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you've even started negotiating your undergraduate deficit can prove to be beneficial over the longer term. The University of Stirling – Scotland's

university for sporting excellence – offers an MSc in both sports management and sports coaching to enable candidates interested in entering the sport sector to significantly enhance their prospects. Paul Dimeo, director of taught postgraduate programmes at the university's department of sports studies, explains how the courses have been shaped to provide maximum benefits. "Our MSc in sports coaching is designed to

integrate with the UK Coaching Certificate scheme at Level 4. There are opportunities to work with sports organisations, such as professional clubs, national governing bodies,

CASE STUDY: Hannah Cockerill

Where do you work? What is your position?

I am currently on the Forestry Commission’s Graduate Development Programme, which involves

undertaking placements in the various parts of their business, at different locations around the UK. So far I have been based in south west Scotland, the west Midlands, and south Wales. My current position is with Forestry Commission Wales in the National Forest Estate Windfarm Programme team, which is in the planning phase with develop- ers from the private sector for six windfarm developments across Wales. As part of my placement, I have been involved in develop- ing a new strategic policy for the website, mapping the key stakeholders affected by the developments across Wales, reviewing a planning application, and managing a project to deliver more office accommodation to the expanding Windfarm Programme team.

What university/higher education course did you take and where?

I obtained a first class honours degree in History from Leicester University.

Did you enter the leisure industry directly from university or did you undertake a post-grad course or any other course?

I joined the Forestry Commission directly from university.

How did you find your first job?

During my third year at university, I exten- sively researched work experience and gradu- ate opportunities. I knew I wanted to work in the public sector, so I focused on finding opportunities in that area. This research basically involved a lot of ‘Googling’ and I eventually stumbled across the Forestry Commission’s website, where they were adver- tising the GDP. It offered the chance to con- tribute to an important mission, to protect and enhance Great Britain’s woodlands, and amazing job variety and travel opportunities. It sounded like too good an opportunity to miss, so I applied for that year’s intake.

Was it easy to find a job?

Finding job opportunities was relatively easy, there were so many companies looking to employ university graduates, not like now where everyone is cutting back. The tough part was getting a job offer, as there was obviously steep competition from hundreds of other applicants.

© Cybertrek 2010

What would you do differently if given the opportunity?

Applying for jobs during my third year at university was quite stressful, on top of exams, essays and dissertation work, so I think if I was in that position again I would wait until I had finished university and then spend the summer applying for graduate positions. Then again, it was excellent know- ing I had a job sorted at graduation, and that I had the summer to relax, with a job organised to start in September. I guess it’s all down to the individual!

What does your day-to-day role include?

My day-to-day role has a lot of variety due to the nature of the GDP, and it changes with every placement. During my placement in Galloway Forest District in Scotland, I managed a standing sale harvesting site, managed a recreation project which involved the leasing of four buildings within Galloway Forest Park for tourism purposes, and wrote an implementation plan for the District’s local and strategic policies! In contrast, my placement in the west Midlands involved undertaking conditional felling licence inspections, refreshing the Regional Forestry Framework and evaluating the success of the Health Woodland Improvement Grant and the JIGSAW grant. And now I am currently work- ing with windfarms!

What are your future ambitions?

I think my immediate ambition is to take that next step within the Forestry Commission, and obtain a managerial position in an area of particular interest to me, such as recreation and communities. After that, my ambition is to just keep progressing my career, taking those upward steps, and per- haps, one day, managing a particular region or district. My own little empire!

What career advice would you have for last-year students/graduates looking to get into the industry?

My advice would be to get as much work experience as you can wherever you can, as the range of your work experience will help to single you out from the crowd of hope- ful applicants. Also, you should apply for as many jobs as possible and go to as many assessment centres and job interviews as you can, as it really does help you get to know the format and provide you with experience in completing the tests and answering com- mon interview questions.

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