Emma Clark

Why Teesside?

I went to a lot of university open days, but Teesside stood out because it was authentic in terms of teaching style and course structure. The course was explained fully, so I knew exactly what to expect.

Best thing about your course?

The foundation year. I didn't study A levels at college, so it refreshed my science skills and I gained fundamental knowledge before my first year. It also prepared me for full-time education and university life.

What did you think about the campus and services?

The price, quality, and variety of foods available on campus was superb, including the super gooey brownies available in The Curve. The Library environment was perfect for learning – clean and well-organised with dedicated quiet zones and plenty of staff on hand to help. During my time at Teesside I really appreciated the nurturing and supportive attitude of my course lecturers if I needed help.

Any extracurricular roles?

I worked as an NPD technologist at Quorn Foods for two years. It was tough finding the time to work in industry and learn at the same time, but it was worth it. I used what I learnt in my job to help with my university work and vice versa. Quorn Food’s big push on carbon emissions inspired me to do a campaign to launch insect cookies at one of the University cafes as part of a group sustainability project. Working in industry was the key to my success at such a young age and I would recommend it, either alongside your degree or a placement year.

What are you doing now?

I’m a technical project manager for Fever-Tree. I project manage the supply chain, NPD, and transformational projects, including implementing changes and making supply chain activity more efficient. I manage resource and budget allocation in multiple countries and with multiple partners.

Did your time here help you to achieve or get closer to your goals?

Absolutely, I gained fundamental skills that helped me in live circumstances, such as writing essays enabled me to write up work reports correctly and, studying food safety regulations helped me to develop products within legal boundaries. My learning experiences and course structure at Teesside excelled my career growth. It was the perfect mixture of principle and practical learning.

Would you recommend Teesside?

Without a doubt. Everything about my experience was great - the vibe, the lecturers, the resources, the location, and the course content. The positive, collaborative culture at Teesside is special - the staff were so supportive, and my classmates were there for me when I needed them.

*Now BSc (Hons) Nutrition