Hear from Employer Project completers
Employer: VINCI Facilities
Project: How to Talk Rubbish and Make an Impact
Shared by: Georgie Fletcher
You can read the full report here: Vinci Facilities Report
When I first came to Lincoln to study my MSc, I decided to say yes to as many opportunities as I could. So, when Heidi from the Careers Service recommended the Employer Project to me, I couldn’t say no! When I signed up, I had absolutely no idea what kind of projects were available, the size of the group I would be in, or what courses my teammates would be studying. I was a little nervous when I discovered the topic was waste streams, but I was even more nervous about the idea of the first project meeting, where I would be meeting my team for the first time – and the employer as well! I really didn’t need to worry at all. The next three months turned out to be fantastic for me and every Wednesday afternoon, I met up with the six other members of my group and we went through our weekly goals together. It was great to meet a whole range of brilliant people, and we came from completely different courses – ranging from pharmacy to project management, conservation, computing, biomedical science and even mechatronics! Everyone brought different skills to the table, which made the project even more exciting to be a part of. How I started the project?
Now… the project itself, to be completely honest, initially didn’t sound quite as engaging as working with the police or designing a children’s book. But I really learned not to judge a book by its cover, nor a project by its title. In the end, I think it was the most exciting project I could have been assigned. Who would have thought that waste streams could be so interesting? An example of one of the presentation slides, including images we took around campus. We carried out in-depth research into the university’s waste system, which included tracking where the waste generated on campus ends up. Not only that, but we had the opportunity to explore campus recycling points, bin systems for student halls, lecture rooms, and libraries. We also got some behind-the-scenes insights into how the food units and cafes operate.How it was going?
We had an amazing contact from Vinci Facilities, Gary, who answered every question we had and provided fantastic support. There was also the wonderful Emma from the Careers Service, who runs the Employer Projects, and supported us every step of the way. Of course, any great project needs a great team, and I was truly blessed with the best group I could have asked for. Everyone showed up to sessions, got involved, did their research on time, and we ended up producing a huge 55-page report. We also delivered what we hope was an informative and insightful presentation on ways we thought students could be encouraged to care more about where their waste ends up, as well as suggestions for how the university could reduce the waste created in the first place. We came up with four distinct actions, created examples for them, and made sure everything we shared was backed up by case studies from other UK universities with waste reduction success stories. What I truly appreciated?
I am so glad that I said yes to taking part in this – and I would absolutely encourage every student at Lincoln to take full advantage of this fantastic opportunity. Not only will you meet a group of amazing students to work with across courses you might not even realise Lincoln offers, you also really do have a chance to make a difference with the results that you produce. Looking back, I never would’ve imagined that a project about waste management would become one of the most rewarding experiences of my MSc. It wasn’t just about learning new skills to add to my CV – it was about working together, seeing the direct impact of that work, and feeling like I truly contributed to something bigger. So, if you’re ever offered a chance to take part in something like this, just say yes – you never know how much it might change your perspective. What I recommend?