David explores the world of business

Examining the world of business at the University of Teesside has been far more than textbooks and essays for David Dale. For David, 21, from Darlington, has just completed a year’s placement with Marks and Spencer, providing an invaluable opportunity to apply his learning in a practical setting. In September David will return to the Middlesbrough-based University to complete the final year of his BA (Hons) degree in Business Studies.

David came to Teesside with four good ‘A’ levels in Business Studies, Law, Communication Studies and General Studies from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington. He said: “I wanted to stay local so I could start my career feeling financially confident. One of the reasons I chose Teesside was the campus’ modern appearance, achieved through its massive investment programme. The Learning Resource Centre has brilliant facilities.

“I opted for Business Studies as it covers a wide spectrum of subjects, including Human Resource Management and financial strategies. You can see how all these elements work in the outside world.”

Marks and Spencer was a natural choice for David’s industrial placement year, as he has worked part-time in their Darlington store from the age of 17. His diverse role has included retail analysis, where he has looked at the stores’ competitors and trends, and working on the shop floor as a service and tilling Manager.

David said: “I got a lot of personal satisfaction of the placement and I could see how the theory I’d learned at university fell into place, such as Accounting and Finance, profit and loss workings and people management. My final year dissertation will also focus on the company, looking at how change affects the motivation of management teams within Marks and Spencer.”

David is the son of Tracey and Les Dale.

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