Business Development Assistant Review

It was an overall amazing experience and I enjoyed every day of my work as it was so varied; administration, event management, database work, stock management, CRM, project work, report writing and so much more. There is always room to do more of what you enjoy as the team will make sure you get to work on whatever projects or in whatever functions you would like to experience so there is never a dull day!

I can say that the team I worked in genuinely felt like a family. Each and every colleague was so welcoming and really made a huge effort to integrate me into the team. I was given a goody bag on the first day, had a detailed three week induction and was introduced to everyone within the business. I defiantly feel like an integral part of the team as I was given real responsibilities and individual tasks.

As far as the management in my team goes they were nothing sort of perfect. I felt like I could approach any one of the management team without hesitation as they were so friendly and approachable. They managed not just me, but the whole team, in a very fair and productive way- not placing blame or tearing anyone down, but ensuring we work together to understand our mistake and learn from it. My supervisor from the university however who was supposed to help me with my assessment was less supportive and hard to get in contact with.

Due to theatre of the role being o heavily focused on events, as expected, some times during the year we had up to 5 events per week that we were either hosting or attending, and some times we didn't have any for a month of so at a a time. There was however always something else to do to fill your time so I was never left feeling bored or not knowing what to do.

My managers always stressed that each placement student is given as much responsibility as they are willing to take on. It really is down to the individual and what they are willing and able to be responsible for. I knew I wanted to get the most out of this eminence and therefore said yes to everything that came my way. This meant I was responsible for a range of different projects, tasks and events within the team.

This placement has been invaluable to my degree. I have been able to put into practice a lot of the theory and academic knowledge I have acquired over the years, and also learn new skills that I wouldn't otherwise have learned in a classroom setting. I have also been able to take part in various development oppertunites such as project management, minute taking and networking which I think will set me apart from other graduates.

The team I worked in moved office during my time at the placement, but both offices were a great overall atmosphere with a good mix of work and fun. The second office did have some limitations with the fact that there wasn't any access to windows or fresh air, but we soon switched to remote working where we kept a good team atmosphere and energy by having a weekly social catch-up call to stay in touch!

There were some issues in my first week with getting IT equipment set-up however this was through no fault of the team I worked with. Aside from this, my induction was organised perfectly and this reflected what was to come for the rest of the year.

As previously stated, the team would have gone to any lengths I wanted to ensure I was getting the training and development I wanted to achieve. The team was very flexible to let me have three days off to work on my project management short course, as well as funding the cost of the course on my behalf. I was able to gain experience in any department I wanted and take part in any activities being held by the University.

I understand that one my predecessors has gone on to secure a graduate role with BCU, and I really hope I am able to do the same. It was a great place to work and I review nothing but positive feedback from my colleagues so I hope it is a possibility for me to work for BCU after I graduate. My manager has been working hard to try and find me some part-time ad-hoc work within the team when needed.

The team would usually go out for a Christmas meal and a leaving meal for any colleagues, and sometimes out for lunch on a Friday afternoon. I didn't have any interaction with any other placement students during my time at BCU as I think there was only one other person in my faculty. It would have been nice to meet other placement students and support each other through the process- I think my manager is hoping to do this for my successor.

Birmingham in my opinion is a very affordable place to live and socialise its a range of great options. One thing to note would be that parking is very expensive around the university campus unless you are lucky enough to find one of the very few on-street parking spots!

I personally think Birmingham has a great nightlife suitable for a range of different tastes.