Molly
Malyon

Why did you choose to study at NTU?

I knew that Nottingham Trent University had a specific campus that specified in animal, rural and environmental degrees before I had applied to go to university so thought that this would be the perfect place for me to study. I also liked the fact that it was based in the countryside as I knew I would feel more at home by living and studying somewhere rural rather than in a large city. I also knew that if I wanted to go on a night out, that I would be able to visit the student bar on campus or take a direct link into the city.

What did you learn – both inside and outside of lectures?

I had gained a lot of practical experience whilst studying the FdSc Animal Science degree. I found this useful as I understood that there are multiple avenues I could go down within the Animal Science sector. I also had the opportunity to travel to Mauritius for two weeks as part of the FdSc Animal Science course. This gave me the opportunity and confidence to work with different people in a new environment which of course is needed when working in the industry.

What have you been up to since graduating?

For the past 6 years, I have been working for Waltham Petcare Science Institute (WPSI). WPSI focuses on creating a better world for pets through advancing pet nutrition, health and understanding the power of human-animal interaction. I started working as a Unit Specialist where I trained the animals for basic life skills (interactions with people/animals, targets, health checking...) and did the husbandry care too. I have since progressed where I am now a Tasking Operations Trainer. This involves working and supporting the Unit Specialists rather than directly working with the animals.

Whilst working as a Unit Specialist, I volunteered at the Dogs Trust Dog School once a week for a few years where I was able to improve my coaching skills and dog training knowledge. I supported clients during group workshops and was given the opportunity to teach group workshops too.

What does your current day involve?

My day at Waltham Petcare Science Institute can vary! Generally, I am responsible for the welfare of 150+ cats on our large cat unit. I support the Unit Specialists with any troubleshooting and training queries that they may have and help expand their knowledge and give them more ‘tools’ to use for training through practical and theory workshops. I also create behaviour modification programmes to support those cats that may need specific ways of working and support the Unit Specialists to ensure we can get these cats back on track! I also have the opportunity to work with external contacts, whether this is through sharing training knowledge or presenting our work through presentations and tours on site.

What attracted you to this field?

I have always wanted to work with animals but was unsure specifically which area I wanted to work in. However, whilst studying at Nottingham Trent University, I was introduced to multiple different companies which I had never heard of – including WPSI. I realised my options working in the Animal Science field weren’t so limited. Although, I had originally applied for Zoo Biology it turns out that studying Animal Science and Animal Biology worked out better for me instead.

What have been the highlights and biggest challenges of your career so far?

My biggest challenge so far would be when I was given the responsibility to conduct a large unit move of 150 cats from multiple units to our newest cat unit. I worked with multiple teams and ensured that my communication and plan was clear to all stakeholders involved. I also monitored the behaviour of the cats and trained others to do the same. This led to a successful and efficient move.

I have also recently presented to a group of 100 students externally about my career progression within Mars Petcare, the parent organisation, which was exciting! I had a lot of engagement and a few discussions around this.

What are your plans for the future?

I would like to progress my career within Mars as it is a good company to work for. I have looked at multiple different pathways, whether this is through project co-ordination in a different team or to work my way up within the Behaviour and Training team. Either way, I enjoy collaborating with multiple teams and would like to find a role that focuses on this.

If you had a time machine, what would you go back and tell yourself at NTU?

To do an industrial placement between your second and third year! I have a couple of friends who now work for Mars who had taken a placement year at WPSI. When they applied for a job, they had already built a good reputation at WPSI which helped them secure the Unit Specialist position – the position they were in during their placement year.