Hi everyone, I’m Ben – and if you haven’t seen my previous blogs, here’s a bit about me…
I’m an undergraduate studying Politics and International Relations at the University of Bath, coming to the end of my Communications and Corporate Affairs placement at Unilever.
When people say a placement passes in the blink of an eye, it may seem cliché, but it’s also very true. In this blog, I’ll share some standout moments from the past few months, along with my top tips for making the most of a placement year.
Standout moments
Perhaps the most memorable day of my placement was Unilever’s The Great Walk. A charity event where we took on a marathon from our central London Blackfriars headquarters to our new Kingston office to raise money for two amazing charities, BAGs for Strife and Princess Alice Hospice. After more than eight hours of walking, almost 60,000 steps and some beautiful stretches of the River Thames, we were done – and what a feeling it was.
Another recent highlight was heading to the University of Nottingham with fellow members of the outreach team to represent Unilever. Speaking to students about my experience and giving them a sense of what a potential Unilever journey could look like was incredibly rewarding.
A chance to reflect
My final weeks have been an opportunity to reflect on what has been nothing short of a remarkable experience.
Working at Unilever has given me a first-hand view of how a truly global organisation operates at scale. I stepped not only into the world of communications, but also gained insight into how it drives impact across a wider, complex business environment.
Taking ownership of projects complemented this exposure, enhancing my planning, execution and stakeholder management skills. Greater responsibility inevitably brought mistakes and misjudgements, but these became key drivers of growth - pushing me beyond my comfort zone and strengthening my decision-making and confidence.
Here are some of my top reflections for anyone heading into or considering a placement year:
- Stay curious and take ownership: Ask questions, look for solutions and always be willing to offer your ideas.
- Focus on impact: Do fewer things better - high-quality work stands out and earns trust. Attention to detail is your best friend! It’s all about taking your work from 95 to 100%
- Imperfect action beats perfect inaction: Back your judgement, take action, and learn as you go. And don’t be afraid to ask for help!
- Stay ahead: Plan, prioritise, and communicate clearly - being proactive sets you apart and having clear asks and goals is a real differentiator.
- Journal! Keeping a record of my activities has allowed me to look back and reflect on my placement with far more depth than I otherwise could have.
- Lastly, don’t put too much pressure on yourself! You are on a journey, don’t forget to enjoy it!
I am deeply grateful to my team, whose continual support and guidance have been the key element in making my placement as enjoyable and constructive as it has been.
After wrapping up at Unilever, I look forward to deploying on annual deployment exercise with the University of London Officer Training Corps before my return to Bath for the next academic year.
It’s been a pleasure sharing updates about my experience, and if you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a message at bd594@bath.ac.uk.
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