Author: Linsey Chaplin

What made me choose Sheffield?

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

Deciding where to study is a massive decision to make. There are such a massive amount of universities offering an even bigger variety of courses to prospective students, but for me Sheffield really did, and still does stand out… here’s why.

First of all, it’s difficult to ignore how good The University of Sheffield really is. Sheffield is a Russell Group university and has a Students’ Union that has been voted the best in the country for ten consecutive years. If this wasn’t enough, the Management School itself is one of few business schools globally that has been awarded triple-accreditation… that in itself is impressive!

Not only is Sheffield a top performing university, but the city is also great. Despite being the fourth largest city in the UK, Sheffield is somehow still able to maintain a real community feel, and a very friendly population. Being from a very small town myself, it was important for me to have a city that is friendly and welcoming… it was the first time I’d lived in a city after all! This community feel is possibly most present in the university accommodation, where there is never a dull moment! In both Endcliffe andRanmoor you’ll find activities to do, from fitness classes, outdoor cinemas or just a drink at The Edge, and it’s the perfect place to settle in.

Another swaying factor for me was the support system available at Sheffield. Starting off at university is a big deal. Personally, I wanted to know if I did have any issues or problems with my course, accommodation or anything about university life I would be supported. When visiting the university, I really felt that staff members genuinely cared, and had the students best interest at heart. I still think this today! The University offers all sorts of help and guidance for students around any type of issue. You can find this help in the Students’ Union, your academic department or your personal tutor. In student accommodation you’ll also have a Residence Life Mentor, who are students that can help you with any personal issues you may be having.

The final thing that swayed my decision was looking at the modules that my course offers. I study Business Management, and I thought that the first-year modules would give me a real understanding of a variety of business areas, which it did. I was then able in my second and third year to concentrate my module choices around areas which I enjoyed the most. Having the freedom to choose modules in all three years of university has meant I have been able to explore all different areas of my subject and helped me to shape a view of where my skills lie.

Choosing where to go to university is such a big decision, which is why I strongly recommend you keep an open mind, ask questions and do your research. There are so many possibilities when you consider what course you would like to study and exactly where you would like to study it – make sure you’re informed so you can make the decision that is right for you. But most importantly, remember that no choice is the wrong choice – go where you feel comfortable and you’ll have the best time!

My summer internship at Performance Engineered Solutions Ltd.

By Hannah Reaney, BA Business Management

During the summer of 2018 I was fortunate to gain an internship as a Marketing Assistant at a local engineering company in Sheffield called Performance Engineered Solutions Ltd. They are an engineering design business that provide solutions to clients’ engineering challenges. They work in a variety of sectors including Formula 1, aerospace, energy, marine, automotive, and many more.

I decided to do a summer placement because I felt that it would provide a great opportunity of putting what I have learnt at university into practice and give me some real-world work experience. During my course I really enjoyed studying marketing modules, and found it interesting learning about the best methods of communication for different businesses. I was excited to have the chance to apply what I had learned in the workplace, and see if I enjoyed a marketing role.

I first found out about the role on the University’s Careers Connect website, where I had to write a CV and a cover letter. In order to prepare, I visited the Employability Hub, the careers service that is based within the Management School, for some practical advice on my application. The Careers Advisor was able to check over my CV and cover letter before I submitted it, and I also gained some valuable advice on how to approach an interview if I was successful. Thankfully, I was! For my interview I was told I had to prepare some work on my thoughts and ideas on the current website and how it could be developed. My interview went well, and I was offered the role.

I really enjoyed my summer internship, and feel that as I was at a smaller company compared to a larger PLC, I was offered more responsibility and was able to see the end results of what I had worked on during my time there. It’s easy to only consider the big names when you’re looking for a placement or internship, however I definitely wouldn’t change where I chose to work.  My summer with PES Performance was a great experience with a great team of people. I’m pleased to say that when my internship finished they offered me a part-time role whilst I complete my studies, which means I have some extra income and some great experience to put on my CV and speak about at graduate interviews. I would recommend a summer internship to anyone!

Food shopping on a student budget

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

Moving to University comes with a million questions, but generally at the forefront of a student’s mind before they go to university is – what am I going to cook and how much will I be spending on food? Having had very little culinary experience before university, this question was on the tip of my tongue – thankfully, three years in I’m still well fed and standing. Here’s my guide to food shopping on a student budget.

