Abby Stewart Scotland

Why did you choose to study at QMU and what attracted you to the course?

My mum studied at QMU when I was younger, so I was already familiar with the university before applying. I remember visiting the library with her when I was about ten, so it was somewhere I'd known for quite a while.

When I was looking at universities, QMU appealed to me because it was smaller, close to home and offered a Business Management course with modules that genuinely interested me. I'd enjoyed studying business at school, so it felt like a natural next step.

I started university in September 2020, which was obviously quite a different experience due to COVID. Most of my first year was online, which made meeting people and settling into university life more difficult. However, QMU made a real effort to keep students involved through group work and online activities, which helped us get to know each other despite the circumstances.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

What I enjoyed most about the course was the practical side of it. I particularly enjoyed modules such as Operations Management, which is quite relevant now given my current role.

I also really enjoyed the more practical assessments, especially those where we had to develop our own business ideas and consider how they would work in practice. I found these much more engaging than traditional essays, and looking back, they've been some of the most useful parts of my degree. A lot of what I learned is directly relevant to my role today, particularly when managing the day-to-day operations of a business.

Were there any particular course activities you found especially interesting?

My dissertation was definitely one of the most interesting parts of the course. I researched how working from home affects employee motivation within the financial sector in Scotland, which was particularly relevant given the changes to working environments following COVID.

I really enjoyed having the opportunity to research a topic in depth and develop my own findings. Looking back, it has also been useful in my current role, particularly when it comes to understanding employee motivation, different working styles and how businesses can best support their staff.

How did your lecturers support your learning?

I always found the lecturers at QMU to be very approachable and supportive throughout my studies. My dissertation supervisor was particularly helpful, arranging regular meetings and providing feedback and guidance throughout the process.

I also remember struggling with part of an Operations Management module, and when I reached out to the lecturer, they arranged a Teams call to go through it with me individually until I understood it.

I think one of the best things about QMU was that the lecturers were always happy to help and made time to support students when needed. My advice to anyone studying there would be to make use of that support and never be afraid to ask questions.

Did you take advantage of any opportunities offered through the Queen Margaret Business School, and how did these help?

One of the most valuable opportunities I had through QMU was my third-year placement at Adam Smith Podiatry & Sports Clinic, an independent podiatry clinic in East Lothian.

I initially joined the clinic to gain experience in administration and reception, but Adam, the owner, also took the time to teach me about the business side of running a clinic. I was able to learn about the day-to-day operations, business performance and KPIs, which gave me a great opportunity to apply what I had been learning at university in a real working environment.

After completing my placement, I returned to QMU for my fourth year, graduated and then worked elsewhere for a year. I later got back in touch with Adam, who was actually considering recruiting someone for a management role and had kept me in mind since my placement.

I was then offered the opportunity to return to the clinic, where I've been working ever since. My placement played a huge part in getting me to where I am today, and I'm really grateful that QMU gave me that opportunity.

What was your favourite moment at QMU?

There are two moments that particularly stand out to me. The first was receiving my dissertation result after spending months researching and working on a topic I had chosen. It was really rewarding to see all that hard work pay off.

The second was graduation. Having started university in 2020 during COVID, my experience was quite different from what I had originally expected. Graduating alongside the friends I'd made throughout my degree was a great way to finish my time at QMU and celebrate everything we'd achieved.

Do you have any advice for students who might be interested in this course?

My biggest piece of advice would be to make the most of every opportunity the course offers, particularly the placement. I never expected my third-year placement to lead to my current career, so I'd really encourage students to take it seriously, get involved and make a good impression.

I'd also encourage students to ask for help when they need it. The lecturers at QMU are very approachable and willing to offer support, so don't be afraid to reach out if you're struggling with something.

I'd recommend putting plenty of effort into the practical assessments, as these are some of the things I've found most useful since graduating. Finally, choose a dissertation topic that genuinely interests you. You'll spend a lot of time researching it, so it makes a big difference if it's something you enjoy learning about.

What’s your ‘top tip’ for making the most of being a student?

My top tip would be to make the most of being on campus, even on days when you don't have lectures. Having spent my first year studying from home due to COVID, I really appreciated being able to attend university in person.

