Ð԰ɵç̨

Ð԰ɵç̨’s Student Placement Celebration is a chance to salute our talented students and the incredible experience they get through a year in industry.

“I felt a lot more confident that I was employable.” “I found out what is really involved in my chosen career.” “I returned for my final year more focused and disciplined, and understood what I needed to know.” “A placement fast-tracks you on your career path.”

That’s just a few comments from students who are still buzzing after coming back from a year’s placement as part of their degree.

Earlier this year Ð԰ɵç̨ was voted the best uni in the country for work experience and this annual event has become a great way of celebrating the opportunities, talent, dedication, and ambition placement years offer.

Twelve students took awards at the event, held on Wednesday 29 October on campus, which also featured a panel talk from top employers.

Here’s the full roll call of the winners:

• Maddie Bowness (Victoria’s Secret)
• Pranay Valand (Henry Riley)
• Holly Matthews-Eve (Gymshark)
• Maraz Balayet (Leicester City Council)
• Shaun Goodwin (BAE Systems)
• Rhea Bhakta (Ð԰ɵç̨)
• Sabirin Abdi (Ð԰ɵç̨)
• Celina Czarnecka (Ð԰ɵç̨)
• Aaliyah Patel (University Hospitals of Leicester Trust)
• Amanpreet Kaur (Ð԰ɵç̨)
• Amy Leebetter (Porsche)
• Aisha Tahir Druck (Druck / Baker Hughes)

From ‘not sure how I could contribute’ to ‘focused and confident’ – two students reflect on their placement year

Faisa Abdulle is an Accounting and Finance student. Her placement was in finance at an NHS Trust and involved tasks like invoice processing and chasing suppliers. She found the placement inclusive and supportive and learned software skills that went beyond what was covered on her university course. Faisa said:

“I really felt transformed by my placement. When I started I wasn’t sure how much of value I’d be able to contribute, but after six months it felt so different. By the end of the placement I knew what I wanted to do after uni and what I needed to do in my final year to get there. I’ll go into my first job already knowing some key things, so I’ll feel much more confident about starting work than if I hadn’t done a placement.”

Abdullah Seedat studies Economics at Ð԰ɵç̨ and did his placement at Tuck App, a small tech startup company based in Leicester. Tuck is a consumer cashback app which allows its users to save money when shopping at major grocers and high street retailers. Abdullah said:

“I feel doing my placement at a smaller company was a real advantage as I had a lot of mentoring from the leadership. Not every student wants to be placed with a flashy well-known brand, plus it was also a benefit to be based locally.”