Izzie, a Business Management student at the University of Lancashire, reflects on her 12‑month management placement at Enterprise Mobility and how it transformed academic learning into real‑world experience.
Undertaking a 12-month Management Placement with Enterprise Mobility has been one of the most impactful and formative experiences of my academic and professional journey. While university education has provided a solid theoretical foundation, this placement bridged the gap between academic learning and real-world application, allowing me to develop the confidence, competence, and clarity needed for my future career.
Gaining Responsibility from Day One
From day one, I was immersed in a fast-paced, performance‑driven culture, where learning is continuous and responsibility comes early. Through a structured training programme and hands‑on experience, I developed a strong understanding of both operational and managerial fundamentals. The opportunity to rotate across different branches in - from a busy city location to a high‑volume airport and train station branch in Edinburgh - pushed me outside my comfort zone and significantly expanded my skill set. Each environment presented unique challenges, customer expectations, and leadership styles, allowing me to build adaptability, resilience, and commercial awareness.
Management Interns tackle the same challenges as those on the Graduate Management Programme so a key part of my development came through real accountability. Managing customer interactions, executing sales strategies, contributing to team leadership discussions, and supporting branch operations helped me strengthen my communication, teamwork, and leadership capabilities. Being trusted with responsibility so early on boosted my confidence and sharpened my decision‑making skills.
Bridging University Learning with Real‑World Experience
This placement strongly reflected Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle, as my development was driven through concrete experience, reflection, conceptual understanding, and active experimentation. Taking time to reflect on my performance enabled me to recognise my strengths - particularly relationship‑building and adaptability - while also identifying areas for ongoing improvement, such as time management and leadership under pressure.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the placement was seeing academic concepts applied in real business scenarios. Topics such as business growth, risk management, financial awareness, and operational leadership moved beyond academic theory and became part of my day‑to‑day role. Working towards structured projects and the Management Qualification Interview reinforced my commercial understanding and helped crystallise my long‑term career ambitions.
Developing Professional Identity and Career Confidence
Overall, my 12-month placement with Enterprise Mobility has been instrumental in shaping my professional identity, giving me a clear sense of direction as I complete my degree. It has confirmed my aspiration to pursue a management career within a dynamic, people‑focused organisation.
Interested in joining Enterprise Mobility on a placement year that will put you ahead of the competition when you graduate? Then browse our website for placement and internship jobs. If you’re thinking about what you’ll do after graduation, then check out our graduate management trainee jobs and apply for opportunities around the UK today.