Some of my most productive days were spent in the library or study rooms working on assignments, but it was also a great opportunity to spend time with friends and enjoy university life outside of lectures.

What did you do following graduation?

After graduating in 2024, I continued working in retail, where I had worked throughout my studies, before moving into an administrative role in a law firm. Both roles gave me valuable experience, but I knew I wanted to pursue a career where I could make more use of my Business Management degree.

I decided to get back in touch with Adam at Adam Smith Podiatry & Sports Clinic, where I had completed my third-year placement. As it turned out, Adam was considering recruiting someone to help manage the business and had kept me in mind since my placement.

The timing worked out really well, and I was offered the opportunity to return to the clinic in a management role, where I've been working ever since.

What attracted you into a business career in healthcare?

I hadn't originally planned to work in healthcare, but after completing my placement at Adam Smith Podiatry & Sports Clinic, I realised how much I enjoyed the business side of the industry.

What I particularly like about working in healthcare is that the decisions we make as a business directly impact patients. Whether it's managing appointment availability, improving processes or ensuring patients receive the right follow-up care, there's always an opportunity to make improvements that benefit both the clinic and our patients.

I also enjoy the challenge of helping a healthcare business grow. While the clinical team focuses on providing excellent patient care, my role allows me to focus on the operational and commercial side of the business, ensuring everything runs efficiently and supporting the clinic's continued development.

Tell us about your role with Adam Smith Podiatry.

I’m the Practice Manager at Adam Smith Podiatry & Sports Clinic, an independent podiatry and sports clinic based in Prestonpans, East Lothian. The clinic has been established for eight years and is the official podiatry provider to Hibernian FC.

The clinic is owned by Adam Smith, who is also a QMU graduate, alongside four other members of our team. It's great to be working alongside so many people who studied at the same university as me.

My role is quite varied, and I'm responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the business. This includes HR and recruitment, finance, managing supplier relationships, compliance, monitoring business performance and KPIs, and improving our internal processes and systems.

I also work closely with Adam on the continued growth and development of the clinic, helping to implement new services, improve efficiency and support the wider team.

One of the things I enjoy most about my role is the variety. No two days are the same, and I get to be involved in so many different aspects of the business. Ultimately, my job is to make sure the clinic runs as smoothly as possible so our clinical team can focus on providing the best care for our patients.

How do you feel you’ve made an impact on the business?

I think one of the biggest impacts I've made has been introducing more structure and consistency to how the clinic operates. I've developed weekly and monthly reporting processes that allow us to monitor business performance, track KPIs and make more informed decisions about where improvements are needed. I've also been involved in improving a number of our day-to-day processes, including patient follow-ups, appointment structures, internal procedures and compliance management. 

Another important part of my role has been developing as a manager and leader within the business. I work closely with our team, supporting their development, managing performance and helping to create a positive working environment. I've learned a huge amount about leadership from working alongside Adam, as well as having opportunities to learn from external business coaches. Having that guidance and being able to put it into practice while managing a team has really helped me grow in confidence.

One of the things I'm most proud of is being trusted to take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the clinic, allowing Adam to focus more of his time on clinical work and the wider development of the business. It's rewarding to see the improvements we've made and know that I'm contributing to the clinic's continued growth.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What I enjoy most about my job is the variety. No two days are ever the same, and I get to be involved in so many different aspects of the business, from HR and finance to working with suppliers, supporting staff and managing the day-to-day operations of the clinic. There's always something different happening, which keeps things interesting.

I also really enjoy working with our team and seeing everyone do well. We have a great group of clinicians who work incredibly hard, and it's rewarding to see them develop their skills, grow in confidence and achieve their goals. I enjoy being part of a team where everyone has different strengths and brings something valuable to the business.

Another thing I enjoy is seeing the clinic continue to grow and improve. It's nice to look back at changes we've made as a team and see the difference they've made, whether that's to how we work or the experience our patients have.

Although I'm not directly involved in treating patients, I enjoy being able to support the people who do. Our clinicians deliver the care, and I see my role as helping things run smoothly behind the scenes so they can focus on what they do best.