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Name: Callum Belch

Stakeholder Type: Recent Graduate

Subject Studied: BA (Hons) Business and Management‍

After losing a lead on a placement in the recruitment industry due to Coronavirus, the Business Consultancy Project (BCP) module offered Callum the opportunity to get the practical industry experience he was looking for.‍

Callum worked with SERT, a local recruitment training provider. The project brief was to create a promotional campaign that will raise the brand awareness of SERT, bringing more people looking for employment within their divisions. Fellow student Hannah Matthews spoke to Callum about his experience, and this is what he had to say.

Hannah:

Tell me about the Knowledge Exchange project you were involved in.

Callum:

We worked with the clients to help recommend a marketing plan, to help build the engagement on social media platforms, making a Black Friday post that was published on their Instagram page and recommending business website improvements. The support and respect we received from our client has led to the development of nearly all our ideas and even implemented some as early as our halfway point in the project (such as the new “live chat” box on their website). 

Hannah:

‍What benefits do you feel you got from the SEKE activity and how did it enhance your learning?

Callum:

The BCP project allowed me to apply all the academic tools and theory learnt through my university degree and helped me with my understanding of business and marketing theory. Some of the most valuable skills I developed while being involved in SEKE were knowing how to deal with clients professionally, providing me with an insight into how the business works and allowed me to develop my presentation skills in a professional manner.

Hannah:

What did you enjoy most about your KE project?

Callum:

What I enjoyed most about this project is learning from the knowledge and experience of the client, building a professional relationship with them which has aided me in setting up my own luxury fashion resale brand. 

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The experience has boosted my employability skills and prepared me for life after University. 

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Hannah:

How did your participation in SEKE enhance your employability skills and has it aided you in obtaining work or starting your own business following graduation?

Callum:

It helped me build my confidence for future projects in recommendations to the client. Having this prior experience has provided me with an opportunity to now work full time for SERT as Special Projects Coordinator. I was asked after the project if I would be interested in paid work, this was on the basis of a 3 month contract a few hours a week. After graduation I was offered a full time job. This involves day to day running of the company, in different areas including marketing, implementing campaigns as well as business consultancy activity. 

Hannah:

Would you recommend taking a module that includes KE to other students? If so, why?

Callum:

I would recommend other students being involved in Knowledge Exchange, as it provides an opportunity to build some real world industry experience and how the classroom theory can be applied to real businesses to solve issues.  It has provided me with solid experience and learning within the industry, and how to handle tasks given to us.

The Business Consultancy module helps students prepare themselves for life after university. It is a way of gaining industry experience, without the hassle of finding a placement, and consolidating all learning completed throughout education. The opportunity to get creative and implement real business solutions, under supervision and guidance from the University, will boost your employability skills and give you the confidence that you will be an asset to your future workplace. Not to mention you may get a job at the end of it. I recommend it!