Philip Rickets

BA Hons Business Studies, 1992

"I am now a Partnership Director with Royal Mail."

“When I went to University, I didn’t have a clue about what I wanted to do. I never dreamt I would work for the Royal Mail – I thought it was about postboxes and letters. But it is a diverse organisation where you can be anything, from an accountant to something in catering. It is one of the biggest employers in the country.

“As Partnership Director, I manage the relationship between the Royal Mail and its largest financial service customers.

“My time is divided between London and Edinburgh and although I am supposed to work from my home in Reading, I rarely see it more than one day a month!

“I first did a year’s work placement with the Royal Mail. I left Luton and my degree enabled me to do a management access programme. I moved from there into sales and marketing at the Royal Mail and have had various roles in direct mail over five years.

“My course at Luton gave me the basic skills and understanding of all kinds of jobs across an organisation. By understanding what people do and how they do it, you are better equipped to deal with internal negotiations.

“My work placement proved to be a great opportunity to put that into practice and my advice to students is that, if you are offered that kind of opportunity when doing your degree, grab it with both hands, you never know what it might lead to.”

Interview took place in 2004.