The SilverDoor Academy offers a valuable opportunity for undergraduate students to enhance their careers while experiencing full-time work in a dynamic office environment. The placement scheme has welcomed university students into our workforce every year since the scheme began back in 2008.
Over the past 16 years, we have greeted students from around the world to experience the day-to-day, behind-the-scenes operations of the world's most trusted accommodation provider.
After a year of learning new skills and developing existing ones, the placement students return for their final year of university. However, their journey within SilverDoor often does not stop there…
As a company, we are proud to have several of our placements return to take on permanent roles with us after graduation and, for more than a decade, we have seen some remarkable success stories. Several of our Academy alumni now hold senior positions within SilverDoor, too! Here is what a few of our returning Academy students had to say about their year in the industry:
George Campkin - 2020: Accounts Receivable Support Placement, 2024: Assistant Management Accountant
How did you find returning to university after a year at SilverDoor?
It took some getting used to at first, but I was able to bring some of the good work habits I had picked up at SilverDoor back with me for my final year. This most noticeably improved my organisation and timekeeping, which made completing my revision and assignments much more doable.
What skills did you learn during your placement year?
The main things that stick out are the communication and people skills you quickly pick up from working in an office environment. I was speaking to external clients on the phone and communicating with different people in the company from the get go, so I learnt a lot about how best to approach different conversations.
What made you return to SilverDoor after graduation?
The environment and team at SilverDoor made it an easy decision to come back. I had built some great relationships and knew it would be easy to fit straight back in. I was also confident there would be opportunities for me to progress in my career with the support available.
What advice would you give to someone considering applying to be a placement student at SilverDoor?
Go for it! The opportunity allows you to get stuck into a real job with real responsibilities meaning you learn so much, and it is a great stepping stone between university and work. Living in a new city alongside other placement students in a shared house added to the positive experience and contributed to making it such a great year.
Lydia Rowles - 2019: Marketing Support Placement, 2024: Senior Marketing Executive
How did you find returning to university after a year at SilverDoor? 
Not only was my work ethic better than ever because it felt wrong to not be working all day, but my ability to interpret essay questions, structure my answers, and organise my research dramatically improved in the third year. My year in the industry was challenging in all the best ways. It forced me out of my comfort zone in terms of type and volume of work, so I returned to university with a new-found confidence, equipped with new and improved skills to perform better than I had during the first two years of my degree.
What skills did you learn during your placement year?
In terms of skills gained and enhanced, time management and effective task prioritisation, corporate writing style, knowledge of digital marketing, and brand awareness come to mind. SilverDoor also gave me experience working with colleagues at various levels of seniority, so I very quickly learnt how to conduct myself in important corporate environments.
Overall though, I think the most important thing I gained during my placement year was confidence in my ability. Knowing I could handle the responsibilities of a ‘proper job’ and succeed in new, challenging and high-stakes work made me feel able to handle anything the final year might throw at me!
What made you return to SilverDoor after graduation?
Colleagues at SilverDoor believed in me throughout my placement so I knew it would be the perfect place to build my permanent career. Although I achieved a whole lot during my placement and got stuck into more than I ever imagined I would, a year did not feel long enough to fully explore all the opportunities on offer at SilverDoor.With the rest of my degree completed, I felt I had more to bring to the table and wanted to specialise in B2B copywriting. I knew SilverDoor would be the place to do this, as well as broaden my skillset to progress in my career.
What advice would you give to someone considering applying to be a placement student at SilverDoor?
If you are looking for a placement opportunity that will challenge you, keep you busy and provide the experience of a ‘real’ full-time job with genuinely stimulating work, you will find this at SilverDoor. Expect a uniquely varied placement year with the chance to get involved in all aspects of the business. I would also say that the experience is what you make it – be proactive and make the most of the opportunity by saying yes to everything, asking a lot of questions and seeking out work that interests you beyond your assigned responsibilities.
Melissa Guvenler, 2021: Accounts Receivable Support, 2022: Accounts Receivable Manager
How did you find returning to university after a year at SilverDoor?
I better understood the theory being taught in my degree as I could relate it to real-world situations. My final year grades were the best grades I have ever received, and I felt more easily able to handle all my deadlines with a year of full-time work under my belt. It also made me focus on specific university modules tailored to the career path I knew I wanted.
What skills did you learn during your placement year?
During my placement year, I developed crucial skills that significantly contributed to my university experience. Skills such as Excel played a key role in my final-year projects. However, I also learned to adapt my communication style to various stakeholders, both internal and external.
What made you return to SilverDoor after graduation?
I returned to SilverDoor post-graduation for several reasons. Firstly, my mentors and the cohesive team around me provided an environment that supports learning and professional growth. The supportive and friendly company culture was a huge bonus and the availability of development opportunities, including study support for ACCA, made returning a no-brainer.
What advice would you give to someone considering applying to be a placement student at SilverDoor?
Do not be afraid to ask questions – it is all part of the learning experience. Take full advantage of the opportunities to take part in all the partner events, as it is great for networking. It can feel slightly daunting moving to a new place and starting a new job, but remember you have the support of other placement students, so you are all in it together!
Keziah Tierney, 2021: Client Account Support, 2022: Senior Account Support
How did you find returning to university after a year at SilverDoor?
I was sad to leave SilverDoor and it took some getting used to returning to university life, however, I returned a lot more confident than when I left. Furthermore, I went back really motivated to finish my degree.
What skills did you learn during your placement year?
I gained experience in networking and collaborating with new people, which made me more confident returning for the final year of my degree. I very quickly developed my time management and organisation skills on the job, which helped immensely in returning to university in my final year - especially for dissertations and final exams!
What made you return to SilverDoor after graduation?
The opportunity to progress in my career and the chance to work with an amazing team of SilverDoorians.
What advice would you give to someone considering applying to be a placement student at SilverDoor?
Do it! Do your research into what the company is like and what the role is (or reach out to an ex-placement student on LinkedIn) to see if it is something you are interested in, then be yourself and go for it.
