Graduation 2024 - Royal Holloway Year in Business students

It was a pleasure to support the Graduation Ceremonies for the Business and Management students on Tuesday 23^rd July and to speak to Year in Business students about their experiences at University and plans for the future. The Graduation ceremony took place within a magnificent graduation marquee on the lawns of Royal Holloway overlooking the iconic Founder’s Building. A long line of Year in Business students processed in front of The Provost and Pro Vice Chancellor, Dean of the School of Business, Academic staff, friends and family to collect their certificates and then listen to a number of speeches including that by the Student Orator. This year YIB Harrison Clinton delivered an inspiring speech, drawn on his own experience at University and during his placement year.

Special mention to Year in Business student Tanya Steward has just been awarded two prizes at Graduation : the prestigious Martin Holloway prize and the award for best overall Management student at Royal Holloway. Tanya completed a very successful placement year within the Licencing department of The Walt Disney Company in 2022/23. In her final year she has been a YIB Mentor and continued working part time with The Walt Disney Company and has recently taken up a full time role with the company.

Matthew Lappin received an award for the best finalist in Accounting and Finance. Matthew completed a successful placement at RSM and will be returning to the company as a Graduate in the Autumn

We are so proud of the Year in Business Graduates and all they have achieved during the last 4 years. It can be very challenging for students to secure a placement and they have to show true resilience during the application process. Being out on placement can also throw up challenges for some and we are pleased to be able to offer support when required. We are delighted that many YIBs in their final year return and undertake roles as YIB Mentors and get involved in our workshops/ events to helpt and inspire the younger year students applying for their own placements. 

Looking to the future, some Graduates are undertaking further study while others are returning to the companies where they undertook their placement year. These companies include Generation Media, Menzies LLP, PwC, RSM and The Walt Disney Co. A number of other YIBs have used their placement experience to help them secure graduate roles with different companies including Alvarez & Marsal, Aston Martin, Azets, Data Select, Dyanmo, Enzo Tech, Forest Group, ING ARENA, Interpath Advisory, RSM, and Softcat.

Congratulations to all and I am sorry if I was not able to catch up with you individually after the Ceremony.  Do keep in touch with us in the Year in Business team – your stories of where your placements have led you are inspiring to the younger year YIBs!