The first week back after Christmas and New Year has felt like a natural moment to pause and take stock, because it also marks six months since I started my placement at Structural Adhesives!
One of the standout moments of the past few months was the visit in November from Liz Kendall, MP for Leicester West. I had the opportunity to present some of our projects and explain the importance of the work we’re doing. It was especially meaningful to speak about my experience as part of an all‑female technical team, something quite rare in our sector and something we’re all genuinely proud of. Seeing our work showcased to someone outside the industry and watching the team talk so passionately about the impact of innovation in our field, was a powerful reminder of why what we do matters.
On the technical side, the biggest achievement of my placement so far has been reaching a major turning point in our research and development project. After months of trial and error, recalculations, reformulations, and even a “back to square one” moment, we believe we have finally identified a material that solves the core problems we set out to address. As I mentioned in my three‑month blog, I’m beginning to understand the logic behind each development step and feel more confident in knowing what to try next. We’re now moving into in‑house verification before sending the material for external testing which is a huge step forward, and one that feels incredibly rewarding. Being part of something that could soon become a fully developed product is exactly the kind of experience I hoped this placement would give me.
This challenge has facilitated not just technical, but personal growth. One of the biggest lessons for me has been learning not to worry when the data doesn’t behave, and to see setbacks as part of the process rather than signs that I’m doing something wrong. Working through the “back to square one” moment taught me how to approach a problem from a new angle and break it into manageable parts. As my dad always told me growing up, “you cannot eat an elephant all at once”, and this experience has emphasised to me how important it is to take things piece by piece and stay rational. It’s the kind of learning curve that I am sure every new starter in R&D goes through, and one I hope will reassure any future placement student who finds themselves staring at a confusing set of results.
December also brought a completely different kind of opportunity when I attended the East Midlands Chamber AGM. Before the meeting, I helped host our stand at the networking event, and the company had even printed a full banner of an infographic I designed. Seeing my work displayed like that was a proud moment and a small but significant reminder that what I’m doing here has real value. The AGM itself was held in the planetarium at the National Space Centre, which made the whole experience even more memorable. As someone who didn’t grow up in the area, it was my first time there, and it was a pretty spectacular way to be introduced to it.
Alongside all of that, I’ve had a hand in organising our King’s Award celebration event for February. Taking the lead on the planning has given me a completely new appreciation for how much this recognition means to the company, while also giving me hands‑on experience in coordinating logistics and communication. It’s been a big responsibility, but an incredibly rewarding one. I’ve also been able to explore my creative side by designing the invitations for the event. On top of that, I’ve formatted two additional white papers, now published on our website and LinkedIn page, and I’ve been managing our LinkedIn presence, where we’ve been introducing the team behind the operation.
It has been incredible learning from so many brilliant minds. I’ve picked up key business and commercial skills from our MD, Angela, and learned the ropes of formulation chemistry under the guidance of our Senior R&D Chemist, Sally. I’ve also been fortunate to work closely with our KTP Associate, Morgan, from the University of Leicester, who is developing debondable adhesives. Watching her project unfold has given me a real appreciation for the value of a knowledge transfer partnership, but even more meaningful has been experiencing her mentorship and unwavering support throughout my time so far.
Looking back over these six months, I’m grateful for how much I’ve learned and how much responsibility I’ve been trusted with. I have had so many experiences, both from a Chemistry perspective and further afield, that have shaped my time here so far and made 2025 such a meaningful year. As I look ahead, I want to build on everything I’ve learned so far. On the technical side, I’m hoping to deepen my confidence in researching new avenues and in starting a project entirely from scratch. My first six months have given me a solid understanding of how to navigate the next steps of an open project, but I’d now like to further develop the skills needed to shape those early stages myself. Beyond the lab, I want to continue strengthening my communication, networking, and business skills which is something that has been a real advantage of working for Structural Adhesives as an SME, where you naturally gain exposure to every side of the operation. If the first half of my placement has taught me anything, it’s that growth comes from saying yes to challenges, and I’m genuinely excited to see where the next six months take me.
