Amy
Turner

Why did you choose NTU and your course?

“I was always good at business studies at A Level, so choosing a business course was a no-brainer for me, but I always imagined myself working in a global organisation, doing something where I could have a global impact. Choosing International Business seemed the best fit for me, and NTU in particular had an extensive course, a global influence in itself and such a large recognition amongst UK companies – it was the best choice for me by far!”

What stood out about Nottingham Business School?

“The range of courses available was something that stood out to me, as well as its links with so many large organisations and seeing where past students had gone on to study was really eye-opening. I researched and saw the reviews of the teaching too, which stood out among some other university’s business schools that I was looking into.”

How would you rate the course facilities and why?

“The course facilities are fantastic, there is so much space to allow for independent study, but also a lot of space for group collaborations which is something that is so important when completing university work. Even if you are working on a piece of individual coursework or studying for an exam it’s so useful to have that extra input from peers and from tutors where it is needed.”

What is your favourite thing about your course?

“My favourite thing about my course is the diverse group of students that I get to work alongside. Being International Business, it attracts many international students, and because of this it has added to my learning as I get to hear first-hand about other cultures and how they differ from the UK, particularly in a business sense. The tutors are great, they are very experienced in their subject area which really adds to the module learning as they give real life examples of how certain theories can be applied and how they dealt with specific situations in industry.”

Please tell us about your placement experience – what was the application process like? What did your role involve?

My placement was at The Lubrizol Corporation, based in Hazelwood, Derbyshire as the Global Communications and Business Support Placement. The application process for my placement was really straight forward, I submitted an online application containing a CV, cover letter and some examples of work I had completed to a high standard in my first year. I then had a phone interview that was short and informal, which was followed by an assessment centre, where we had individual tasks to complete and feed back to the team, as well as a HR competency interview. I found out I had obtained the placement within the same week which I was so pleased about!

My role is quite difficult to define, no two days are the same. I work within the Global Creative Services team alongside graphic designers and photographers from the UK and the US. I help to coordinate the jobs assisting the project manager, and leading my own projects too including working with our vendors for promotional giveaways. I work closely with our PR agency to create articles for the media about Lubrizol, also working alongside the Global Corporate Communications team based in Ohio, USA at the Headquarters. I report on the PR reach in the UK, as well as conducting marketing analysis acting as a mystery shopper for products on the consumer markets.

What has your placement taught you in terms of business skills and experience, what have you learned for your future career?

“My placement has allowed me to experience working with a variety of corporate departments that are within every business like finance, human resources, marketing, etc. so my communication skills have been significantly developed as I have had to work across teams and across borders.”

How did it feel to work for such a large company? What did you enjoy most about working for them?

“Working for a large company is something I have always wanted to do, I think that’s because I know it is making a difference in the world. Lubrizol in particular is a company that isn’t known to many people, but is actually making a difference to so many lives every day, globally. I enjoyed the ability to experience working with such a wide variety of people from so many different countries and cultures, for example I have done a lot of work with those based in the US, but I have also worked closely with those in Spain, Germany, Singapore, China, India, and so many more!”

What’s next for you after NTU?

“I hope to secure a graduate programme or a full time job, working at Lubrizol has made me realise my strongest skillset is within marketing communications, especially with a global focus, so I hope to go into a role within this field at a large organisation!”