Emily Outram

Account Manager, The Ark Media

I left university with not only academic knowledge but practical knowledge too. I think it is really important to have a combination when it comes to working in real-life marketing settings.

Why I chose to attend Leeds Trinity and my best memories

I chose to attend Leeds Trinity after previously moving to a new city to attend a large university and not liking it. Leeds Trinity meant I could attend university and stay local, which was perfect for me at the time! My best memories have to be, being awarded the Tim Hodgson Memorial Prize for Business in my second year and winning the Business and Management Programme Prize in my final year, both for gaining the highest grades on my course.

Valuable placements

During my first year, I did a five-week work experience placement at Link Communication, a marketing firm specialising in product sampling, leaflet distribution, product demonstration, and experiential marketing. During this time, I attended weekly team meetings, planned, and organised a charity event for Yorkshire Greenspace Alliance at Horsforth Gala, reported directly to both the Managing Director and the Director for client management, and phoned potential clients to showcase what the business does and how they could benefit them.

In my second year, I did a six–week professional work placement within the marketing department of Arc Inspiration’s Head Office. At the time. the company owned fifteen bars and restaurants in the North of England: Banyan, Manahatta, The Pit, The Box and Kith & Kin. Throughout my time there I completed weekly social media audits, composed a range of social media posts for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and conducted competitor analysis for upcoming events.

Both placements were not only valuable for learning how a marketing firm operates, but for creating relationships within the industry. My first paid-for marketing role came after one of the marketing directors I had met on placement, set up in their own agency, and asked if I would like a job.

What I enjoyed most about my course

What I enjoyed the most about the Business and Management course is that it covered a range of subjects, which helped me decide which area of business I wanted to pursue a career in.

New skills I left with

I left university with not only academic knowledge but practical knowledge too. I think it is really important to have a combination when it comes to working in real-life marketing settings.

My career since graduation

I work for the Ark Marketing and Media, a marketing agency that specialise in outdoor, TV, and radio marketing. The thing that I enjoy most about the role is that I can get to manage and plan a range of marketing campaigns for a breadth of clients, from SMEs to national clients, meaning that no two days are the same. The thing that I am most proud of is being promoted from Account Executive to Account Manager within my first year at the company, during this time I was also studying part-time for my Masters in Strategic Marketing (CIM), which I graduated in November 2022.  

My advice to prospective students thinking about doing a similar course

I would definitely recommend the Business and Management course for anyone who enjoys business but is unsure what they want to specialise in. The course allows you to not only explore a range of areas academically but also practically through placement, to help you make the right decision for your future career.