Hi everyone! My name is Saheefa Maz and I am currently a second year Chemistry student on a MChem Industrial Placement course.

"I had the opportunity to attend Capital Connections and was able to spend two days talking to various employers and alumni in Manchester. It was amazing to hear from professionals and learn about their career journeys, and even more inspiring to know that many were in our shoes not too long ago and had similar experiences.

We first visited Deloitte, where we got to hear from multiple employees there, including Fatimah Ahmed, who graduated with a degree in Biochemistry, and is now working in auditing. It showed me that even though I may be doing Chemistry now, I have many transferable skills that can be applied to a variety of different industries and not just within science!

Following this, we visited Forvis Mazars, where we got to take part in a mock group assessment, in which we researched and assessed multiple initiatives to be implemented by the company, then presented our findings to other teams. This was incredibly useful as it helped us develop our presentation skills whilst preparing us for how an actual group assessment may be.

We had the opportunity to attend a networking event in The Studio, which was a great way to connect with Lancaster University alumni. Speaking to them all gave me the opportunity to ask them about their personal journeys and gave me the chance to ask any questions I had. It was great to make connections with them and helped me to practice my networking abilities.

The next day, we started with a visit to McCann where I got to see how creative and dynamic the marketing world can be. Their office felt less like a typical corporate space and more like a social environment, which I really enjoyed. We heard from people working on campaigns for big brands (like Aldi), and it was cool to see how much thought and strategy goes into everything they do. It made me realize that even if you’re not creative in the traditional sense, there are so many roles in agencies like McCann where you can thrive.

Then we finished at THG, whose office was very open and was a dream for young students and graduates. Here we met with Issy Newenham, who was a Lancaster alum. Her and her colleagues taught us about developing our personal brand and upgrading our CVs whilst also sharing their career journeys. This was so interesting as it showed how we can come from different backgrounds but present ourselves in a way that really propels us into the working world.

Both visits made me realise there are so many career paths out there that I hadn’t even considered before. And hearing directly alumni, who’s been through it all recently, made the whole idea of graduating and getting a job feel a lot less scary. If you’re thinking of applying for Capital Connections, I definitely recommend it! Whether you know what you want to do post university or if you’re still exploring options, this trip can help you build your confidence and help you build meaningful connections with people who have been in your shoes not so long ago!"

If you are interested in attending Capital Connections 2026, please register your interest here - https://lancasteruni.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9QSzwiZfRrLworc

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The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.