Something I wish I had considered in first year that would have saved me a ton of money… ditch the brands. It’s time to say goodbye to your favourite branded cereal, crisps and biscuits and say hello to supermarket own brands. These are literally so much cheaper but taste pretty much the exact same. If there is some branded food product you simply can’t live without (for me, it’s Ben and Jerry’s ice cream) then limit your intake and only buy it when you’re really craving it.

Sheffield has loads of supermarkets and convenience stores, so make sure you’re shopping around. Ideally, shop at budget supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl as much as you can – you really will save loads of money. You’ll find an Aldi just a fifteen-minute walk from the Students Union (St. Mary’s Gate). Even if you walk there and get a taxi back with your bags – you’d stillbe saving yourself money! There’s also Moor marketplace, based in the centre of town, where you can find plenty of greengrocers, butchers and fishmongers selling produce for a more reasonable price than big supermarkets. You might not be able to get everything you need from these places, but you can get the basics for pretty cheap.

Batch cooking is a seriously popular trend amongst students. It’s as easy as it sounds – just cook more than the amount you need, and freeze any of your leftovers for another day. Not only does this save money, but it also means that if after a long day at uni you really don’t fancy cooking, you’re already sorted.

If you’re really set on saving money on your food shopping, cooking vegetarian meals can really help. Eating vegetarian is becoming increasingly popular, and with this comes increased convenience – it is easy to have a quick browse online for a simple vegetarian dish that is full of flavour. I personally decided to go vegetarian at the beginning of my third year and haven’t looked back, and I’ve found myself being healthier and saving money along the way. One of my favourite places to go for inspiration is Instagram, where there are plenty of accounts that show how to make quick, healthy meals, prepared on camera so they’re easy to follow.

Lastly, my top tip is to have fun with your cooking, stay relatively healthy, and appreciate your home cooked meals when you visit your family in the holidays!

My experience as a Sabrecats Pom Cheerleader

By Jade Ellis, BA Accounting and Financial Management

Hi everyone! I’m Jade, and I’m proud to be a Varsity Coach for the Sabrecats Pom Cheerleading team. When most people think ‘cheerleader’, they think of cheery girls waving pom poms in the air – I assure you that being a Sabrecat pom cheerleader is so much more than just that!  We train and perform at Varsity fixtures, have some of the best social events, and take part in volunteering and fundraising for our selected charities. With so many things to get involved in, I think it’s the best club going!

We are made up of three teams of all different levels and abilities – Comp, Varsity and Cheer Dance. The Comp team train twice a week at a high level and perform at competitions around England. The Varsity team train once or twice a week and perform at the larger events such as the football final at Hillsborough and the ice hockey final at Sheffield Arena. The Cheer Dance team trains once a week and also performs at Varsity performances, but has a less demanding schedule. There’s something for everyone, so don’t worry if you think you won’t have enough time – give it a go! Squad auditions are at the start of the academic year, and are posted on our Facebook page. The auditions are not as scary as you might think, and you are more than welcome to audition with your friends. Any gender is welcome – if you have a big smile, loads of enthusiasm, high kicks, huge jumps and strong arms, then you’re the type of person we’re looking for!

 

One of the most enjoyable parts of being part of the team are the socials. Most of our socials are themed nights on Wednesdays starting at Revolution and ending at Roar at the Students’ Union – which normally means dressing up! It’s always a great night, and is a fantastic way to get to know each other outside of practice. One of the best nights is the Christmas Roar, as the Social Secretaries make amazing costumes for everyone, and everyone is in the holiday spirit!

As Varsity Coach I’m responsible for 27 girls, and for choreographing two routines that will be watched by hundreds of people at Varsity events. This seems daunting, however it is an extremely rewarding opportunity, and taking on this role has given me a huge amount of transferable skills like organisation skills, time management, leadership and confidence. There are two coaches per team, so I’m not on my own, and I find it so rewarding to collaborate ideas and work together as a team. It is so satisfying watching your hard work come together to create an amazing routine and gives you a great sense of accomplishment. I am thoroughly enjoying being Varsity coach, as it has made my university experience more exciting and challenging, as well as allowing me to gain skills that I may not have if I didn’t take part.

If you’re considering having a go at cheerleading, I would absolutely recommend it! Performing cheer routines in front of hundreds of people is a great way to build your confidence and keep fit, and I’ve met some amazing friends through the team.

Highlights of my student life so far

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

Being a student has been the most amazing experience, I have made the best friends and the best memories. Being halfway through my final year has made me think a lot about what the future holds, but also about how much I will miss my time at University of Sheffield once it’s all over. Here’s a few of my favourite memories.

