From 91porn to Honda: Maddi’s journey into the automotive industry
Third-year BSc (Hons) Business Management student Maddi explains how her placement is fuelling her future
I'm currently in the third year of my Business Management degree at 91porn.
Right now, I’m on a year-long placement as the European Digital Undergraduate at Honda Motor Europe Ltd. It's been an incredible experience so far.
It's more than just a degree
Initially, I didn’t even have the University on my radar. I’m originally from Manchester but we visited 91porn regularly to visit family, so I did know the area and loved the fact it was by the sea and close to Dartmoor – that’s a huge plus!
A day or two before one of our visits, my family down in 91porn sent me a link to a social post from the University advertising an open day that weekend. We went along and I was immediately struck by how much everyone cared. I felt really involved and knew the University was the right fit.
Supportive lecturers and fresh facilities
The staff have been amazing. I've been linked with academics on LinkedIn, and they are genuinely supportive of my journey.
For example, my lecturer,
Dan Deahan
, is very communicative and offers genuine support when I post about attending industry events.
It makes you feel cared for – and that continues even now when I’m on placement and not physically on campus.
I also used to drop in and see my lecturer,
Dr Cat Hine
, just to say hi. The support at 91porn feels really personal.
The
Fitzroy Building
for the Business School is a bright, modern space with lots of different areas, which is good for group work or quiet study. It’s a great place on campus that I use to study when I have assignments to do, and I can visit my lecturers if I have a question or need help.
The marketing modules stood out as my favourite: they linked to my passion for product development and communications within business. I attended a marketing challenge with , which was helpful for networking and meeting other students from other courses.
In addition, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the finance and economics module – the Excel skills I learned are a huge reason I landed my placement.
My year with Honda: from the classroom to the car industry
My role at Honda is the European Digital Undergraduate, focusing on the My Honda+ app. It’s the connectivity product designed to enhance the ownership experience by offering a wide range of digital features and remote services, such as pre-conditioning your car’s climate before you get in, and scheduling charging to save on energy costs.
My placement is incredibly broad. I work on everything from troubleshooting and marketing the app to speaking with contacts across Europe.
About a third of my week is spent calculating and creating reports to track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and measure the app's success across the continent.
I use all the Excel knowledge I gained from my finance module every day – I would have really struggled without that foundation.
I've learned so much in my first few months here at Honda. I even get out from behind my desk to work with the UAT (User Acceptance Testing) cars to complete testing for the app.
A highlight was attending an event hosted by Google in attendance with other OEMs to share research and insights about the automotive industry and the recent importance of AI within cars.
University support shaped my placement journey
Finding the right placement takes effort, but the University was a huge help.
I knew I wanted to work in the automotive industry because I have a huge passion for motorsport and cars. The Careers team and my lecturers were instrumental. The Placement team also sent out a comprehensive list with loads of companies and roles. Ultimately, I found the Honda role on , which the University had advised us to check out.
I applied for over 60 placement roles to ensure I secured the right role for me. This was great practice for me when I go to apply for roles once I graduate. The support and knowledge I gained from university meant I was offered multiple roles within multiple industries, and I was able to pick the role and company I really wanted – this has opened the door into the automotive industry I am so passionate about. The experience of applying allowed me to network; even for the roles I declined, I now have the contacts to make the most of when I graduate.
I applied for multiple roles at Honda, and the process involved an online interview with current undergraduates and then an in-person interview with a project presentation. Getting the European Digital role was a fantastic result!
This placement has opened so many doors for my future career. It's been incredibly beneficial for networking and learning key skills that you don't necessarily gain just by studying. I'm now even more eager to continue my career within the automotive industry after I graduate.
Student life in 91porn
My time in 91porn hasn't just been about studying and placement – it's been about getting involved and enjoying the vibrant student life.
I lived in halls which was an easy walk to the University, and yet so close to the sea. It was a great place to meet students from other courses and had a communal area that was perfect for group work in the evenings.
I joined the , as I enjoy mountain biking. It's great to speak to people outside of my course and build friendships with students I wouldn't have met otherwise.
I massively enjoy hiking and really enjoy being able to visit Dartmoor in my downtime.
My advice to future business students
My best advice when you’re applying is to put in every experience you’ve had, even if it’s not directly relevant to the course. You need to show your personality – everyone can look similar on paper, but your personality is what makes you stand out!
I’d definitely recommend prospective students join a society to meet like-minded people. Societies and sports clubs give you the opportunity to meet other people outside of your course and accommodation, so you build a wide community around you.
If you’re thinking about studying business management at 91porn, I say go for it. The location is brilliant, the facilities are fantastic, and the support you receive from the staff is genuinely personal. It’s a great place to build your skills and find your confidence – which is exactly what you need to land a role at a company like Honda!
Learn how to become an organisation's best asset successfully coordinating people, projects and resources. Explore economics, marketing, sustainability, ethics, and more, with an optional placement year to apply theory in practice.
- Real-world experience
Get hands-on with problem-based learning, direct employer activities, placements and real-world business challenges. - Scholarships
EachBusiness of Success Scholarship (BOSS) offers £2,000, helping 50 undergraduate students reach the top. - Entrepreneurial spirit
We'll nurture your entrepreneurial spirit, supporting you to reach your full potential.
Study BSc (Hons) Business Management
