Sussex students gain valuable industry experience with SEF
If the three SEF placement students perform well, they will be offered a bursary for their final year of study; and, if they get the appropriate grade in their finals next year, they will be guaranteed a place on the Interserve graduate intern scheme.
Hanan Zakher, a student of Law with International Relations, says: “A work placement year at SEF provides the ideal opportunity to gain practical work experience in an environment I am familiar with.”
Phoebe Dinh spends part of her working week with SEF on the York House reception desk.
Can Boyer is gaining valuable work experience by helping to deliver the estates and facilities management service on campus.
With three Sussex students well into their one-year work placements with Sussex Estates and Facilities (SEF), applications are about to open for the 2015-16 programme.
Can Boyer, who will complete his Business and Management Studies degree after the end of his placement, says: “As students, we don’t think about the services provided.
“However, working for SEF, in my first few weeks I experienced how the operations are run and the many departments work together to maintain the high level of services provided for the entire university.
“For example the project managers manage a range of projects (such as the refurbishment of a laboratory or a new school office), including major building projects with a budget of up to £10 million or more.
“The building managers make sure the seminar rooms and residences are clean, all technological equipment is working and ready to use, there are enough chairs for students during seminars - and many more things just to make life easier for you.”
Can and the other two placement students are gaining valuable work experience by helping to deliver this estates and facilities management service on campus, as well as learning basic management skills, being a junior member of a wider management team, and supporting SEF at trade fairs.
Each of them has also been allocated a discreet number of defined projects that can be started and completed in the 40 weeks of their contract, which started in September.
One placement student is working on the possibility of introducing QR codes (which could be used, for example, on a porters’ lodge to give information about opening hours, or on parking signs). Another has been tasked with the purchase of new cleaning equipment.
Phoebe Dinh, a Business and Management Studies undergraduate, explains:“SEF has various departments, so every three months we work on different projects - enabling us to gain a valuable insight into how the company works.”
SEF is a partnership between the University of Sussex and Interserve PLC, a multinational support service and construction company. So, although the students are offered the opportunity to experience other Interserve contracts off campus, they are based on campus.
Hanan Zakher, a student of Law with International Relations, says:“A work placement year at SEF provides the ideal opportunity to gain practical work experience in an environment I am familiar with.”
If you’re now in the second year of your undergraduate degree and you’re interested in following in Hanan’s footsteps, keep an eye out for the start of the recruitment process (through the Careers and Employability Centre) in the new year.
The three current placement students are all in business administration roles, but SEF could also offer opportunities in commercial and finance; project management; energy and sustainability; and media and informatics.
The recruitment process will consist of an online assessment (as for any Interserve management position), then an assessment day (including an interview, group test, case study and presentation).
If you’re successful, you’ll take a year out of your studies and will get paid a £15,000 salary. As well as receiving induction training, you’ll also have specific opportunities for specialist training, for example in customer care. And you’ll benefit from the experience of an individual mentor throughout your time with SEF.
Meanwhile, what about the future prospects for the three current placement students? Those who perform well will be offered a bursary for their final year of study; and, if they get the appropriate grade in their finals next year, they will be guaranteed a place on the Interserve graduate intern scheme.
Mark Stimpson from SEF says: “The students are gaining valuable industry experience and knowledge through their time working with us.
“Each may also benefit from our sponsorship of their final year’s study.
“Designed to support a positive student experience, we believe this true partnership, underpinned by active student involvement, is a first in the UK.”