The SilverDoor Academy has been operating for over 15 years and is a great opportunity for university students on a sandwich degree. The placement scheme provides undergraduates with insights into the corporate travel and accommodation industry, great work experience, and the chance to figure out their potential career path.
One of the main advantages of being a placement student at SilverDoor is the high level of responsibility within your role and the wider company you are given from day one. On top of this, placements from each UK office get the chance to spend a week with the opposite office to connect with SilverDoor colleagues in different locations. Read about the exciting experience our Lancaster placements had in London in one of our previous blogs here.
So, not only does the Academy scheme allow you to discover which sort of career you might want, it also lets you try two cities to see where you might be more suited to - this is why the London placement trip to Lancaster is such a valuable experience.
As part of the numerous opportunities at SilverDoor, our Lancaster team hosted the five placements from London for a week in June, allowing them to experience working life in the dynamic Lancaster office.
From beach trips and karaoke nights, to collaborating in the office together, I spoke with the London Academy to hear about their experience and what they took away from the trip...
If you could revisit and relive one moment of your week in Lancaster, which would you choose?
"I don't think I will ever be able to forget my first night in Lancaster - possibly the best night of the trip. Picture this: a full office outing followed by a few cocktails and karaoke session filled with all the best throwback songs. If I could relive one moment it would definitely be that night, I'd jump at the chance to nail my rendition of Justin Bieber's 'Baby' all over again!”
What will you miss most about Lancaster now that you’re back?
"Now that I'm back in London, I do miss the layout of the Lancaster office. In London, the office is spread over a few storeys, but everyone is on one floor in Lancaster, meaning I could meet people I hadn't met before more easily. The upcoming London move to a space more similar to the Lancaster office is massively exciting as this new space will encompass more of what the Lancaster office does so well – connectivity and togetherness. It was definitely conveniently placed as well, right in the city centre with an abundance of shops and cafés nearby."
How did you manage your work-life balance during the week?
"The structure of the placement visit enabled us to have a great work-life balance. I spent the week collaborating with different teams and working on creating digital content and new marketing projects. Then the Lancaster placement house is in the heart of the city so following a day in the office, we spent our evenings doing a range of activities like a wine and paint night, a trip to the coast, and a group meal."
How did the week working in Lancaster benefit your professional development?
"Again, experiencing a different office layout with new people has greatly benefited my professional development. Working in Lancaster has increased my adaptability, and now I feel more comfortable in different office settings working with different types of people. Also, this experience has boosted my confidence in communicating with people at all levels of the company."
What was the funniest moment of the week?
"On the Wednesday, the placement boys went for a few drinks in Lancaster after playing football in the torrential rain. It was hilarious visiting some of the local pubs dressed head-to-toe in dripping wet jerseys, shinpads, and astroturf boots. Thursday night was also a good laugh, there we were out with the locals again doing karaoke - I heard some high notes my eardrums have never witnessed and would never want to witness again. Getting a few Lancastrians involved added to the laughs as well!"
What do you think Lancaster offered uniquely compared to other potential placement locations?
"I’ve been surrounded by London my whole life, so Lancaster took me by surprise as it was a really nice and quaint city. I would have really enjoyed doing my 12-month placement in Lancaster - with lots of shops, pubs, and a real community feel, I think it’s a Northern hidden gem and a great place to complete a placement.”
Did the experience teach you more about yourself? If so, what?
“This experience showed me that I am a confident speaker and can easily adjust depending on the environment I am surrounded by. Working with a completely new Account Management team in a new office highlighted my adaptability and, despite not having spoken to many people in the Lancaster office before, I was able to build strong relationships with my wider department.”
Did your trip to Lancaster give you a better understanding of the business as whole and how it operates?
"For sure! Being in Lancaster allowed me to see firsthand the other various departments of the business, such as Accounts Payable and Operations. This experience gave me a clearer understanding of the roles each department plays in keeping the engine of SilverDoor running”.
Favourite day and why?
“My favourite day in Lancaster was our trip to the small town of Arnside, where we got fish and chips and sat by the sea. When you live in the capital it’s more difficult to experience things like this, so I loved seeing that side of the area. We had a relaxing walk down the coast, of course followed by a pint at a cosy pub while watching the sunset!”
