Charlotte Howell is studying Business Management with Marketing at Leeds Business School. Here, Charlotte shares her experience of the course, future plans and the work on her Consultancy Project, focused on sustainable fashion - a subject Charlotte has a strong interest in.

Course: BA (Hons) Business Management with Marketing 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you chose to study your course?

Originally from Birmingham, I moved to Leeds three years ago to complete my undergraduate degree at Leeds Beckett. I am a confident, driven student with a passion for writing and business, and felt that out of several university courses, Business Management with Marketing at Leeds Beckett was the right choice for me. 

At first, I was looking specifically at marketing, but felt the variety of modules on the Business Management with Marketing course meant that I could widen my business knowledge, to help in later life when it came to choosing a career path. Similarly, when visiting open days, I felt that I could envision myself being a student at Beckett and simply fell in love with the city instantly!

Tell us about your experience of working on your consultancy project - what was it about and what work did it involve? 

With this being my final year project, inevitably the initial starting point felt daunting. However, ensuring it was based around a topic I am interested in made it enjoyable and rewarding, and I produced a piece of work I am immensely proud of. 

The consultancy project I completed was based on sustainable fashion, and more specifically the slow fashion business model. The client for my project was looking for help and guidance before creating a start-up company based around a ‘capsule wardrobe’ style. The research within my report focuses on the fast fashion industry, why it is so successful as well as damaging, internal and external influences that could affect the success of the business and current competitors within the industry. 

Through a group interview, I collected data around what drives sustainable buying to help generate themes for my client, before later developing a series of marketing plans for the future of their business. The report highlighted specific issues in sustainable brands that make it harder for consumers to find items best for them, and how to adapt the brand for success in a fast growing industry. 

What were the highlights of your time working on the project and how has it helped you? 

This project was set out as a group project but with the backing of my supervisor, Alistair Macauley, I made the decision to go solo and genuinely feel I produced a piece of work to the top of my ability, which I am immensely proud of. 

The constant support and feedback from my supervisor meant I was always developing my work to be as good as it can be. Using their knowledge as well as mine meant I could fulfil the project brief and create a suitable marketing plan for my client. As someone who studied English at A Level, I think that my academic ability shows through in large pieces of work/writing. Therefore, I feel this piece reflects who I am as a student and will be something I show to future employers regarding the level of work I am capable of achieving. 

What have you enjoyed most about the course and what are your plans for when you graduate?

In my first year, I was awarded the ‘Shining Star’ award during a group simulation task. This meant that I demonstrated great teamwork, problem-solving, communication and leadership skills and coped very well under pressure. Gaining recognition inevitably pushed me to work hard in my degree, and hopefully, will reflect in my final grade! 

After I graduate, I am planning to stay in Leeds to complete a master's degree in marketing at Leeds Beckett. Due to my undergraduate course opening my eyes to different aspects of business and allowing me to recognise what areas I am best at, I felt doing a master's was the best option for me. Also, my top grades over the three years were in the majority of the marketing modules. 

My future dream would to be to work for a top fashion brand, such as ASOS or Vivienne Westwood, and use my skills across their social media platforms and to attract a large variety of customers. 

I think brands should be more transparent with their business models and recognise the impact they have on the environment – especially fast fashion brands. With this being said, the growing trend of sustainable shopping is pushing consumers to think before they buy, making the future of fashion promising. 

What would you say to someone who is thinking about studying at Leeds Beckett? 

To do it! Making a decision on where to go to university is genuinely so hard, especially as you don’t want to make the wrong choice and have so many factors to consider. However, Leeds as a city is one of my favourite places, and I am happy to call it my home away from home. 

My time at Beckett has been full of learning opportunities, constant support and somewhat challenging times. Completing such a broad degree means I haven’t fallen out of love with the subject and it has allowed me to find my areas of expertise, as well as weaknesses. 

I would also definitely recommend going to university open days and induction days, and to make sure you get any questions answered, as this will allow you to outweigh any pros and cons and get a proper feel for the university buildings and courses. I also think it is important that you can picture yourself at a university/in the city, as you will be living there for three years. 

Finally, be excited for it! It may sound like a cliché, but university is some of the best years you will have and it really does go so quickly. So look forward to it, take any opportunities given to you, put the time and effort into your work and you will see the results.