Business Management – Page 2 – Undergraduate Blog

What I’ll miss the most about Sheffield

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

It’s sadly come to that time, after four incredible years at Sheffield University, where I have to say goodbye! Here are some of the things that I will miss the most about lovely Sheffield!

The people!

As soon as I came to look around on my open day, I knew Sheffield was the place for me as everyone at the university was so warm and welcoming. Over the past four years I’ve met my best friends, who I’ve been lucky enough to be able to live with each year. University is the perfect place to meet loads of people from all different backgrounds and walks of life, and it’s so easy to find people that have similar interests, as you can make friends with coursemates but also meet people through societies or volunteering.

Not only have I made friends for life in Sheffield, I’ve had many inspiring lecturers that have opened my eyes and taught me about the real world of business and how everything we learn can be applied to the real world. They have also introduced me to exciting new spaces in business management, such as organisational psychology.

The city

Sheffield is a beautiful city that has many perks for students. The nightlife is very fun and cheap, and there’s a night that suits everyone, whether you’re into indie, pop, dance or rock music. There are so many hidden gems around the city waiting to be found, with little independent coffee shops, boutique vintage stores and quirky bars dotted around the backstreets of the city. Kelham Island is one of my favourite areas in Sheffield, previously known as a manufacturing site, which has now evolved into a fun area with lots of alternative new bars, night markets and shops.

Despite the multiple hills that take a toll on your legs, you can also see some incredible views – I would definitely recommend taking a trip to Bole Hill to watch the sunset! Not only this, the Peak District is right on your doorstep, offering some stunning scenery when you want to escape the city.

University

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience at University. Throughout my time here, I have received excellent support from my tutors and have had the opportunity to study exciting new topics in my area of study that have been engaging and challenged the way I view the world. In first year I was a dual student studying French and Business Management, however I knew that this wasn’t the right choice for me. With my personal tutor’s help, I was able to make that tough decision and change my course to single honours Business Management, and I’m so happy that I had that support.

There is so much around the university to get involved with, with endless societies for everything you can think of, from hockey to gin tasting! Finally, the Students’ Union has been a great hub – it really does meet the needs of every student, and is full of great food places, the Sheffield Store, the Student Helpdesk and some amazing nights out every week!

How to balance university work

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

Coming to university is a big jump from A-Levels! Not only are you now living independently, but you’re also in charge of your own learning. This blog post is all about how to balance university work, with all the other things you’ll know want to do as a student!

My first tip would be to start doing any work you have as soon as you get it. Whist it might seem like the deadline is ages away (and it might well be) time goes fast when you’re at uni! Even if you don’t start writing the essay, you can start doing your reading early and noting down any quotes that you think will be useful when actually writing your essay. If you do this, when you come to write the essay you’ll basically just be filling in the gaps and padding out what you already have. This makes the process so much quicker and easier!

One of the mistakes I made in first year was not using the gaps between lectures efficiently. There were days where I’d have two or three hours between my first and second lectures, and pretty much every time I would walk back to Endcliffe or go out for lunch. Two years later in third year, in each of these gaps you’ll find me in the library. It is a much better use of time, and it means when you do get home after uni you can just relax!

Doing work with friends is also something that really helps me, especially revision. I think it is really useful to be able to talk to others about what you’re doing and hear what they’re doing. This can take the pressure of all the revision and reading if you divide topics/readings up between your group of friends. Revision breaks are also much more of a break when you’re with you friends!

Timetabling has really helped me with my university work. If you set aside certain days, afternoons or mornings for specific modules it creates a structure for your work, which I find really useful. Just make sure you stick to this timetable!

I hope these tips have been useful, good luck with your studies!

Adjusting back to student life after a placement

By Juliet Norreys, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

Undertaking a placement year is an extremely formative period in your university life. Going into my year in industry I was quietly confident in my ability to work as a team, be proactive and manage my time well; all the buzzwords which surround employability and were used in my applications for jobs. Little did I know that my year would completely surpass all expectations of how much I could learn and the extent to which my knowledge was lacking initially in practical workplace skills. The processes that I had taken for granted, such as creating an email that is both appropriate and coherent whilst also being professional and eloquent, was something that I thought I had down to a tee. When arriving at work I quickly learnt how not to write an email and realised how steep of a learning curve it was going to be! With this said, my year was incredible, and the investment in my development was second to none – I learnt more than I ever thought possible and have come out of it with more confidence in my ability to succeed in my graduate role.

Just as I had adjusted to my working life, working 8-6 every day and enjoying the freedom that came with my weekend, it was time to return to Sheffield. Initially, I thought that I would slot seamlessly back into student life; I knew it well and had done it for the 2 years previous. I was faced with a weird feeling of uncertainty; Sheffield itself had stayed the same (apart from the concourse near the Students’ Union finally being finished!), and yet I didn’t feel prepared for switching my ‘academic brain’ back on.

