Pioneering student from Environment Department’s Year in Industry programme recognised in National Undergraduate Employability Awards
Posted on 27 February 2017
Kadi set her sights on a Year in Industry placement within days of the initiative being approved by the University and worked tirelessly to identify a suitable opportunity. After a number of setbacks she actually created a year-long role with Home Energy Scotland where she worked as part of a team advising domestic customers on energy, water efficiency and sustainable transport as well as government funding for home energy efficiency improvements and renewable technologies. Within less than a month of her placement, Kadi nominated herself to act as a champion for a newly launched funding scheme, monitoring data on a daily basis, preparing analysis for reports, analysing the progress of the scheme and identifying weaknesses. In recognition for her positive impact within the organisation and her commitment to the role, Kadi received an Extra Mile Award from Home Energy Scotland and the Scottish Government – but her awards didn’t end there…..
On returning to York she was nominated for the National Undergraduate Employability (NUE) Awards by the Environment Department’s Industry Liaison Officer, Nancy Baines. “I wanted to nominate Kadi in recognition of the outstanding resilience and professionalism she demonstrated in securing her placement in the first instance when the scheme was in its infancy as well as the value placed on her achievements by her employer” said Nancy.
Kadi was a finalist in the award category of “Best Student Contribution to a Small to Medium-sized Employer” at the NUE awards in London in February 2017. The award recognised students who exceeded expectations and genuinely made a significant impact to the business. When asked how she felt about being announced as a finalist at this prestigious event Kadi said: “This recognition means a lot to me and is really heart-warming. Going from having a difficult time of finding a placement year to leaving such a positive mark on the organisation that I have been nominated for a national award, is really motivating. It shows how you can do anything you set your mind to if you work hard and remain persistent.”