One of the most enjoyable parts of being a student in Sheffield was my first year in Endcliffe accommodation. My experience of being in student accommodation was that it was so much fun, and there was always something going on! I made some friends in first year who I have lived with through all of my university experience, and who I believe will stay my friends for life. Living in Endcliffe was a real highlight for me!

Another highlight was the internship I did in the summer of my second year at Barclays. During this time, I moved to London, got some real-life experience and made some great friends. I’d recommend doing an internship if you get the chance, it allows you to see what areas you enjoy the most and build your CV without having to commit to much time to doing so. You can read more about my internship and my experience here.

Working alongside my studies was another great opportunity. I worked in a small local coffee shop, but I made a host of friends and earned money whilst doing so! If you can balance your studies with working I would definitely recommend having a part time job. It means you don’t have to live on such a strict student budget and can treat yourself now and again.

Being at university has been the best experience I’ve ever had, with my top highlight being the friends I have made. These friends really are friends for life, and the thought of not living together next year is so sad! But really, you’ll find a close group who you do everything with, they’ll be like your own family in Sheffield!

University has been so much fun, and I’ve made so many friends and memories along the way. It’s been an unbelievable experience, and one that I wouldn’t change at all!

Why I chose The University of Sheffield

By Katie Bryant, BA Business Management

Choosing where to study your undergraduate degree is a difficult decision. You’ll be spending the next three (or more) years at this university and in this city, so you want to make sure that it’s a choice that is right for you. Here’s what helped me to make my decision.

The Students’ Union

The University of Sheffield has the best Students’ Union in the UK! We’ve been ranked number 1 in the UK for the past 10 years in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey.

Why is it so good? The Students’ Union is known for it’s nightlife, and has its own night club called Foundry which holds club nights six nights a week. The favourites include The Tuesday Club, which is very popular for fans of drum and base, Roar which is where all the sports teams go after their Wednesday matches and Poptarts which is amazing night full of everyone’s favourite cheesy pop hits.

The SU is home to some amazing cafes, restaurants and bars such as Bar One (famous for their burgers), Grill and Go, a Pizza counter and a vegan and vegetarian cafe. There’s something for everyone, and it’s not too expensive. There is also a shop, and even a small cinema!

Accommodation

The first-year accommodation is amazing. I lived in Endcliffe in my first year, however all of the accommodation sites are really great and welcoming.

The Endcliffe/Ranmoore site has an onsite gym, bar, restaurant, canteen and shop. It has everything you need and it has a lovely student community feel. There is 24/7 security so you always feel safe, and every flat is assigned a residence life mentor that visits your flat each week to ensure everyone is settling in well and that any problems are looked after quickly.

Student City

As there are two universities in Sheffield, it is a very student-orientated city. The cost of living in Sheffield is low compared to other cities, which was something that was important to me. The city has everything you could possibly want as a student; great shops, markets, cinemas, theatres and places to eat.

As a student, you’re always on a budget, and there are loads of free activities to do around the city, including exploring the vast array of parks and museums Sheffield has to offer. The Peak District is on your doorstep in Sheffield and the city buses take you there for £1.20 with your NUS card. There is breath-taking scenery, fantastic walks and traditional pubs for you to explore in the peaks.

Alumni

The University of Sheffield has amazing alumni. Some of the most famous names include:

  • David Blunkett – former MP for Sheffield Brightside
  • Stephen Daldry CBE – director of films Billy Elliott, The Hours, and The Reader. Artistic Director of Royal Court Theatre (1992–1998).
  • Jessica Ennis Hill – Olympic Heptathlon Champion, London 2012. European Heptathlon Champion, Barcelona 2010. World Heptathlon Champion, Berlin 2009
  • Eddie Izzard – comedian and actor
  • Amy Johnson – pioneering aviator of the 1930s
  • Sir Harry Kroto – Nobel Prize for Chemistry 1996
  • Lee Child – best-selling author of the Jack Reacher novel series
  • Hilary Mantel CBE, FRSL – author and winner of the Man Booker Prize 2009
  • Helen Sharman OBE – Britain’s first astronaut

Societies

At the University of Sheffield there are over 300 societies and committees to choose from. If you can’t find a society you want to join, you can even make your own! Societies are a great way to begin a new hobby or continue an existing interest, make friends and have some fun. From a list that includes beekeeping, horror, Quidditch and cooking, you’re sure to find something that will interest you! As well as special interest societies there are volunteering and fundraising societies too, which allow you to help a good cause and look great on your CV.

