Digital & Social media Masterclass

Presented by Barbara Hunter (Social & Digital Media Manager at British Cycling)

The session will cover the following: –

• How digital & Social media has supported the transformation of British Cycling to one of the world’s best National Governing Bodies of Sport.
• The uses and benefits of digital & social media within a sporting context
• Barbara Hunters personal journey and experiences from University to her current role within British Cycling

The session will take place on the 5th February at 6.30 – 8pm in the Netball Seminar room in the Netball & Badminton Centre.

If you are interested in attending this session then email Sam Rouse at s.rouse@lboro.ac.uk no later than Tuesday 3rd  February

Graduate Q&A: How to Get into the Product Development Industry

Ally Ward, a graduate from Loughborough University, answers questions about a typical day in his job, work experience, career progression, and how you can get into the industry. sagentia

He works at Sagentia, a global science, technology and product development services company.

Can you give us a bit of background on yourself? How long have you been working at Sagentia? What is your position there?

I studied a BEng in Product Design Engineering at Loughborough University. This combined materials science, mechanical engineering, engineering science, and industrial design. It was a great course for getting a solid understanding of different areas.

In my second year, I took part in the group product design project, the brief of which had been set by Sagentia. I didn’t know that product development consultancies existed at the time; in fact, as a student, I didn’t know where I saw myself after graduation.

With a bit of research into Sagentia, I discovered that they operate across a number of sectors. I decided to apply for a placement and was accepted after an interview process.

I spent my placement year working as part of the mechanical systems & design team, and was then offered a permanent position following completion of my degree. I’ve now been working at the company for 3 years and have progressed from Engineer to Consultant level.

What is a typical day like for you?

There genuinely isn’t a ‘typical’ day here. There is a huge variety both in terms of the types of tasks I do and the sectors for which I design products.

One day I might be working on designing a novel drug delivery system, and the next day developing a surgical instrument, or improving a manufacturing process for a global consumer product.

Generally, though, my role includes things like using CAD to design concept prototypes, test rigs, and ultimately deliver the final product to the client. All of these involve in-depth design reviews and technical problem solving.

I often work directly with clients around the world to understand their needs and present them with concepts and prototypes. Each project team is made up of people from different disciplines, so I’m working with a mixture of chemists, mathematicians, electrical engineers, physicists, and industrial designers, amongst others.

Did you always know this career path was for you?

No, I initially wanted to be a physiotherapist! It was at secondary school that I realised how much I enjoyed design technology, which led me to study engineering at university.

Did you gain relevant work experience during your time studying?

I decided to do a one year placement in my third year and would definitely recommend this to other students. Having the opportunity to experience how the industry works and apply what you’ve learnt at university is invaluable.

It really helped me both in my final year of studying and obviously when I started work after graduating.

What is the most challenging thing about your job?

In a consultancy environment, it’s probably balancing time, cost and value for the client. You need to understand what the client wants and be able to adapt to their changing requirements.

At Sagentia we’re working on cutting edge technologies and products, so as engineers we constantly have to challenge ourselves and our clients, pushing the boundaries of what can be done, or thinking differently about how we can apply existing ideas to new areas.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

It has to be the variety of projects I get to work on, though I also love the satisfaction you get from delivering a successful project to a client. There is a great sense of pride when designs that you have produced work as required and meet the client’s needs.

Over time it would be amazing to see some of my designs in the public eye, and with a lot of my work being in the medical sector I like to think that, on some level, I am helping people too.

Beyond that, I like the people and the company culture. You’re supported by an amazing group of people who encourage you to think outside the box, which often benefits your designs. I genuinely feel like I’m learning something new every day.

What is your career progression path like?

Sagentia has a graduate scheme that supports your development when you join from University. At a graduate level you get the chance to try lots of different things and really discover what you’re good at.

Since joining I’ve progressed to the Consultant level and am now focusing on getting a broad range of technical knowledge and experience, to enable me to design products for different industries.

Looking ahead, I intend to follow a technical career path, focusing on delivering projects to clients, as that is what I really enjoy. There are also opportunities to go down other routes, such as project management or commercial.

Do you have any advice for students who are looking to get into the industry?

Getting undergraduate experience is invaluable, so I’d definitely recommend a placement if you get the opportunity. I also think that doing relevant projects outside of your studies, which show your passion for product design and engineering, will help when it comes to applying for jobs in this industry.

It is always impressive when you see students come in with their own Kickstarter project or a well-documented portfolio, whether that is undergraduate work or personal projects. Those sorts of things usually speak volumes about the candidate.

Visit the Sagentia website to learn more about graduate career opportunities, development and current vacancies.

 

 

 

 

Sports Presentation Volunteer

Loughborough Sport has put together a bespoke Sport Presentation Training Program and would like to give all Loughborough Students the opportunity to access. The Sport Presentation training program has been written to give students the opportunity to train and learn the skills required to be an MC, a presenter, an announcer, lighting engineer, sound engineer, show caller, producer, sports presentation assistant; and most importantly – how all of these people work together to deliver a first class show.

Sport Presentation is about communicating a brand, an idea and a story. It creates unforgettable moments and highlights the theatre, excitement and anticipation around a sporting event. Sport Presentation was designed, and still exists, to enhance the experience of fans and athletes; to elevate the spectacle that is the main event. Sport Presentation is more than just the MC! Core elements of Sports presentation include – music; video boards; MCs; announcers; vision, audio and lighting; sponsor activations; special effects; sport protocols; and cultural nuance will always be the backbone of a professional package.

