George Holmes (Rolls-Royce plc)

Why did you choose to study Economics at the University of Sheffield?

I was not sure what to choose to study for university as it is a difficult decision to make when you are 17 or 18 years old. But I enjoyed Economics at A-Level. I knew it was a good subject to open doors into many jobs such as in finance or business. Sheffield itself has a lot of great facilities and extracurricular activities which appeal and is in a vibrant city close to the peak district. 

What did you like about the course, and were there any stand out modules?

I did the BSc Economics as I liked the more mathematical modules. I liked the range of modules you could choose from. The standouts for me were the Mathematical Methods for Economics, and the Microeconomics modules with Jolian, and the Game Theory for Economists module with Maria. 

What support did you receive at the school in terms of careers and employability? And also academic support?

I met a lot of interesting people through the course and my hobbies, which was a great organic support network. My personal tutor was exceptional and helped with settling into university, advised on module choice and helped with career planning and applications. 

There are alumni who would help out and share their experiences and there are specific career departments at the university. There were great opportunities to go to talks by guest speakers – in my three years guest speakers included Andy Haldane (Chief Economist at the BoE), the artist Grayson Perry and Nicola Sturgeon. 

How did you get your work placement and what was it like?

I applied online, there are lots of internships listed on target jobs and sites like that. I recommend doing an internship so that you can try what you might like to do, and it then separates you from others applying for graduate schemes without this experience. It was a good introduction into working at a big company. 

I met a lot of interesting people through the course and my hobbies, which was a great organic support network. My personal tutor was exceptional and helped with settling into university, advised on module choice and helped with career planning and applications. 

George Holmes

How do you think your studies, work placement and support you had at the university helped you in your career/current role?

My current role is as a Business Modelling and Pricing Officer at Rolls-Royce in the Defence Business. The team I work in prices all of the UK and international OE equipment (primarily engines for aircraft and ships), spares and long-term service agreements. Having a financial background with my degree really helped me understand things like inflation, compounding, macroeconomics and statistics, which is extremely useful in this role.