Sports

Sport is available at any level – whether you haven’t played in 10 years, or you play competitively, there is a place for everyone to fit in. Give It a Go sessions are run by Residence Life, where you can try out social sports for fun. This initiative is great, as it allows you to try out new things that you might end up loving. Intramural is a higher level where courses compete against each other. There is intramural football, netball and hockey. Finally, there are BUCS teams, which represent the University and compete against other Universities in a very high level of sport.

My internship at Barclays

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

Over the last summer I was lucky enough to be able to complete an internship with Barclays in the Business Banking division. In this post, I’ll tell you about the experience I had whilst on the internship programme and the highlight of my internship.

My internship began a few weeks after I finished my second-year exams. As part of my internship, I was expected to relocate to London. For the duration of my internship I would be based at the Barclays head office in Canary Wharf.

My first day was very nerve-wracking, but I was fortunate enough to be placed into an incredibly welcoming team, who were very open to me asking questions and giving me some real work to get stuck into. I think that is one of the misconceptions of being an intern – that you won’t be given ‘real’ work to do… I can confirm, after 9 weeks and some long (but rewarding) days – this is not true!

In my first week, I had lunch with my line manager who was keen to find out what I wanted to gain from my time at Barclays, and what they wanted to see from me. I actually found this helpful as it allowed me to create a clear picture in my head about what was expected from me, and to think about the ways that I would ensure that I delivered. Together, me and my line manager set goals for me to reach over the nine weeks I was due to spend with Barclays. After doing this, my manager introduced me to the rest of the team who were all my key points of contact for my internship. Then it was really down to me to get started!

One of the most important things for me was to get to know the team and build relationships with them. One of my objectives required me to work very closely alongside certain members of my team – so I reached out to them, and they were very receptive. We actually went out for coffee together to discuss a strategy which would allow me to reach my goal (which was originally their goal). I truly felt like during my internship that my team were very accessible and willing to help me at all times.

As an intern, we were expected to arrange meetings with 2-5 managing directors of various departments in the bank.  Whilst this seemed daunting at first, it was actually a really useful activity, that allowed me and all 456(!) other interns to gain exposure to senior figures in the bank and understand the scope of the business. Barclays also held several networking events which gave us the opportunity to speak to people from the bank in an informal setting and ask any questions we might have about their role.

If I had to say, the highlight of my internship would be an event I was invited to attend in Manchester. The event was organised by my line manager and involved both my team and their clients. As a team, we put on a networking event for our clients – and had a guest talk from the CEO of the business bank. This was a really exciting opportunity for me, and really interesting to be involved in the front line, client facing roles of banking – which we often don’t hear about!

There were 456 interns in total with Barclays – so it was a really sociable internship. I have made some great friends that I still keep in touch with now – some of these weren’t even interns but instead part of the graduate cohort from previous years! Doing an internship has been a really rewarding experience and helped me gain a clearer picture of what I want to do in the future. If you can, it is definitely something worth doing – make sure you use the Management School’s Employability Hub to keep up-to-date with vacancies and get tips for the application process!

My tips for exam preparation

By Jade Ellis, BA Accounting and Financial Management

With less than a month away until the January exams commence, the exam nerves and stresses start to kick in. So here is a little bit of advice on how to keep calm and reduce the stress of exam season.

Everyone is different when it comes to how to revise effectively – some people find it beneficial to cram and revise large amounts of information at once, whereas others like to have a timetable and space it out, doing little and often.

Personally, I find it beneficial to have a timetable, as being organised with revision naturally calms me and reduces stress. I plan my day out the night before, so I am making sure I make good use of the day and I am also not overloading myself. Within my plan I schedule a break after every few hours of revision, where I either watch a bit of TV or sweat it out at the gym, just so my mind can have a break before taking any more information in. My planning doesn’t just stop there – I also ensure that my fridge and cupboards are stocked with healthy meals and snacks to prevent a last minute dash to the shops when I have better things to do. Snacking on ‘brain foods’ such as nuts, seeds and veg makes me feel like I’m doing some good, and making sure I don’t go hungry helps with my concentration levels.

When it comes to revising, my tip is to start with the module that you find the hardest. That way, if your time management doesn’t go to plan (and I’m sure that’s happened to everyone at least once!) then you have the most difficult module covered, and you can spend your last day cramming the module that you find the easiest.

