Earlier this year, we shared Emily’s work experience placement with Oliveti Group, where she explored sustainability, compliance and the wider business functions behind modern construction. Since then, Emily has graduated from the University of Leeds and secured a place on a graduate leadership programme. We caught up with her to find out what’s changed and what stayed with her from her time with us.
1.What’s stuck with you most about the placement?
What stuck with me most was gaining a real understanding of how a business operates as a whole. Before joining Oliveti, I mainly thought about roles in isolation, but during my placement I saw how departments such as finance, marketing, commercial, business development, HR, health and safety and operations all have to work together and communicate regularly to achieve successful outcomes. It gave me a much broader view of how companies function and the importance of collaboration across teams.
2. What are you doing now?
I’ve recently secured a place on a graduate leadership programme. It’s a two-year graduate scheme where I’ll rotate through different sectors, including healthcare, retail, aerospace and digital implementation. The programme focuses on developing future operational leaders through hands-on experience in project management, operations, client engagement, change management and team leadership. I will start in early October, and I am super excited for this new chapter after graduating this summer from the University of Leeds with a joint honours degree in Business and Spanish.
3. How did the placement help, particularly in the interview?
The placement gave me practical examples that I could draw upon throughout my interview. For example, I was involved in sustainability initiatives, completed sustainability certifications and produced a corrective action plan focused on carbon reduction and environmental improvement. I was also able to talk about attending meetings with the commercial team on cost analysis and forecasting, which helped demonstrate my commercial awareness. More broadly, the placement helped me speak confidently about how businesses operate, how different functions contribute to organisational goals and KPIs, and how important communication is between teams. I think having those real workplace examples made my interview answers much stronger and more credible.
4. Any advice for someone thinking about work experience in construction or project management?
I’d definitely say to do it if you have the chance to. Even if you’re not completely sure what area you want to work in, a placement gives you exposure to different parts of a business and helps you understand what interests you most. I’d also say it is important to be curious, ask questions and take opportunities outside your immediate responsibilities. Some of the most valuable things I learned came from speaking with people in different departments and understanding how their work connected to the bigger picture.
We’re proud to have played a small part in Emily’s journey, and we wish her every success as she starts her graduate programme this October. Read her full original interview here:
