Business School students sharing their knowledge and experience gained during their placement year

Business School Placement students from the Management department with Senior Management Lecturer Dawn Howard

A Business School placement student accepting their certificate

The Business School proudly welcomed back over 100 returning placement students at a recent award ceremony held in the new Student Centre.

The evening was attended by the Placements team, supervisors, and newly appointed Student Connectors, also returning from their placement year.

Students enjoyed pizza and drinks as they celebrated and shared their experience, forming focus groups and reflecting on their time on placement. One student from each department was then presented with a certificate for ‘Best professional placement student’, as well as Amazon vouchers.

They were as follows:

• Miles Henseleit - Best professional placement student for 21/22 in the department of Accounting and Finance

• Rory Lascelles - Best professional placement student for 21/22 in the department of Marketing

• Paige Lucas - Best professional placement student for 21/22 in the department of Management

• Emily Burrell - Best professional placement student for 21/22 in the department of Economics

Amy Harpur, who recently started as a Student Placement Connector after her placement at PwC Belfast, said:

“I was inspired to apply for the Connector Role as I want everyone to have the opportunity to complete a placement year. I believe you develop so much both individually and professionally - in the month I have been back at Sussex University, I have noticed a massive difference in my motivation and work ethic already”.

Luke Kimber is also a Student Placement Connector and recalls his experience on placement. Starting in the role of Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Travelport, he decided he wanted to explore his passion for law, and after discussing this with his placements manager, they transferred him onto the company’s legal team. Luke said:

“Had I not undertaken my placement year, I wouldn’t have realised that my current path was not the direction I aspired to go in. Moreover, I would not have been able to confirm my passion and commitment to undertaking a career in law so in all likelihood, I may have made some wrong choices in an alternative non-placement-based situation. Overall, its taught me that placements are not about getting everything right and that you don’t have to commit to the field or industry your placement falls within. Instead, they are about trying new things, learning and gaining professional corporate experience whilst also giving you a chance to work out what you like and don't like as a young professional individual.”

The Student Connector role involves students and staff working as equal partners, collaborating to improve the student experience at Sussex. A key part of the Placement Connector role in particular is to help promote and encourage other students to join the placement scheme.

All our undergraduate and some of our postgraduate courses give you the opportunity to apply for a year in industry, where you can put your knowledge into practice. You'll gain first-hand experience of the world of work and understanding of how an organisation works, whilst consolidating and applying your academic learning.

Current students can find out more about the placements scheme on our internal website.