Business and Management with a Year in Industry
I've been able to pick the options that will help me in my career.
I originally thought of doing a degree in events management but when I looked into it I thought Business and Management was much broader and would allow me to explore other avenues.
Definitely the year in industry – it’s very beneficial to have that experience before you’ve even graduated from university.
In first year you do a range of modules and get a little taste of everything. I loved that in second and third years we got to choose our modules, because I’ve been able to pick the options that will help me in my career. One of our modules involved creating a new range of products for a local company. We had to pitch our ideas to them, and in previous years they have actually used students’ ideas, so that was interesting. At the moment I’m doing a module on starting your own enterprise. It’s a really fresh module: you get pretty much free rein over the business you want to set up, which is great because you can choose something you're really passionate about and are even offered support, through the Business Start-up Journey, if you want to bring it to fruition.
My lecturers have always been really approachable, whether you want to ask questions about the course or have a general chat. They're very responsive to emails and always have time for you even if you pop into their offices without an appointment! KBS arranges all sorts of extra events and activities too – for instance we went to [fashion retailer] Phase Eight’s headquarters to see how they do their range planning, and we went to a talk with Tom Ilube who is a really big start-up entrepreneur. Usually you’d have to pay a lot of money to see him, but we got that as part of our experience at Kent Business School.
I worked for a corporate event company in London, as an event co-ordinator. They give you a lot of responsibility right from the start – you’re not just there to make the tea! By the end of the placement I was their senior event co-ordinator at their Oxford Street branch.
When I came for the open day, I really liked the Medway campus. The intimacy is nice and Medway students get the best of both worlds as we have access to the Canterbury campus and all the facilities there via the free shuttle bus. The Business School has recently moved over to the Dockyard, where we now have brand-new study space and common rooms for students.
In second year I was very busy – I was chair of the Medway Volunteering Committee and co-founded the RAG [Raise and Give] society on the Medway campus. I’ve taken a back seat with volunteering for my final year, although I’m continuing as a KBS student ambassador.
I have been offered a job at my placement company when I graduate, so I’ll be returning there. But I certainly plan to explore as many types of event as possible, maybe even weddings!
I’d say try to be focused and driven from day one. Know what you want. As you’re going through, think about the long term but, in the short term, take up every opportunity, even if you aren’t sure about it. Now’s the time to give things a go
