Innovative Leamington student praised for making positive difference during placement
A Leamington student has been praised for her innovation and making a positive difference to the community during her work placement at one of the UK’s largest building societies.
Josie-Jade Short, aged 20, has been recognised for successfully completing a placement at Coventry Building Society.
Josie-Jade is studying the BA (Hons) Business and Management degree at Warwickshire College and University Centre (WCUC), the Higher Education arm of college group WCG, and is based at Royal Leamington Spa College.
She completed the placement as a customer service assistant at Coventry Building Society’s Leamington branch during the second year of her course, and has now been retained as a part-time member of staff.
As part of the placement, Josie-Jade was required to create an original project, and for this she spotted a gap in the market for a student savings account at the building society.
She spent a day conducting market research and interviews at the branch to gauge interest and went on to create a leaflet, poster, TV advert and presentation to advertise the proposed new product.
Josie-Jade’s manager was so impressed with her proposed student saver that she sent it to the building society’s head office which is now looking into the idea.
Josie-Jade also worked to mark Mental Health Awareness Week at the branch, creating displays to signpost customers, colleagues and the wider community to the financial support offered by the building society as well as mental health support offered by a variety of charities and organisations.
As part of this she encouraged colleagues to share their own stories around on the branch community board and take part in a “Wear it Green Day”.
This is now continuing to be highlighted at the branch, with Josie-Jade currently leading a self-care September month which highlights a range of low-cost self-care ideas to those visiting the branch, while also providing signposting to financial and mental health support.
She will then look at other ways to promote positive mental health and signpost support throughout the year.
Josie-Jade said: “I’ve really enjoyed my placement at Coventry Building Society and I’m very pleased to continue working at the Leamington branch during the final year of my degree.
“During my placement I worked part-time while studying, which was great. I enjoyed working on my student saver idea and was really pleased to see the idea passed on to head office.
“It was also great to support Mental Health Awareness Week – it’s not something that has been done by the branch before, but everyone was really onboard and I’m now going to be working on even more initiatives at the branch.
“It’s fantastic to hear such positive feedback from both my manager and my tutors regarding how successful my placement has been.
“I’m really enjoying my degree and am now excited for my final year. I’m not sure what I want to do following graduation, but I’d love to do something creative.”
Marion Bradford-Allen, lecturer in HE Business and Management at WCUC, said: “Josie-Jade has done incredibly well in what she has achieved during her placement, and throughout the whole course.
“She has grown so much, developed her skills and knowledge, and we are extremely proud of her.
“The course has been designed to meet the needs of industry by developing advanced technical and managerial skills, highlighted as skill gaps by employers.
“We take pride in supporting our learners in preparing to join a variety of industries and becoming knowledgeable and practically competent members of the workforce. The aim is that students should make a difference once employed within the industry of their choice.
“We wish Josie-Jade the very best in her final year of the course and her future career.”
More information about courses at WCUC is available by visiting https://wcuc.ac.uk
