Eleanor - EGGER UK
Business Management student Alice completed a work placement with EGGER UK in Hexham in 2024–25. She worked across HR functions, from recruitment to learning and development, and launched a student network initiative.
Q&A
Tell us about your placement experience.
My placement was with EGGER UK at their busy manufacturing plant in Hexham, Northumberland. I worked in the Human Resources department as an HR Undergraduate, where my role was varied and developed throughout the year.
I initially supported the Learning and Development part of HR before taking on more responsibility in the Recruitment and Employer Branding side. My day-to-day tasks include scheduling interviews, updating personnel files, booking meeting rooms, and co-ordinating calendars.
Tell us about your favourite thing about your placement.
My favourite thing about my placement has been the variety of people I’ve had the chance to meet and work with. From colleagues in HR globally and other departments to candidates applying for roles, every interaction has taught me something new and helped me build confidence. I’ve developed skills I didn’t expect to gain at the start, such as presenting, project management, and negotiation, and I know I’ll carry these with me into my final year and future career.
What key skills did you developed while on placement?
Collaboration has been a key focus, as I regularly worked across departments such as Marketing and Health and Safety to deliver projects. I also improved my self-awareness and confidence by reflecting on feedback from presentations and using it to enhance my communication. Another major area of growth has been digital capability, through learning HR systems. Finally, I strengthened my problem-solving skills, particularly when finding compromises between HR and other departments.
What was your favourite project on placement?
My favourite project on placement has definitely been creating The Student Network. I was given the opportunity to design and launch this initiative from scratch, with the aim of bringing together undergraduates and graduates across EGGER who are in similar situations. The idea was to create a supportive space where students could connect, share experiences, and learn from one another, which I felt was really important in such a large organisation.
I planned the three sessions across the year, developed activities, and presented them to the group. The feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive, with people saying how much they valued the chance to meet others and be part of a community. It was really rewarding to see my idea make a genuine impact.