Sean Pedrosa - BA (Hons) Business Enterprise Development

Sean Pedrosa has just started work for EMC, the world’s seventh largest technology company, which provides digital storage solutions. Sean is one of only two people in the UK to be offered the job and will join 14 other graduates from across Europe to make up the company’s 2011 Sales Talent Academy.

"While working part-time in a video games shop I was consistently getting positive feedback from my Manager about my ability to build rapport with customers and think on my feet. This really got me contemplating my future and what direction to take as I wanted to do a degree that would utilise these skills.

I read that the Business Enterprise Development degree at Portsmouth Business School was a general business course with a strong focus on developing the innovation and creativity skills of students so it sounded perfect. Portsmouth felt right too as I was keen to be close to the sea but far enough away from my family home in Reading to feel like I had my own space!

The course has been fantastic and I can’t sing the University’s praises enough. Nothing was ever too much trouble for the Business School lecturers – they’re so helpful and enthusiastic – they really drive you to do your absolute best.

I graduated in the summer and started applying for jobs straight-away. It was a painful process but I knew the skills I had learnt at Portsmouth would prepare me well. The Employability and Internal Consultancy module enabled me to show my own initiative when dealing with a real business and the Business Development Workshop taught me good time management and how to work in a team effectively. Both modules were crucial in preparing me for employment.

I ended up getting three jobs so was able to choose which company I preferred – quite a feat when faced with such a tough graduate job market.

The interview process at EMC was gruelling – it lasted seven weeks! The company was particularly impressed by my hands-on work experience, which I gained while at Portsmouth. As part of my degree I visited a local company and worked closely with them to help improve performance. This experience has proved invaluable and I’m really grateful to the University for giving me such strong foundations".

Andy Dymond - BA (Hons) Business Studies

'The resources here are excellent. Portsmouth Business School is based in a modern building, fully equipped with lecture theatres and state-of-the-art computer suites.

The staff are always happy to take time to address any queries. The University is constantly striving to help students, for example Purple Door is an information point which houses the Careers and Recruitment service, offering assistance with things like writing CVs and covering letters.

The city itself has loads of student friendly places, including that ever important student discount. Portsmouth is also one of the warmest places in the UK, which can’t be bad!'

Vicky Lippmann – BA (Hons) Business Enterprise Development

Vicky is now working as a Euro Swaps Money Broker in the City of London, working for RP Martin Brokers, one of the leading wholesale broking firms within the financial markets.

'I had always wanted to work in the City of London financial sector. I chose the Business Enterprise Development course as it offered a year's work placement and units that involved working with companies, which I felt was important as it meant that I could relate to what we were learning in the lectures. I spent my placement year at BNP Paribas, one of the top European banks, and my thanks go to the Placements Office in the Business School who were really helpful and supportive. I would really advise anyone to take the placement year; it helped me to understand what I had learnt during my first two years. Then when it came to my final year, after I had gained so many examples and new experiences from my placement, I felt that I produced better work. The lecturers on my course were fantastic! All were very supportive and really cared about what I wanted to do. I always found that, however busy they might have been, they found the time to sit down and go through things. Many of them I am still in touch with today and hopefully will be for a long time.

Portsmouth offers a lot of support and I think it is a huge benefit that the teaching staff are so involved with enterprise and business. There are many lecturers who have previously worked in business which I think made a considerable difference.

Outside of my studies, I loved that I lived so close to the sea and it really helped, after a hard day of working, to clear my head with a walk along the beach.'