Thankfully, it only took a few days to settle back into my old student life, and I quickly felt like I had never left. The biggest difference I found is the mind-set I have now means that I can’t help but pick apart my modules, reflecting on what I learned on my placement and taking a more analytical/practical stance towards my studies. I am also much more productive with my time; the pattern of working 9 hours a days has become habit, and therefore the days of long lie-ins has ended! With these extra few daylight hours it means that I have more time to give to extracurricular activities, so I have thrown myself back into sport and part-time work. The one piece of advice I would give anyone returning from a year in industry is to create bucket list of all the things you have wanted to experience in Sheffield that you haven’t got around to yet. If you want to try out for a sports team, learn a language, or take part in something fun like Bummit, now is the time to do it! The last year goes incredibly fast and therefore you need to make the most of the time that’s left to enjoy Sheffield and student life in general.

Accommodation at Sheffield

By Will Szabo, BA Business Management

In this blog post I will be telling you about the different accommodation you will have in your time as a student, offering first hand advice and tips.

In first year, most students stay in halls of residence, which we call ‘halls’. You can choose whether this is a catered flat, where you pay extra to get your meals provided in a food hall, or self-catered, where you are provided with a kitchen and left to cook for yourself. Then you choose between a single or double bed and en suite or shared bathroom. Sheffield’s accommodation has come in the top 5 in the UK in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey from 2012-2018, so you’re in safe hands whatever you choose – you just need to consider what will suit you best.

Student Halls

There are 3 different 1^st year accommodation villages;

Endcliffe
Ranmoor
City

I stayed in Endcliffe village in the Curbar building. In Endcliffe and Ranmoor, all the buildings are named after famous places in Sheffield like Curbar, Derwent and Howden. Endcliffe and Ranmoor provide a family and ‘village’ experience, where you are surrounded by thousands of other students all in the same boat as you, starting university and looking to meet people. In freshers week you meet hundreds of different people including all the other flats in your building.

The Edge Bar

On both sites, you have access to the social hub The Edge located in Endcliffe. The Edge is a student bar selling food and drink with plenty of sofas and tv’s that show sports fixtures and big events! It’s a great place to meet people and an even better place to sit back and relax. It is also in the same building where catered students will eat.

Your room

The majority of rooms are single bed with en suite however you can opt for a double bed for more money or a shared bathroom for cheaper.

The first year accommodation is nice, but to make it feel like a home you have to make it your own – I recommend lights, pictures, posters – thingsthat make it special to you. In my room I put a clothing rail, a tv and a pull up bar in there. This is what the standard room will look like, with an en suite bathroom to the left.

As long as there is space, you can stay in student accommodation for your second year, however a lot of students choose to find a house with their friends.

Private housing

When I chose who to live with in second year, I ended up living with lads from the flat below me, who I met in freshers week and instantly clicked with. This was quite an easy choice as we all got on very well and were all on different courses, with all different day to day plans meaning no one would ever get sick of another.

Finding a house

In terms of actually looking for the house, there are so many student property shops that do everything for you. In Broomhill, the closest town to Endcliffe, there are over 8 different property shops!

When choosing where to live, you will be able to ask advice from older years, but the main places are Broomhill and Crookesmoor, with others choosing more Hallam mixed areas like Broomhall and Ecclesall Road. All areas are very good and highly dominated by students. Many focus their choice on where their course building is and the distance from the house.

Following years

You will have so much choice of who to live with, whether it’s your course mates, people you lived with in first year, or mates from sports/societies. After second year, many of your friends will take years out studying abroad or on placement, and you could even choose to do that yourself. You may also want to change your house, or the area that you’re living in. This all means that you’ll be changing your house for your last year, which many people I know are planning to do. Luckily, I love where I live and am planning to stay in my current house in my third year, but we have had to find three other people to live with us, due to three of my current housemates going to do placement years.

I hope that this has given you some insight into accommodation at Sheffield! If you want to see the accommodation in person, you can go on accommodation tours at any of our open days.

Opportunities for skills development at The University of Sheffield

By Clemvio Hodge, BA Business Management

Many students come to university unsure of what they would like to do after they graduate. I’m a little different, in that I came knowing what I would like to do and the skills I needed to acquire in order to accomplish my goals. However, many of the skills I have sought to obtain are essential, no matter where life takes you, so I thought I’d share exactly the opportunities for skills development I have found through university.

Workshops | Learn anything that interests you

Always keep an eye on your university email so that you do not miss some of the amazing workshops available – especially if they are HEAR accredited. HEAR is your Higher Education Achievement Record which keeps track of your skills development and will also be shown on your university transcript after you graduate.

One of the most impactful workshops that I attended was an 8-week media course with the Corporate Information and Computing Services (CICS) at through the university. There I learned about and developed a passion for videography and photography, and I have been able to loan equipment and use editing software for free at any time during my course. It also looks really good on my HEAR and resume! Another workshop that I attended, and would definitely recommend, was social media training. This was done through the Employability Hub in the Management School, and provided excellent tips on how to use social media to build a professional network.

Online Tutorials via Lynda.com | Develop skills in software and app usage

Your University of Sheffield log-in credentials give you access to Lynda.com (which you would have otherwise had to pay to access). Through short and easy to follow video tutorials, you can learn app development, use accounting software, or simply find out how to use Excel better – the possibilities are endless. It’s definitely worth signing in and seeing what you can learn whilst you have free membership through uni.

I utilised it to further my knowledge in using Premiere Pro for video editing, Photoshop for photos and graphics, Indesign for publication creation, and tutorials on developing a website.

Competitions and Networking Opportunities | Meet people and visit other places

I would advise any student to attempt the University Business Challenge through the University of Sheffield Enterprise (USE). The objective of the challenge is that a team of students would serve as directors for a simulated company and make relevant decisions over the course of several weeks. The success of the business in terms of profits and other metrics would then be compared among over 300 teams from various universities in the UK and, if you rank in the top 10, you get to travel to compete in the finals.

My team was able to make the top 10 and was afforded the opportunity to visit the IBM Client Centre in London. We got to network with other students, interns and managers at IBM and were able to tour the city.

Another great networking opportunity is City Connections. I was lucky enough to return to London and visited four of the top companies there – one being Ernest & Young. We also had the chance to network with UoS Alumni and gained valuable insight into the working world.

From the list of opportunities I have undertaken, I’m sure you can pinpoint my interests – media and business. You can go further and develop skills through sports clubs, employment skills sessions at the Employability Hub, in engineering via iForge… the list is endless!

My Placement Year at GSK!

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

Why do a placement year?

One of the best decisions I made during my time at University has been to do a placement year. I decided at the beginning of second year that I really wanted to gain experience in a big global company and build my CV, as it is so important nowadays to have more than just a degree. Looking back, I had the best 12 months at GSK – I gained so many skills and I met lots of new friends who I’m still in touch with now. It was a challenging year and I truly developed on a professional as well as a personal level. Not only this, it was also so much fun as there was lots of opportunities to do extra things, such as volunteering.

Finding a Placement

My heart was set on finding a HR role as I enjoyed this module the most and it really stood out to me as something I could see myself doing. However, there are so many different companies to choose from all across the UK so it is a big decision! Luckily, I received tons of support from the University and I was able to speak to dedicated staff in the Employability Hub, who helped me to finalise my CV and provide really helpful advice in terms of where to look for placements and what I could expect from the recruitment process. Not only this, you can do workshops like practice assessment centres, which I would really recommend! My advice would also be to not be disheartened if you have some rejections… there were a few companies I never heard back from or didn’t get past the first or second stage, but eventually I found the perfect one and used all the help available from the Hub to secure the job!

HR at GSK

GSK is a healthcare company with 3 global businesses: vaccines, pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare. I worked in one of the specialised HR departments in the Head Office in London. This was really exciting moving to a new city, and GSK were great as they put you in contact with all the other placement students in a Facebook group so that you can find people to live with. My role varied as I did project work including Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP), mySkills (an application to assess employee skills) and Global Inclusion and Diversity. Typical day-to-day tasks were developing communication materials; writing emails andcreating help guides and articles. Plus, I had roles in Project Management and was a key point of contact for global colleagues in Inclusion and Diversity. One of my highlights would be presenting the team updates to the CEO of Consumer Healthcare! Overall, I gained so much varied experience and it helped me to work out that I definitely want to go into HR in my future career. This experience has also made me much more confident in securing a graduate job as I now have so many experiences to talk about in an interview!

Working alongside your studies

By Grace Wainman, BA Business Management

In this blog post I’m going to talk about how part-time work can benefit your university experience, and what The University of Sheffield offers for students.

Going to university is a big change and with added responsibilities comes increased independence, as well as increased expenditures! Therefore, many students consider part-time work alongside their studies to maximise their student budget. Another obvious benefit is enhancing your employability, to help when finding a job after you graduate. If you’re looking for work, the university recommends working no more than 16 hours per week to ensure you can still succeed in your studies to the best of your ability.

Luckily for us, Sheffield is considered one of the cheaper cities in terms of living expenses. Being a large city means there are many opportunities for part-time work, for example in cafes, bars, shops, etc. However, I want to tell you more about roles available to students within the University.

