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Featured student of the month: Anna Proffitt

Posted 2 February 2015

A monthly special featuring a current student from ÎÞÂ붯»­.

For the past four years, Harper Adams student, Anna Proffitt, has been building up practical experience in the food retail industry, by helping to run a thriving noodle restaurant in Oxford.

Combined with the knowledge gained from her degree, Anna hopes to land her dream job working in events and marketing for an international consumer brand.

The 20-year-old started working for Noodle Nation during holiday periods, and it was this summer that she was promoted to Supervisor, acting as Duty Manager when on shift.

Anna from Kidlington, Oxfordshire, said: “I applied to work at the restaurant when I was 16-years-old, initially on a part-time basis.

“I love working there as the staff are great and the managers are really accommodating to my needs, giving me flexible working hours around university.

“When supervising the shifts, I’m responsible for opening the restaurant, managing the floor staff, dealing with customers and reporting to head office.

“It’s long hours and very busy due to the two universities in Oxford,  but I’m hoping the experience will prove valuable to me when I apply for placement and graduate jobs in the future.”

First year student and course representative Anna, has always had an interest in food as she believes that there is a lot of opportunity within the industry.

She added: “Food is a necessity; everybody has to feed themselves, and this has become particularly important during the global recession.

“And this is the reason for my interest in food sustainability – how to address the issue of feeding our growing population. I’d love to be involved with this in the future.”

Aside from her interest in the food sector, Anna is also a keen runner, taking up the hobby when she was 14-years-old. She has run ever since and hopes to train for her first half marathon in the near future.

Anna, a former Gosford Hill School student, said: “I enjoy running because it helps me to keep fit whilst giving me a break from day-to-day life.

“I feel like it’s an easily accessible sport, and now I want to start a student running club here at Harper Adams.

“It will be a great opportunity to socialise with fellow runners, increase motivation and keep fit. There are plenty of routes around the campus that I am keen to explore.”

Anna first chose to study at Harper Adams after finding out about the Extended Foundation Degree Course, which has enabled her to progress to a full degree without A Levels.

She is now researching options for her placement year, striving for a role in new product development or food sustainability.

Anna also owns a former race horse and works part-time for Mickley Stud in North Shropshire during her weekends at university.

Want to be featured student of the month? E-mail jheath@harper-adams.ac.uk