Another key to successful revision is location. If you find that when you try to complete a day’s revision in your bedroom you suddenly have a huge interest in cleaning and rearranging your furniture, it’s probably best to get out of your room and find somewhere else to study. Sometimes finding a like-minded friend can be useful, and if you have a similar study pattern it can be useful to study together. This has the added benefit of helping you to feel a bit more social over the exam period! Other people know that they study better when they resign themselves to the silence of the library, or sitting in a café.

If you have upcoming exams, I hope that these tips have helped you to think about what kind of work you find most beneficial – finding what works for you is the key to a successful revision session!

My experience of changing course

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

I want to start by saying that I have absolutely loved the past three years of my university experience and would not change any of it! However, it’s important to talk about what happens when not everything is perfect right from the beginning of your time at university. You have made a lot of big decisions in order to get here – what course to study, what university to study at, where you want to live – and sometimes you may want to make a change.

It’s essential that you feel happy with your course at university so that you can really put your all into it and enjoy your time as much as possible. This was something I found challenging when I first started, as I was studying a dual degree in French and Business Management. After my first month or so, I soon realised that French was not for me! It hadn’t been quite what I expected following on from A Level French, but I was really enjoying the Business Management side of things as well as living in such a fun, vibrant city.

I decided to speak to my personal tutor, which was so helpful as I was able to have an honest chat with someone that really wanted to support me and enable me to thrive at uni. I then made the decision to drop French in second year and carry on my course as a single honours Business Management degree. The actual process was simple and easy to do, and my personal tutors in French as well as at the Management School were there to guide me through it.

By changing my course, I feel that I am now fully engaged and excited by all aspects of my university life! I definitely feel a lot happier doing solely Business Management and I’m grateful I had the amazing opportunity to do a placement year at GSK last year!

My best advice would be to not be scared to admit that sometimes things aren’t going as well as you planned – there is so much help available to you during your time at university and lots of people who genuinely want you to do as well as possible.

So, if you feel like you want to make changes, which could be as small as changing a module to changing course, don’t be afraid to speak up and get support to see what options you have.

 

For more information, visit: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid

My favourite Business Management module – ‘Business Challenges’

By Katie Bryant, BA Business Management

Out of all the modules that I’ve studied in my two years at Sheffield, one has stood out as being my favourite – Business Challenges. This is an optional module in first year, and is available to all undergraduate Management School students, whether you’re on Business Management, International Business Management or Accounting and Financial Management. Here’s why I think you should choose it!

What was this module?

This is a very different module as it has only one lecture and one seminar with a presentation. The rest of the seminars are mainly for students to meet, collaborate with their team members and successfully carry out a 10 weeks project work. Tutors will be present in all the seminars to help you with your queries but there will be no formal teaching. This is a very practical module where you learn by doing and there is very limited teaching involved.

Our Business Challenge

The Business Management Experience simulation is based on a realistic but fictional business, where you and your team members act as a board of directors. The simulation allowed my team and I to run a business over a period of time and to make decisions that made an impact on how much profit the business makes.

Our aim was to make as much profit as possible. We were also responsible for maintaining customer satisfaction and deciding on out investment strategy, especially in R&D (research and development), throughout the time we ran the business.

How the module was assessed

The assessment for this module consisted of a ten-week team project which was a PowerPoint with a voice over, critically analysing our groups performance throughout the project. We had to complete one reflective essay as a group and two individual reflective essays. It was great to have such a varied method of assessment throughout the module.

Why this was my favourite module?

  • I loved working in a group. Group work is great as you all bounce ideas off of each other in order to create the best possible outcomes. It is great to bond with people and work well as part of a team and ultimately produce a really good piece of coursework.
  • I found it brilliant that we could be creative within our module. Every week as a team we could decide how much money to invest into which part of the business and what to set the selling price of the products at. It was really interesting to be part of such a realistic simulation.
  • It was amazing to have freedom within the module. We could decide how we presented our final group project. The fact that we didn’t have lectures meant everything was down to us. We had to decide when we were meeting and get the work done without the reminder or help of lectures. It was great to essentially self-lead a module.
  • This was such a unique module, which gave me opportunities to learn that other modules didn’t. Business challenges allowed me to develop many of my skills including teamwork, communication, thinking on the spot and analytical skills.

I really recommend that you choose this module as it is the best module I have completed so far at university!