Car making giant favours Newcastle Business School students

A two-year work-based position within one of the world’s biggest car manufacturers is paying dividends for two Northumbria University, Newcastle students.

In year two of Newcastle Business School’s Business Leadership and Corporate Management degree, students must complete a two-year, full-time paid position within a business organisation.

This is designed to enhance their CV and equip them with many of the business leadership skills employers are looking for including the ability to work under pressure, understand strategy, work in teams and communicate effectively.

A range of regional and national employers recruit from this degree and previous students have worked for an impressive portfolio of companies including Ernst and Young, Egger, Toyota, Nissan and Greggs.

Many graduates, including 25-year-old Rachel Turgoose, have been offered significant roles within their host organisation after choosing to study this work-based business degree.

Rachel, who graduated from the University’s Business Leadership and Corporate Management degree in 2011, is currently Materials Handling Supervisor at Nissan’s car manufacturing plant in Washington, Tyne and Wear. She is the interface between all of the production parts coming in through the back door to the production line itself. Working specifically on Nissan’s luxury car range, Infiniti, Rachel now manages a team of 30.

She said: “Working for Nissan wasn’t on my radar until I joined the course at Northumbria University. The company came in to do an employer presentation at the University and that is when I started considering them seriously. When I started researching the company and understanding their global reach from here in the North East, I quickly realised they’d be a great company to work for.

“I think the course at Northumbria is ideal; it gets you work-ready because you get two-years of practical on-the-job learning, which is invaluable. I felt a step ahead of other graduates when I finished.

“It’s hard to know what you should learn in your business management degree unless you’re exposed to real business situations. Having two years working for a leading organisation has really helped me with this.”

Amy Park, 20, is in her second year of a two-year, full-time paid position at automotive giant, Nissan. The Business Leadership and Corporate Management student is based in the production control department (operations management placement). She communicates with suppliers on a daily basis located across the world and has visited suppliers in Spain and Romania.

After two years with the International carmaker, Amy says she’d like to continue her career with Nissan.

“It’s a career I’m really interested in,” she said. “I like the business and what it stands for. The working environment is fast-paced and innovative. It has allowed me to develop the skills future employers will be looking for and sought-after experience working for a world-leading organisation.

“I’d like to carry on working for Nissan and the Business Leadership and Corporate Management degree at Northumbria University has given me the best possible chance.

“The fact it’s a two-year placement gives you the edge over most one-year work placements. You have time to settle into the team, really get to know the processes and gain confidence as a Nissan employee.”