Interview with Lauren Leisk —
BA (Hons) Business Management
About you
“I graduated with a BA (Hons) Business
Management from QMU in 2016.” such a great experience and although it’s
a very challenging time, the hard work
really pays off when you get good
results.”
Why did you did you choose to study
BA (Hons) Business Management at
QMU? What are your top tips for future BA
(Hons) Business Management
students?
“I really enjoyed business subjects
throughout my time at Broxburn
Academy. I decided to study BA (Hons)
Business Management at QMU as the
course covers a wide range of business
related topics and I could choose which
employment area I wanted to go into
after I graduated. “If you have a real interest in business,
but are not sure which business path
you’d like to embark on, it’s helpful to
know that QMU’s BA (Hons) Business
Management covers everything from
accounting and human resources to
entrepreneurship and procurement.
Once you discover what subject you’re
most interested in during the course, you
can consider what specific area of
business might suit you best in your
graduate career.”
“I visited QMU during an open day and I
loved the friendly size of the campus
compared with other universities in
Edinburgh. Most importantly, QMU’s
graduate employment rate is very high
too.
“I love how modern the QMU campus is
and that everything is in the one place.
QMU is also a very ‘green’ and socially
responsible university, which is
something I’m very passionate about (the
topic of my dissertation). QMU has such
an embracing, friendly environment
which makes you feel welcome.”
Why did you choose to study in
Edinburgh/Scotland?
“I never really considered moving away
from home as I’m close to my family and
friends. Edinburgh is such a beautiful
place and I felt there was no better place
to study than Scotland’s capital city!”
What was the highlight of the course
for you?
“I really enjoyed the Business
Management course. I learnt so much
over the four years. I have been able to
put this knowledge into practice during
the early part of my career when I
managed large groups of staff for a
national restaurant chain, and currently
as I develop my own specialist food
business ‘Fodilicious’.”
“I think the most interesting part of the
course for me was the dissertation in my
final year. Carrying out research on a
topic that you are so passionate about is
What have you done since
graduating from QMU?
“I graduated with a first class BA (Hons)
Business Management degree.
Throughout my time at QMU, I worked
my way up in a popular restaurant chain,
from a host, to a waitress, to a shift
manager. After graduation, I took on a
General Manager position in a high
volume restaurant in Edinburgh city
centre and became the company’s
youngest store manager in the UK. I had
a team of 25 people working for me and
I was responsible for the profit and loss
of the store. It was a fantastic
experience, and I could put into practice
everything I had learnt throughout my
time at QMU, including developing
marketing strategies, operations
management, business strategy and
finance.”
Tell us about the food business you
set up?
“In recent years, I discovered a gap in
the market for fresh, healthy convenience
foods suitable for people coping with
various digestive disorders including
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). I used my
personal experience of IBS, which I had
experienced in my early 20s, and my
business skills, to plug the gap. In
September 2017, I created Fodilicious,
an innovative and UK exclusive food
manufacturing business providing
116
convenient, healthy meal options
following the low FODMAP diet,
(IBS-friendly). My specialist foods and
convenience meals are helping IBS
sufferers to live a better quality lifestyle.
Our products are also gluten-free and
dairy-free too, effectively positioning
Fodilicious in the fast growing ‘free from’
food market.”
How has QMU supported your
business development?
“I have continued my relationship with
QMU since graduation, particularly since
establishing my business. I have worked
closely with the food specialists within
the Scottish Centre for Food
Development and Innovation to develop
new products. I am a tenant of QMU’s
Business Innovation Zone and have been
extremely well supported by QMU’s
Business Development Manager, who
has helped me network and showcase
my specialist food products to different
audiences. She has also put me forward
for several highly prestigious awards,
which has proven very fruitful. In 2018, I
won several awards and support from
organisations, which is helping me
further develop my business. Amongst
my wins, I was one of only 20
entrepreneurs to win a £45k Royal
Society of Edinburgh Unlocking Ambition
Enterprise Fellowship Programme. I was
runner up in the finals of the Santander
Universities Entrepreneurship Awards,
where I was up against some of the
country’s most ambitious entrepreneurs
from the UK’s top universities. I also won
£10k in the Scottish Edge competition,
which supports entrepreneurs and
start-ups. So it’s been a very productive
year and I thank QMU for supporting me
through the awards process.”
Would you consider further study at
QMU?
“Yes, of course! At QMU, I learnt that the
business environment is always
changing. I believe that you have to
continuously learn and study to keep up
with change. But for now, I’ll concentrate
on the development of my business and
continue my relationship with QMU
through my tenancy of the University’s
Business Innovation Zone.”