News and events
Tricia Tape Retires
22 December 2010
Tricia Tape, who retires at the end of this year, has worked at Loughborough University for 19 years and for 14 of those years as the Placement Officer in the Business School.
As Placements Officer, Tricia organised hundreds of business student placements each year with an amazing success rate of nearly 100 per cent placed year upon year.
“I feel very honoured to have played a small part in so many young lives,” said Tricia. “Being able to work in a job I love and help so many people has been so rewarding. It has truly been a privilege to work with so many staff, students and employers, ensuring everyone was in a win-win situation. I think the Placement Officer role is probably one of them most satisfying jobs in the University, and I will miss it hugely. I send out my best wishes to all of our students, staff and employers.”
Testimonials from students across the years rate their placement, and the help Tricia gave in securing it, as one of the most positive and life-changing events in their lives while a student at Loughborough.
Upon hearing the news of Tricia’s imminent retirement, hundreds of students and graduates got in touch with messages of thanks and well wishes. Here is just a small selection:
Mike: “A lot of us wouldn’t be in the jobs we are in now if it wasn’t for you – you provided invaluable help and support throughout the process of gaining a placement”; Fiona: “I know you have many students to deal with but somehow you always had time for me when I needed you”; Lius: “You will always be remembered and missed. Thank you for giving me the confidence, support and help when I needed it the most”; Laura: “I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all of your help and your hard work – I know from speaking to various people at different Universities that they don't have this kind of support”; Simon: “The experience I gained at Tenon was amazing and has helped me in landing a graduate job at one of the banks. I truly appreciate all your help and advice throughout the placement”; Aya: “Without you, I would not be in this fantastic job at IBM. I would like to say many thanks and to wish you the best”; Haozhou: “I just want to thank you for everything you had done for me during my placement application. Without you I don't think I would have made it”; James: “You were a very approachable, understanding and insightful individual who gave great, appropriate feedback, whether it be on an application form or on my general demeanor”; Ashley, Celine, Dominic and Nikolay: “You have been our guiding light through the competitive and often unclear process of applying for a job – your advice and knowledge of what to expect in each and every position and company has been invaluable”; Kristofor: “I am sure that I am not alone with saying that you were a massive help and made the whole process of finding and preparing my industrial placement a lot easier. I believe the skills you taught me will help me throughout my career”.
Said Dave Coates, Director of Undergraduate Programmes (Business School),
“Tricia has worked wonders in the Placements Office. Year after year, through good times with the economy and bad, we have consistently placed huge numbers of students. In part this has been due to the quality of the students, but also in large part this has been because of the professionalism of Tricia and the placements team. Tricia especially has truly cared for and supported the students – as individuals – working with the students and with the employers to ensure excellent success in terms of students going on placement and starting the journey to their professional careers.”
Professor Angus Laing, Dean of the School of Business and Economics, said: “Placements are at the very core of the undergraduate business programmes in the School. The success of the programmes and our league table rankings, is dependent on the success of our students in securing high-quality placements. Tricia has been central to this success and from a student perspective has been the very heart of the placement process. The School, both staff and students, owe a debt to Tricia for developing the services of the Placement Office. Her legacy will continue while she enjoys a well-deserved retirement.”
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