We joined PPS for a week-long work experience placement through our school; it has been an incredibly valuable opportunity. At the outset, we had little to no knowledge of the pneumatics industry, but throughout our time here, we have gained a strong understanding of the importance and advantages of compressed air systems, and we have also developed practical skills that will benefit us in our future careers.
During our work experience at PPS, we spent the first two days working with Riah, the sales administrator, where we were introduced to the sales process and assisted with updating and organising price lists using internal systems. This gave us a better understanding of how product pricing is managed. We also had an informative session about SMARTLINK, the company’s remote monitoring system for compressors. We learnt how data is collected and used to improve efficiency and prevent potential issues with equipment. Later on Tuesday, we began planning ideas for potential content to post on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Thinking creatively about how to represent PPS through their social media platforms.
On the third day, we carried out stock taking, which involved checking and recording inventory, and showed us that keeping accurate records ensures smooth operations. We also worked with the marketing and compressor spares team collectively, to upload some compressor spare products onto the PPS website. This included taking and editing the product images, looking up the information on internal software, organising the product details into spreadsheets for tracking, and uploading them to the Shopify site.
The next day involved travelling to the Sheffield office, where we brought our content ideas to life and filmed a virtual tour of the office site. This gave us a chance to use video production skills and gain experience in planning, filming and presenting information in a professional environment.
On our final day, we gained valuable insight into the finance side of the business and learned how PPS manages their financial operations. We were introduced to budgeting, invoicing and how financial records are maintained, rounding off a varied and engaging week.
Overall, our time at PPS has been a great opportunity that has allowed us to explore multiple different career paths, develop new skills and gain an understanding of how businesses operate day to day.
Thank you PPS!
Written by Sophia O'Connor and Lorianna Beale