Experience Sussex!

Keen to add some professional work experience to your CV in a sector you’re interested in, and develop transferable skills useful for life post-university? 

The Student Consultancy Programme is an opportunity for students to gain work experience by working on a real-life brief set by an organisation. It’s a chance to research and make recommendations that can make a real difference to an organisation – including helping them to become more sustainable. 

Lottie Brooks, who’s studying International Relations with Italian, recently took part in the programme, providing insights for the Precious Bottles pilot project which is turning hard-to-recycle plastics into incredibly useful resources for science and education. The team, led by Dr Andre Maia Chagas and Dr Zahid Pranjol, wanted to find more uses on campus for their 3D printed and moulded items that can minimise plastic waste and reduce the carbon footprint of buying new filament. 

"My main takeaway from this experience is learning how to work constructively as part of a team and communicate effectively to get everything done within the timeframe required," she says.  

"The aim of our project was to find potential partners looking to develop sustainably sourced products, so our own personal connections throughout the university were of great help. Each member of the team came from a different school so we all had our unique network of people that we could reach out to. This was also great for the project as we could present potential partnerships that they hadn’t originally considered. 

“It’s a great way to get used to being in a job setting in a safe environment. The careers team were always there to reach out to if you needed them: if you make a mistake, there is support in place to allow you to learn and grow from them.  

"It really helps to build your confidence in communicating within a work environment and allows you to notice the skills that you already possess and what you can bring to a job after graduation." 

How does it work? 

Organisations from different sectors, including charities and NGOs, startups, and large corporates, can apply with a specific request, whether that’s researching their competitors, reviewing and recommending sustainability practices, or investigating potential new products and services. 

You will work in small groups with other finalist undergraduate and taught postgraduate students from a mix of subjects to research, analyse and recommend strategies for the business you are given to work with.  

Need more reasons to take part? 

You will: 

How to find out more and get involved 

Make a note in your diary for the next round: final-year undergraduate students and taught postgraduate students will be eligible to apply. Keep an eye out for the Winter Programme - all the details you need can be found on the Student Hub.