Students gain valuable experience at Industry Insight Day with Asda

Thirty students from the MSc Business Analytics and Decision Science programme recently had the unique opportunity to step inside the world of retail analytics during an Industry Insight Day.

The day was hosted by Sakshi Mishra, an alumnus of the same course, within Asda’s Data and Insights Team. 

Students were welcomed at Asda’s headquarters in Leeds where they gained hands-on experience in data-driven decision-making within a major UK retailer. To put theory into practice, students were presented with a case study, requiring them to analyse real-world data and propose informed business solutions.

When students are offered a company visit, you might initially believe you will simply tour the facilities and listen to department overviews. However, our visit to Asda was much more creative. Our student group engaged in a whole workshop focused on reading customer data points to make the right business decision for a product launch. It was particularly valuable to learn how Asda utilizes different types of data, such as econometric insights, buyer profiles, and customer segmentation.

The students also had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with Asda’s analysts, gaining valuable insights into career pathways within the field. 

Asda’s Insight and Analytics Senior Analyst, who co-hosted the session, commented: “Hosting the University of Leeds Business Analytics and Decision Sciences cohort at Asda’s head office was nothing short of brilliant and fulfilling.

I was wholly impressed with the calibre of the students that attended and their willingness to learn, collaborate, and engage fully with the case study materials. The conversations made for a dynamic event where students could get a taste of what working with data is like at a data-driven business such as Asda.

“I look forward to similar events that continue to foster the relationship between Asda and the brilliant minds coming out of the University of Leeds postgraduate programmes.”

Senior Lecturer in Business Analytics, Aritad Choicharoon, emphasised the significance of these real-world experiences: “I am thrilled that our students have been given the incredible opportunity to visit a successful major retailer in the UK, Asda. This visit allows them to witness firsthand how the skillset and theory that they are learning in the classroom apply to real-life business problem-solving and will be invaluable for their future careers.”

The Industry Insight Day at Asda proved to be a valuable and engaging experience for students, bridging the gap between academia and industry. With such initiatives, Asda continues to demonstrate its commitment to nurturing future talent and fostering strong industry-academic collaborations.

Find out more about how businesses are working with students here