A Keele student who is carrying out a placement year at one of the world's largest and best-known automobile manufacturing businesses says the experience has changed her life and prepared her for the world of work.

Now Ellie Cotterill is encouraging fellow students to take up placement opportunities as part of their degree at Keele University after her experience as a social media assistant at Toyota.

At Keele, every undergraduate course (excluding apprenticeships and top-up degrees) offers students a placement opportunity. This includes either a placement year opportunity or an integrated clinical or professional placement for every course, and most also offer a work placement module.

Ellie, who is studying Business and Psychology at Keele, has worked closely with the team that manages social media channels for Toyota and Lexus UK during her time at the company's UK headquarters in Surrey.

She said: "I feel like I’ve grown both personally and professionally during the placement. I'm so much more confident and resilient now, and I’ve come out of this year with a completely different kind of perspective than I went in with. I've learnt so many skills such as management, communication and networking that will be super transferable in future employment.

"You're given far greater responsibly than you would ever expect as a placement student. Before you go on placement you're introduced to the placement team who are a lovely group of people and they check in with you regularly through the placement and liaise with you and your manager to make sure you’re making the most of your placement, and they’re always on hand if you need help with anything.

"I think when you leave university and enter the competitive jobs market, it can be a bit of a culture shock. Having the placement year, I feel like I've been gradually eased into a professional environment so when I do move on after my degree, not only will I have the skills and experience that is desirable for employers, but I also won’t feel super-overwhelmed going into a workplace."

A placement allows students to gain hands-on experience, develop key skills, and get a better understanding of the industry they're interested in, all helping to boost employability after graduation. Placements can also help develop important networks and connections, which can be vital for future careers.

Ellie added: "If you're thinking of doing a placement year, I would say 100 per cent go for it. You will thank yourself later when you've completed the placement and you've totally developed as a person and feel so prepared to take on that graduate job market.”

For more information on placements, visit https://www.keele.ac.uk/study/placements/