I currently work with the Management School as a Student Ambassador. You may have seen the Management School’s ambassadors at our open days, as we’re there to help visitors get a feel for the university by answering any questions. We also give tours of the Management School, give presentations about our university experience and write blog posts like this one.

Ambassadors can also take part in calling campaigns, where their responsibilities involve phoning offer holders to speak to them about Sheffield and give them information about their course. Additionally, the University employs students at the start of term to welcome new students and help them move into their accommodation.

These are just a few examples of the opportunities available to earn some extra cash at the University of Sheffield, not to mention jobs on campus at the Students’ Union shop, food outlets or bars. I would recommend Student Ambassador work to new students as a great way to meet new friends on your course and to get to know the staff in your department. You will also build key skills such as communication and confidence and be able to demonstrate your reliability and eagerness on your CV. All the while, having flexible hours and a generous rate of pay!

The Management School supports its students with employability in its own Employability Hub. Therefore, once arriving at Sheffield you can seek help with developing your CV, attend sessions to prepare for applications and interviews and have access to new vacancies for part-time work, placements, or graduate schemes. The Management School works to help you become employable by teaching you skills for the workplace, as well as your excellent grades!

Myself and another Student Ambassador at an open day!

The best places to eat in Sheffield

In Sheffield you have your pick of brilliant food joints that suit a student budget. Here are my favourites!

The Wick At Both Ends

This music-led pub and DJ bar, on the fringes of the trendy Devonshire Street, offers an amazing food menu and even a so-called Pipe & Slippers Sunday for those struggling with a “poorly head” (Sunday roast, £7.95). Pies, sausages and such are made on-site. The menu has many creative twists on classics – for example the chicken burger is a fillet marinated in garlic, lemon, thyme and that iconic Sheffield condiment, Henderson’s Relish. Other favourites include mussels in cider and fish ‘n’ chips. All dishes are expertly plated and presented, making a meal at the Wick At Both Ends a special dining experience without the usual price tag.

Twisted Burger Co.

This burger joint is located in The Harley at the top of West Street and specialises in slightly bonkers, and rather massive, burgers. They also do messy, delicious fries, shakes and sides. Their menu is music-themed and ever changing. Burgers range from meat to chicken to vegetarian, and are all characterised by an array of extravagant toppings and sides. Highlights from the dazzling menu include the Drop It Like It’s Hot, with spicy refried beans, Monterey Jack cheese, hot sauce and a house BBQ sauce, or the Rasher’s Delight, the UK’s first bacon burger featuring a double bacon patty, coleslaw and dressing. Delicious, messy and decadent, these burgers are hard to beat.

Nottingham house

A proper student pub, serving pies, mash, chips and peas. The system is simple: pies are listed on a board and when they run out that’s it. No other choices, no pretending to be something else, just good pies with mash, chips, peas and gravy. For the £7.95 price tag, ‘Notty House’ is one of Sheffield’s treasures.

Bungalows & Bears

Every Wednesday at Bungalow and Bears it’s wings night. You can pick up 10 BBQ wings with pineapple slaw, sweet potato fries and corn on the cob for less than £10 and also throw in two beers for just £5! It’s a student favourite in the heart of Sheffield city centre. Student-friendly prices and amazing tasting meals. The venue is also pretty impressive, as it’s housed in an old fire station, so it’s definitely one to take your friends to when you’re showing them around Sheffield!

The York

The York dates back to the 1830s, where it was used as an inn and alehouse for travellers, and has been serving food and drink under its current guise since 2010. Today, the pub is known for its cosy interior, featuring fireplaces, wood panelling and plush leather seating, and its home cooked, delicious pub fare. The menu largely sticks to the classics, offering comforting, hearty dishes that are certain to please almost everyone. Try the pie of the day served with mushy peas and hand cut chips for an authentic taste of the north. As well as delicious food, The York also offers a range of selected beers from local breweries, both bottled and draft.

Street Food Chef

This multi award-wining family-run Mexican street food outlet offer a healthy fast food alternative to the people of Sheffield. They’re probably best known for their burritos – think chicken in smoky tomato sauce or tender slow-cooked pulled pork – but they also serve tacos and quesadillas as well as gluten and dairy-free options at their Burrito Bar or Mexican Canteen. Mexicali drinks include Red Pig beer, Jarritos, Desperado and more. There’s a huge burrito challenge too, if you’re up to it.

Falafel King

Falafels are the food revolution of the last few years. Little ventures serving up these delicious Middle-Eastern goodies are popping up all over the country, and Sheffield is no different. Falafel King has some of the best fried chickpea balls in town and the ever-present queue is proof of that. Popular with the student crowd, pop in for a well-stuffed pitta for just a few quid.

Have fun exploring all of these places, and I hope that you love them as much as I do! If you have any favourites that I’ve missed, let us know!

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!