Industry Placement - Farewell to Joe

At the end of April we said goodbye to one of our colleagues, Joe.

Joe initially came to us for his year in industry during his Product Design degree at MMU. From the start he got involved with all the departments and fitted well into the team. When he returned to university for his final year he stayed with us part-time to not only earn some much needed student spends but to continue to develop himself and his final year project.

He was willing to learn, listen and give everything a go. He used his skills to get involved in so many aspects of work from product illustrations to machine setups.

During his time with us we installed a new laser cutter and Joe was at the forefront of learning the operation and teaching the other members of the team. He communicated with the machine manufacturer for support and guidance to then document the processes and pass on his knowledge internally. This was a fantastic example of reverse mentoring as a young team member had the technological skills to teach the time-served engineers something new. Due to Joe’s positive attitude, teamwork and communication skills, the sharing of knowledge was positively received and all welcomed his help and assistance.

Joe’s skills were in demand from all departments across the business and he managed his own workload and priorities without issue. He kept key stakeholders updated with progress and juggled his schedule to meet any required deadlines. Joe’s ability to problem solve and engage in self-learning was first class and we're confident that this will hold him in good stead for going into something new and continuing his career.

As well as his commitment to work, he delighted in winning the company fantasy football league, got involved in local community projects, and regularly contributed excellent goodies to the snack table!

We are sad to say goodbye to Joe as he returns to his hometown following the end of his degree. We wish him all the best for his future in both his personal and work life. He will be an asset to any team he joins.

If anyone is unsure about offering placements – Joe is evidence that they can be brilliant!