Ben's story

How did you going to utilise the Santander Funding?

From the 18th June to 20th July, I attended a summer study school in La Rochelle, France, focusing on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Events Management. This intensive programme combined academic learning with cultural immersion, offering seminars, workshops, and practical case studies. I aimed to deepen my understanding of ethical business practices within the events sector, while also gaining international experience and improving my French language skills.

My motivation to pursue this opportunity stemmed from a long-standing ambition to study in France. In my first year at SHU, I chose to learn French as an elective module, which opened the door to potential study abroad options. However, due to unforeseen personal challenges, I had to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the full year study abroad programme. Despite this setback, I remained committed to finding another way to achieve my goal. I worked closely with my internationalisation Lead, David Hattersley, and Dora Chan, who were instrumental in sourcing opportunities that suited my aspirations. When the La Rochelle summer school was suggested, I instantly felt it was the right fit and was determined to make it happen.

Learning about the Hallam Award gave me a structured way to progress towards this goal. I fully engaged with the programme, developing key skills and working towards my Gold Award. Achieving this milestone enabled me to apply for the Santander Funding, which was vital in making this experience financially possible. Attending this summer school was not only a personal goal, but a professional milestone that helped shape my career aspirations in marketing. It marked the next step toward my career, with essential knowledge and understanding of how CSR and events work closely with marketing efforts.

How did the funding help you to achieve your career aspirations?

From this experience, I developed both personal and professional qualities that are essential in today’s global job market. The Hallam Award and Santander funding had already helped me build a strong foundation by encouraging me to reflect on my strengths and areas for development; a structured approach that helped me become more self-aware and proactive.

These are skills I continued to strengthen during my time in La Rochelle. The summer school immersed me in an international environment, where I’ll engaged with students and professionals from diverse backgrounds.

Living and studying in France will also brought me closer to my long-term aspiration of working internationally; I hope that one day I can live and work in France, and this opportunity gave me a realistic understanding of what this life could look like. This experience also gave me cultural fluency, confidence in navigating new environments, and the ability to adapt quickly, all of which are essential in any marketing role. The programme’s academic content in CSR and events management was directly aligned with my chosen career path, and learning how responsible practices are integrated into event planning and brand communications will allow me to stand out in the competitive marketing industry.

The Santander funding not only made this experience financially possible, but also motived me to make the most out of it, pushing me to grow academically, professionally, and personally. Ultimately, this opportunity was an investment in my future and a bold move towards becoming a globally minded, socially responsible marketing professional.

Why do you think it is important for students to engage in extracurricular activities alongside their studies?

Extracurricular activities, such as volunteering, work experience, and involvement in clubs or societies, were once something I saw as optional or simply a way to pass time. However, after completing the Hallam Award and engaging in a variety of experiences, I now see how vital they are for both personal and professional development.

I strongly encourage all students to get involved wherever possible, as these activities can have a far greater impact than expected. What may seem like a small commitment can lead to life-changing opportunities. For example, volunteering at Age UK began as a way to give back to the community and improve my CV, but soon opened professional doors; through this experience, I connected with professionals in the charity sector and was offered the chance to help manage the marketing for a local campaign in Milton Keynes- an opportunity I wouldn’t have had through academic work alone.

There's a large range of benefits of engaging with extracurricular activities. Socially and emotionally, it helps you build confidence, resilience, and teamworking capabilities depending on the task. I met incredible people through volunteering and work experiences and made lifelong memories that I’ll take forward with me in the future. From a wellbeing perspective, it provides a healthy balance to academic stress. Professionally, it gives students the chance to build real-world experience and transferable skills valued by employers.

Three of my favourite skills and experiences I’ve gained through extracurricular activities include:

Creativity: I supported a small local brand in developing their marketing strategies, which helped me apply my educational learnings into a real-world scenario.

Curiosity: I volunteered at Age UK as a sales assistant, helping take deliveries, visually merchandising the shop floor, and meet the incredible staff that come from there. This led to me being offered to use my marketing expertise for a campaign in Milton Keynes.

Credibility: Leading and managing a video project within my placement. I Involved a local production agency who opened their doors to work experience with them in future projects.

These activities have helped shape my journey beyond the classroom and have been crucial in preparing me for my future career.

Tell us about your summer school experience

The summer school at Excelia in La Rochelle, France, was a transformative experience that left a profound impact on both my academic understanding and personal development. Funded by the generous support I received by the partnership of Sheffield Hallam and Santander Academy, this opportunity allowed me to fully immerse myself in a unique learning environment that challenged and inspired me in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

The curriculum was a dynamic blend of lectures, seminars, workshops, live case studies, and site visits. This approach gave me a practical and deeply engaging understanding of CSR and Event Management in a global context. I collaborated with students from around the world, each bringing different experiences and cultural viewpoints to the table. These interactions pushed me to communicate more effectively, listen more intently, and develop a more globally conscious mindset.

Outside the classroom, I embraced every opportunity to connect with the local culture and fellow students. From kayaking through the waterways of La Rochelle, to exploring the serene towns of Ile De Re, to simply sharing meals and stories with my peers, I was constantly learning and growing. I am now very confident in navigating new social environments with confidence and humility. Professionally, I gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of sustainability in events and how marketing ties into this area of business. I gained insights and real-world experience in applying my academic work to real world case studies local to La Rochelle. Personally, the experience shaped me in ways I hadn’t expected. I became more self-assured, and reflective. Living and learning in a different country sparked new levels of curiosity and independence in me and helped me discover strengths I didn’t know I had.

This experience has helped me view challenges as opportunities for growth as I feel more prepared to take on responsibilities with confidence, creativity, and a stronger mindset. Moving forward into final year, I plan to integrate everything I have learned into my approach to this critical period. I’m currently exploring and open to other cultural exchanges and working abroad. My ultimate goal is to live and work in France, so I will continue to push for these opportunities and work towards this. I’m very grateful to build on this incredible foundation that my summer school experience has provided.