A Workshop has been arranged with Alan March Sport Ltd, who have been involved with Sports Presentation at some of the World’s premier sporting events: Olympic & Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, FINA Diving World Series, Handball World Championships and Invictus Games to name a few.

The workshop will be of two parts:

  • Part 1 – Introduction to Sports Presentation – Friday 6th February – Either 1.00 – 5.00pm or 6 – 10pm
  • Part 2 – Practical Session (incorporating Loughborough Lightning match) – Monday 9th February – 4pm – 10pm (Some flexibility available for those with lectures until 6pm)

Volunteer Experience and Expectations:

  • Once you have attended the sessions there will be a range of events available to work at. In return for the opportunity we would expect commitment to a minimum of 4 events

At present the available Loughborough Sport events are:

  • Saturday 21st April     Lightning Netball
  • Monday 9th March     Lightning Netball
  • Saturday 21st April     Lightning Netball
  • Friday 27th March       Lightning Netball
  • Monday 6th April         Lightning Netball
  • Saturday 11th April     Lightning Netball
  • Monday 27th April       National Badminton League

There will be further events available, both internal and external, and those with appropriate experience from the above will be offered these opportunities.

If any students are interested in taking up this opportunity please email Sam Rouse (Volunteer Coordinator) directly to find out more on s.rouse@lboro.ac.uk

Teach First Taster Programme

The Taster Programme is a unique offering where you have the chance to engage with Teach First and start developing the skills and attributes needed to progress into employment after university.

It is available for all students who are in their first year of their undergraduate degree, as well as second year students if they are on a four year course. The day consists of a series of interactive workshops and panels where you will start to develop yourskill set and meet ambassadors to hear about their experience on the Leadership Development Programme.

The next Taster Programme is on Wednesday 25 February at 11.30am – 6pm.

Closing date for Masters in Computer Science Scholarships in Europe – Deadline 31st January to apply

The Erasmus Mundus fully funded Masters in Computer Science (Dependable Software Systems) offers students the chance to study at Maynooth University in Ireland, St Andrews in Scotland or University of Lorraine in France on a fully funded Masters programme, obtaining a double MSc at the end of two years. Tuition is fully through English. This course was awarded the Best New Postgraduate Course in Ireland 2013. Applicants who are on target for a high honours degree (2.1 or higher) have a strong chance of obtaining one of the scholarships available. The scholarship amounts are up to €34,000 for European students and €49,000 for non European students. Apply by January 31st 2015.

Please visit http://erasmusmundus.ie for further information.

The MSc in Computer Science (Software Engineering) offers student the chance to obtain industrial experience of the software engineering industry through a 6 month work placement, after they have completed 9 months study at Maynooth University. The university is immersed in the Dublin region European technology hub, a region which includes companies such as Intel, HP, Google and Facebook. For further information  http://www.cs.nuim.ie/mscse/msc-computer-science-software-engineering

Inspiring Women Event – Newcastle – 27th Jan

accentureJoin us for our exclusive Inspiring Women event with Katie Piper

Don’t miss our exclusive event in Newcastle for graduates and undergraduates. We’re delighted to be joined by Katie Piper. Katie is a philanthropist, television presenter and former model. She will be sharing the moving story behind her life-changing attack and the resilience she has shown in the face of adversity.

You will also have the opportunity to talk to a range of Accenture professionals about their own career paths to success, and what it takes to build a successful career in business and technology at a company like Accenture.

In addition to hearing from Katie, there’ll also be plenty of opportunity to network with Accenture recruiters. We currently have a number of roles available for our 2015 12-month internship scheme and applications to our Graduate programme are open, so if you’d like to know more about careers at Accenture, this is a chance to ask any questions you might have. You may also be fast tracked through the application process.

Date:                    Tuesday 27th January

Location:             Newcastle – Baltic Gallery

Time:                    18:00 – 21.00

This event is invite only and we expect a high amount of interest. If you would like to attend, please submit your application before 17.00pm on Wednesday 21st January. We will be filling places on a first-come, first-serve basis, so we advise applying early. We require some basic information from you, including a CV upload which should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.

Please click on the below to apply, and use the link that applies to your situation the most:

If you are looking for a Graduate Consulting Position or are just interested in finding out more about Accenture – link attached

If you are looking for a 12 month Consulting Placement – link attached

If you are looking for a Software Engineering role – positions available to start immediately – link attached

If you are looking for a Software Engineering 12 month Placement – Link attached

Graduate profile of the month

January’s profile is Henry Dunmore. Henry graduated in 2013 with a BSc in Politics and minor subject. He is now set up his own company, LunchBox abc

 

Your background:

I took a GAP year, before university, to travel, before getting back into education. I did Politics mainly because I was interested in the subject, both at school and in general and didn’t really know what I wanted to do after university, in terms of employment. I therefore wanted to spend my time at university studying something I enjoyed rather than a means to an end e.g. Accountancy.

Where are you now?

After graduating from Loughborough I spent some time working for a catering company, during the summer,while doing numerous job applications. It was then that I came up with my business idea of selling healthy and nutritionally designed ‘LunchBoxes’ to busy ‘on-the-move’ gym members in London. The concept revolved around the boredom of healthy dieting and eating the same foods day in, day. This is why the menu changes on a daily basis and includes a different meat, fish and vegetarian option. After writing a business plan, securing some investment and agreeing a contract with London’s Premier Healthclub, The Third Space, I started selling LunchBoxes in October.

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