Work Experience Award – 2024 – Inspirational Student Awards

College of Business, Technology & Engineering

What they did:

This nominee had an incredible impact on the culture of the company, with their positive attitude and eagerness to work. Already in just 6 months, they became an essential member of the team. Consistently outperforming full-time members within the Account Management team on the sales side, but the main reason for putting this student up for this award is their attitude and personality within the team to drive the company culture within the office. Throwing themself into everything, they already became a key member in onboarding new staff, whether it’s within the account management team or from another department. They have spent countless hours assisting and training new members of the team, who have had nothing but great feedback following their one-to-ones. They even assisted with our marketing team by doing some part-time modeling, which have been used on our website & socials.

Constantly throwing themselves into Kitlocker out of work socials, which has seen them become extremely popular throughout the whole company in such a short space of time. Already I can say it’d be a privilege for them to become a full-time member of the team after their studies.

What was the impact?

The impact they have had on the culture of the office has been great! Already holding meetings with our key customers within the grassroots football sector that have enabled us to reach new business within the Sheffield Community – which is something we’ve been trying to do for a number of years now. Their impact on the culture has been the greatest impact however, in not just adding to it, but driving the culture – making it a really positive place to work.

How it inspired others

The nominee hasn’t just inspired their key customer base, but new employees to the business, as we are trying to really push our company values – but no one epitomises the company’s values quite like this candidate. As a manager, their proactiveness and charm makes my life incredibly easy and I’m looking forward to seeing where their career will take them!

College of Health, Wellbeing & Life Sciences

What they did:

This student has become such an integral and essential part of the team in such a short space of time. In just 6 months they are already managing one of our key partnerships in Battle Cancer (the world’s leading functional fitness fundraising event series), by organising kit for their events along with excellent communication with the Director at Battle Cancer. As well as being a key partner, they do have lots of requests that are out of the norm, which they take in their stride by going above and beyond.

Not only that, they have become a leading Account Manager within our Rugby sector – their passion for the sport is evident to see, and that transfers over to the attention to detail and the pride they have for their work. Finally, this student is an absolute ray of light in the office – never fails to have a smile on their face and an absolute joy to manage. As a manager, they make me look great as I’ve only received nothing but positive feedback from other team members/departments. 200 words isn’t enough to describe the positive impact they have had on the company – a member who I hope will be part of the team full-time once they have finished their studies.

What was the impact?

The impact the nominee had on the company has enhanced some of our key partnerships – i.e Battle Cancer. BC were a referral from the largest brands we work with in Nike, so it’s imperative that the account is managed with utmost detail & proactiveness – something they are showing in abundance.

The impact they have had the office has been the greatest impact though – with their positive attitude and outlook on life. Not only do they add to the positive culture within the office – they drive it.

How it inspired others

The student is already inspiring myself, but all of the team at Kitlocker – including the MD. By leading on the creation of our Rugby online platform – they created an accessible online store for all of our Rugby customers to purchase their kit. This has already received great feedback from our customers, thus growing the sector out significantly. One that hasn’t been given a lot of love from other Account Managers previously.

College of Social Sciences and Arts

What they did:

This student could not write an article beyond 250 words when they first started. Since then, they have flourished, regularly writing long interviews with sportspeople from a range of sports.

They have also single-handedly taken on being the lead reporter for AFC Telford United, working as part of our team and coming up and executing their own projects independently – both in office and from home.

They know what is expected of them every week and crack on without the need to ask, as well as taking on other articles without complaint or hesitation.

As well as undertaking their work to a standard beyond what I would expect of them, they are an absolute joy to work with. They have integrated themselves as part of the team – remaining valuable and reliable through a time of massive change for our company.

The best compliment I can give is we are really going to miss them when their placement ends – it will feel like losing a full-time member of staff. If they finished their course tomorrow, I have no doubt they would walk straight into a sports reporting role and I would go out of my way to highly recommend them.

What was the impact?

Thanks to the efforts of this student, we are now covering AFC Telford United the best we have in several years – as well as being able to cover events we would otherwise have missed.

They have proven themselves capable of being thrown into any environment, dealing with any nerves (these are situations seasoned reporters would feel butterflies in) and coming out the other side with interesting and informative articles.

This student’s departure will be noticed by the followers of Telford in particular, and the loyal readers who buy the paper or log on to the website to read about them. And they have gained such an affinity with them that I have no doubt the student will continue to look out for their results!

They are one of the very best three work experience students I have had the pleasure to work with in my near 20-year career. One of the other two is now our lead reporter for Wolverhampton Wanderers – that is the sort of calibre of student they are considered amongst.

How it inspired others

Sports journalism is one of those dream occupations for people, and this student is really living the dream – covering a football club every day, meeting European boxing champions and basically just talking and writing about sport all day.

They have inspired other work experience students we have had to work even harder than before and to push for opportunities they may have thought of as unobtainable.

The questions they ask of our reporters not only helps that student to learn, but also inspires our reporters, making them consider how they approach their own work and reminding them how lucky they are to have such a job.

I have been inspired by this student in that way too, and also to devote more of my time to helping these students. This student will not only go on to have a superb career, but are already a valuable member of the team. Thank you.

Work Experience Award – 2024

Myles Johnson

Matthew Hardstaff

Daniel Stacey

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