Work Experience - Adala Bwire, associate, Roger Tym & Partners

Stuart Watson, Regeneration & Renewal, 14 November 2008

What has been your most beneficial career experience to date? A paid work placement on the Shell Step Project, which places undergraduates in small firms or third sector bodies to carry out specific projects. I spent a summer looking at export data on the South-West for the South-West Regional Development Agency. It was then that I decided to specialise in regional economics and without that experience I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now.

What's the best advice you've been given? Be clear about the questions you are trying to answer and focus on them. It is something that is drummed into you when you're studying, but you often don't realise the importance of doing this when you're working. It is harder to be clear than to babble on, but you need clarity to ensure the quality of your work.

What's the best training you've had? One of the main things we do here is to produce reports, so I went on a writing course. It opened my eyes to some issues that are easily forgotten, such as writing clearly and writing for your audience. I spent many years in academia, but a different approach is needed to presentation and communication in consultancy.

What book would you recommend? Regional Economics and Policy by Harvey Armstrong and Jim Taylor. It was a university text, but I still glance at it for perspective because it's very comprehensive.

What do you wish you'd known when you started out? That I should have kept all my notes from the periods when I had time to read, such as at university. Also that it's important to take more time to reflect on the big picture before looking at the detail.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

2001: Graduates from the University of Plymouth with a BSc in geography.

2002: Completes an MSc in local economic development at LSE.

2002: Starts work as a research assistant in the LSE geography department.

2004: Joins Roger Tym & Partners as a consultant.

2008: Promoted to associate.