What advice would give a London placement student preparing to go on the same trip to Lancaster?
“I would advise any London placement going to Lancaster to be open minded and enthusiastic. Enjoy every moment because you only have one week to get to know everyone and, trust me, it goes quick!”
Were there any surprises or unexpected lessons you took away from the trip?
“I was surprised at the sense of collaboration and community the Lancaster office provided. Everyone was so welcoming, which made me feel very at home. The people were very helpful and supportive, if I had any questions and my team weren't available online, I could easily ask others in the Lancaster office! This taught me that it’s so important to remain approachable and friendly, so that when others need help or are unsure, you are always ready to help and advise.”
Would you recommend a placement at SilverDoor?
“I would highly recommend the SilverDoor Academy placement programme, it has helped me develop my skills massively, and expanded my network of connections for a future career. It is an invaluable experience, that will help you transition into the corporate world more easily once you leave university!”
What was your highlight of the trip that you won’t forgot?
“On the Friday, we hosted some colleagues at the placement house. This was a fun night as it allowed us London placements to end the week on a high, and really let our hair down after a week of getting to know people from the Lancaster office better”.
Did the city of Lancaster surprise you? If so, why?
“I must admit, as it’s a relatively small town I had expectations of there not being loads to do, but this really wasn’t the case! It was a vibrant and exciting city that had a lot going on. There was plenty of cafés and lunch spots, some lovely parks, buzzing bars, and impressive monuments such as Williamson Park and nice scenery like the Quay”.
How did the trip help you connect and build relationships with other colleagues?
“It provided me with the opportunity to connect with a whole new a group of people. It was a busy week, every day brought something different, and every night was a different experience. Simply strengthening my relationships with other colleagues was important, like on the Wednesday night we played 6-a-side football with the Lancaster placement lads and some people from the office. This was a great laugh and really got us in the competitive spirit!”
Why was meeting up with the other placement group such a positive experience?
“I do think by spending time in each other’s workplaces and exploring the city that they have spent a year living in, we got to know each other even better. It gave us the chance to hang out as a big group and share our individual SilverDoor experiences and stories together. It was a positive experience because it’s always good to put a face to the name, especially when they are in the same boat to you.”
What was it like socialising and living with the Lancaster placements?
“The Lancaster placements were very hospitable when we first arrived. They organised a load of social activities throughout the week, making sure that our time up in Lancaster was as fun and busy as possible. As they had come down to London in April and knowing how much fun that week was, the five of us were all excited to do it all over again. The twelve of us all really jelled and shared some great memories together.”
How did the work environment in Lancaster compare to what you are used to?
“The working environment felt very warm and collaborative. I must say, it was great to be able to connect with other departments and solve any issues or challenges together in person instead of over the phone.”
Did the experience working in Lancaster give you more clarity of understanding your career objectives?
“Throughout the course of the year, I have learnt a lot about who I am as an individual and what work I enjoy. However, working in Lancaster provided me with more clarity on my potential career in finance by allowing me to apply theory I have learnt in my degree to real-world finance practices. The experience taught me more about decision-making within a professional setting as it gave me the opportunity to learn from more people in the field.”
Best moment of the week?
“One moment that stands out is when all the placements went for a few beers after work at one of Lancaster’s oldest restaurants/pubs. It was rustic and had a very authentic feel about it, some might call it an ‘impressive boozer’! Over 300 years old, Merchants 1688 is an office favourite located right by the historic Lancaster Castle, I really enjoyed sharing a drink with the rest of the placements here.”
Whether it’s relishing in the opportunities that London provides or making new connections in the charming city of Lancaster, being a part of the SilverDoor Academy is a great experience and ideal gateway to the world of work.
If you would like more information about the SilverDoor Academy, you can download our brochure here.
All our placement opportunities are listed on the careers page and, if you think you have what it takes to become a SilverDoor Academy student, you can apply by sending your CV and cover letter to [email protected]. Be sure to include which role(s) and office you’re applying for and why you think you’re the right person for the role.
