc Management

By Abigail Cook, MSc Management

I am currently in my second semester of MSc Management and have particularly enjoyed a number of things about my experience so far.

One of the main things that I like about MSc Management is the variety of subjects covered by the modules. Having never studied anything related to Management before, I started the course with no knowledge of the subject whatsoever. However, in just the first term, I undertook modules in Accounting and Finance, Marketing, HR and many more. Now, in my second term, I am studying a whole new set of modules in an entirely different range of subjects, including Strategic Management, Economics and others. I feel that this has given me a broad overview of many different areas and allowed me to experience a wide variety of topics before I decide what I might like to pursue further or specialise in. I think this is a valuable opportunity that MSc Management offers, especially in comparison with many other courses which have a narrower, more specialised focus.

Another aspect of MSc Management that I have enjoyed is the opportunity to work in teams and undertake group assignments. For my undergraduate degree, I never worked as part of a team, so this has been a new experience for me. Working as part of a small group of students provides the opportunity to develop communication and teamworking skills, as well as the ability to compromise and co-operate. I think that these are valuable skills that will be beneficial in the future and help me to work with potential colleagues collaboratively and productively. It can also be fun to work as part of a group as it allows you to share your ideas and receive informal feedback and support from other students.

One final thing that I like about my course is the range of different assessment techniques. All of the modules are assessed in different ways, such as individual essays, presentations, group reports and exams. For one module, we even had to produce a video! This has given me the chance to experience new methods and techniques that I hadn’t previously experienced, as well as developing new skills and abilities. This also means that the workload is spread evenly across the year, which helps to relieve the pressure during exam seasons!

Making the most of university

By Nicola Hodson, MSc Marketing Management Practice

There are so many things you can get involved with at university alongside your degree; from sports, to societies, to volunteering, there really is something for everyone! In this blog post, I wanted to share some of the extracurricular things I have got involved with during my time at university.

Volunteering

Getting involved with volunteering is one of the best things I have done. There are so many amazing volunteering opportunities for students, whether you’re interested in helping with conservation, animals or children, there are hundreds of options! When I saw how many opportunities there were I felt a bit overwhelmed, but the staff in the Volunteering Office found me a role that would best suit my flexibility and interests, which really helped! Volunteering is a great way of giving back to the community, gaining invaluable experience and meeting new people- if it wasn’t for my voluntary marketing role for a homeless charity in Sheffield, I wouldn’t have considered a masters or career in that area! I have also been involved in running poetry workshops for elderly individuals in sheltered housing, helped donate wasted food to a food bank and been an ambassador for Cancer Research UK- all roles which I wouldn’t have found otherwise if it wasn’t for the Volunteering Office and the helpfulness of the staff there!

Societies

Societies are such a fantastic way of making friends and pursuing your hobbies. I am a member of the Photography Society- we go on trips, such as outings to the Peaks, have talks from guest speakers who are professional photographers and to celebrate Bonfire Night, we had a go at light photography, using sparklers and fire-wool! If photography isn’t really your thing, there are so many other societies to choose from- I think the most difficult thing is making a decision about which ones to try! Why not take up something completely new you have never tried before? You never know, you could find something you love!

Internships

The Management School provides lots of opportunities to ensure you are prepared for life after university. One of these opportunities is the Postgraduate Advantage Scheme, which allows postgraduate students to take part in a 100-hour internship with an organisation in Sheffield. I have just completed my first 50 hours of an internship for a film production company- and I have absolutely loved it! I have had the opportunity to assist on shoots, and I am also helping put together a marketing strategy for the business – experience which already has provided me with skills and confidence.

Making the most of university is so important- the time will fly by, so make sure you don’t have any regrets!

My favourite society: ACA SOC

By Emily Addison, MSc Occupational Psychology

The University of Sheffield offers so many societies, you would be foolish not to join one! There is literally something for everyone, from creative to media, political and academic societies, the options are endless.

Having been at Sheffield for over three years now, I have attended a few societies but there is definitely one that is my favourite: The A Cappella and Beatbox Society, or ‘ACA SOC’.

ACA SOC is an easy-going a cappella group that meets every week to rehearse and experiment with all kinds of music using only their voices. They cover a variety of genres from chart hits to old school classics, choral to hip-hop – it’s varied and a lot of fun! Anyone can join the society as they accept people of all abilities, which means you get to meet so many new people and make friends who are studying different subjects. There is also an auditioned group which is much smaller, who last year performed on Sky1’s ‘Sing: Ultimate A Cappella’ Show.

As well as weekly rehearsals, the society is asked to perform at many Uni and charity events over the academic year. One of my favourite memories was performing ‘Sweet Caroline’ at the Sports Awards and the whole audience sang along followed by a standing ovation. The satisfaction performing as a group can give is crazy; you are not nervous because you have your friends by your side, and everyone knows that singing is good for you!

What I love most about this society is its inclusiveness and light-hearted nature. Yes, it is serious when we are rehearsing for shows and performances, but everyone has fun and it has always provided me with a little break from studying. This is why getting involved in societies is so important, it gives you the break from academia that you need while developing skills and making new friendships.

If you enjoy singing or even just like the idea of ACA SOC, you should definitely give it a go! They are always open to new members, and if you would like to find out more information, you can email them at acappellasoc@sheffield.ac.uk or follow their social media accounts (@shefacappella).

If you don’t want to join, then you should consider attending their end of year show which showcases what they have been working on over the year. It is always a sell-out event, so I would recommend keeping your eye out for tickets this year!

My favourite module – Accounting and Financial Management

By Jing Zhao, MSC Human Resource Management with CIPD Pathway

Starting my course, I already knew I would love the HR-related modules, such as ‘Managing People in Organisations’ and ‘Industrial Relations’, but what came as a shock to me was that one of my favourite modules in the first semester turned out to be ‘Accounting and Financial Management’.

While I was choosing where I would like to study for my Master’s degree, I did not just think about deepening my knowledge in my area of expertise but also broadening the horizon of my professional field, concerning marketing, consulting, information systems or finance-related topics. Thus, I was thrilled to find an accounting module within the Human Resource Management programme at Sheffield University Management School. You may wonder how accounting and financial management is relevant to HRM students. As a student with years of human resources experience, I have found that knowing how to read and interpret financial reports is a vital skill. It’s also beneficial to be able to grasp financial concepts, as this helps to provide an understanding of the company’s profitability and business model. If you’re hoping to eventually progress to HR Business Partner, or to be a professional external HR Consultant, all of this knowledge will be valuable.

So, why was this my favourite module? Firstly, the module leader, Barry Pierce, is committed to making sure that everything within his lectures is accessible for students with no prior knowledge of accounting or finance. The main accounting and financial management topics, such as business strategies, governance, and how to interpret accounting reports, are all covered in the module, and give you a really helpful basis on which you can build your learning. Both lectures and tutorials are used in order to impart information, and make sure that you know how to practically apply it to real-life situations. The module is assessed in two ways, with a group-based coursework and a final exam. Working on the group work was an inspiring experience. The report that we created was based on a real quoted company case in the UK, which was really interesting and gave us a lot to think about. As the module is made up of students from lots of different postgraduate Management School courses, carrying out group work gave me an amazing opportunity to get to know and make friends with students from outside of my course.

I am quite delighted to say that this module of Accounting and Financial Management completely exceeded my expectations, and was an enjoyable and informative module. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who has the option of taking this as an optional module!