{"id":11295,"date":"2019-09-23T11:26:18","date_gmt":"2019-09-23T10:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/undergraduate\/?p=11295"},"modified":"2020-10-28T15:30:58","modified_gmt":"2020-10-28T14:30:58","slug":"ashleighs-placement-year-at-baldwins-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk\/student-blog\/2019\/09\/23\/ashleighs-placement-year-at-baldwins-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Ashleigh’s placement year at Baldwins Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a blog post from current student Ashleigh Ridler studying BA (Hons) Media Production.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I study Media Production and my placement is in the marketing department of Baldwins Travel, an award winning independent travel agency with branches across Kent and Sussex, my office is in Tunbridge Wells, above the flagship store.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m currently writing this blog on the last day of my placement, it\u2019s a stressful and quite an emotional time. I\u2019ve been with these amazing people for 12 months and working here has made such an impact on my life, the thought of having to go back to university is really strange.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not what you know it\u2019s who you know<\/em>\u201d. In September 2017 I did freelance photography and filming for the company, because my father is the branch manager in one of the shops. From there I was able to enquire with the Director and the Marketing team about any placement opportunities. After a few months of back and forth emails a \u201cPlacement position\u201d was set up and designed for me.<\/p>\n

Earlier in the year, my 30 week placement turned into a 12 month placement, and I\u2019m very happy to say I will continue working for this amazing company remotely, while I\u2019m studying back at Bournemouth, I\u2019m obviously doing something right\u2026<\/p>\n

As much as my Instagram might suggest, my placement isn\u2019t just gala dinners, fancy dresses and meals out. Being in the marketing department means assisting all 8 branches, plus Business Travel, Bespoke and Weddings and Honeymoons \u2013 whether that be with events, marketing collateral, local advertising, shop cover etc. So there\u2019s never really a dull or quiet moment.<\/p>\n

I was really thrown into the deep end in my first few weeks. Due to holidays and illness, in first month I was already in the office on my own, dealing with e-mails, deadlines, branch enquiries and making sure everything was sorted for our upcoming show.<\/p>\n

Joining a small team in an independent company really has its perks. We are more than just a team, we each have our own strengths, and are able to support each other with any task or project. After a few months the social media and digital side of marketing was given to me to look after. I now run the companies Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, I collate and design the weekly e-newsletter to customers, and design and upload the digital screens in the window of 7 branches. As well as designing adverts (generic company ads and events) to go in newspapers\/ local magazines and attending local business networking events.<\/p>\n

My Placement Journey:<\/p>\n