In Their Own Words - PBS Marketing

BA HonsMARKETINGWITHPLYMOUTHUNIVERSITY

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

BUSINESSSCHOOLWITHPLYMOUTHUNIVERSITY

Wonder Room’s approach is to help promote this Marketing course to all - by incorporating the stories from a variety of current students.

Content has been developed from one-to-one interviews and emails with the featured students.For more information about the course please visit the university website at www.plymouth.ac.uk and follow the course finder link to BA Marketing

http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/0455/pages/courseoverview.aspx

Wonder Room 2013

BA Marketing at Plymouth Business School has seen a lot of new development recently, as marketing has: with the revolutionary influences of modern technology and communication, particularly including the rise of Social Media and the significance of Sustainability in our globally connected society.

‘People Like You’ is a new approach to marketing by Plymouth Business School, for the BA Marketing course. The idea of affinity marketing using photography typically focuses around an archetypal, specific target group. Playing on this affinity to marketing of the past,

Tell me about yourself.

“I’m enjoying my 1st year at the university, but struggling a bit at the moment because it’s very busy with deadlines and I recently damaged my knee which is being operated on soon. Hopefully I’ll be fit enough to go to Bali in summer, which I can’t wait for once exams are done!”

“I’ve been into surfing since I was about 11 so Plymouth was my first choice with its local links and the societies are good here.”

What is BA Marketing to you?

“I’ve really enjoyed the course, although it hasn’t been as Marketing focussed, with a whole range of business related subjects and one or two Marketing modules. I know it’s really vital though to get that knowledge and have that understanding of business for the next few years when we focus specifically on Marketing.” “Aside from the course the university staff have been good. I have dyslexia, which was pretty rubbish at school, but Victoria who has also started this year is really supportive and helpful when she emails me on top of all her course leader work.”

“Also the staff at the Talent Hub invite me to chat often by email and keep me really informed, keep giving me a genuine feeling that they want to help.” What practical experiences have you gained while you have been studying at Plymouth University?

“I’ve been successful in competitions like Flux. At the moment I’m also doing an Inspiring Futures project which is rewarding as the business is very Corporate Social Responsibility focussed, and you get the chance to advise them on things like Marketing Strategy, so I’ve enjoyed putting that theory into practice.” What do you aspire to make happen in the future?

“My aspirations are to be happy. From the feedback I’ve had from successful people like my dad for example, I understand how they’ve only got that far because they really enjoy what they do, so I am just waiting to find out what it is!”

Tobias Wood 1st Year

Chantal Payne1st Year


“I am a first year commuting from Exminster. I think that I am different to most first years as I took a year out to work in a solicitors firm as I thought I wanted to go down the law route since I did law at A-level and loved it. It was practical to learn but I found it really boring. I then got into marketing as I love working with people and I get to use my communication skills that I learnt from waitressing. I’m hard working; quite a confident and an outgoing person; my friends call me the ‘loud one in the group’. In marketing you need to be confident and have conversations with people you don’t know and be confident with yourself. This summer I am going to Africa to volunteer through STA travel for 5 weeks. Working with the local community and the Massa Mari Tribe I will be teaching them about tourism and the English language so that they can communicate with tourists that come for safaris. I will also be tracking and following the animals.”


“Marketing to me is all about communication with people and knowing about what they want. Building relationships with people is crucial. I have learnt this from my waitressing experience as people recognise you and give personal tips when you offer a great service. ““The course is broad at the moment as I study one marketing module, which is standard for a business degree. Course lecturers take students’ ideas on board, and always answer

emails within the same day. This degree is a foundation to build to understand all aspects of a business, which makes you eager and ready for the second year marketing modules!”

What practical experiences have you gained while you have been studyingat Plymouth University?

“There have been many opportunities for extra curricular activities provided for students such as conferences and classes in areas such as presentation techniques and how to manage nerves to help you with your work and life after University. I think that so many people have learnt who they are towards the end of their first year of university and what they are capable of and have grown up. We realise that the university is serious and students know that the things they arrange helps them and makes sense to utilise.”

“I was encouraged to participate in the FLUX challenge where my team got to the finals in Plymouth and I’m also a course rep for my year.”

What do you aspire to makehappen in the future?

“I want to be happy and successful and at this moment in time. I want to go into PR and events management, as it is more people orientated than something like advertising, where you don’t necessarily interact with them. I then would like to progress to a managerial role.”


“I’m a swimmer and life guard in my spare time which is great in the summer. I recently started my own clothing company which links in with my degree, something that I’ve always wanted to do, which also allows me to gain some relevant experience on my CV.”


“From my perspective I’d say all the modules this year are relevant and I feel that the coursework will directly link to things that I’ll be doing on placement next year, so it’s nice to actually get a taster. It’s all so much more than advertising.” “This year I think my favourite module which I find particularly relevant for me is Entrepreneurship, as although it’s an optional module it directly links to my clothing company, giving me more insight into that side.”“Last year I chose a module in Spanish so it was quite nice to have all these options to mix it up.”

What practical experiences have you gained while you have been studying at Plymouth University?

“An example from my course; is that we’re making up a new (hypothetical)

product for Ginsters - it’s nice when you can consider a real company that you’re familiar with.”

“In another module we’re branding an energy drink to compete with the likes of Red Bull, so from scratch we develop the brand, logo, marketing and communications including the website and social media strategy.“

“Also, with some other students and help from the Business School I helped found a Chartered Institute for Marketing student chapter, for which I’m also on the committee and helped organise and promote a Digital Marketing event with four speakers for last month.”

What do you aspire to make happen in the future?

“For my placement year I’m in talks with some established clothing companies for experience that could relate to my clothing brand, but also interviewed with other types of companies including Intel and Disney. There are a lot of big names that you can apply for.” “Staff members from the Talent Hub (in the Business School) who facilitate placements have offered useful advice regarding the application and interview stages for next year.”

James McKellar 2nd Year

Josephine Crabtree2nd Year


“I found university challenging at first as it was the first time I’d studied a business related subject, as my A Levels consisted of Dance and Biology. I have already been fortunate enough to gain experience from two short placements, which I completed last year. I worked for two fashion PR companies where I was able to help out in London fashion week. I have also been offered a year’s placement with Tesco’s.”


“The marketing department and University as a whole have been very supportive, and its’ experienced staff gives all the students opportunities to get involved in CV enhancing activities. I have enjoyed learning how marketing is constantly changing, which encourages us all to think about the future. I have found that this course offers me experience, knowledge and encouragement, and has enabled me to gain a wider knowledge base of other aspects of business aside from marketing, such as economics and accounting & finance.”


“This year I participated in the FLUX

competition and my team came first overall. I also took part in the ‘Rise To’ challenge, which is a national society that encourages entrepreneurship. Our task was to raise awareness to an unsung hero, in which my group chose blood donors. I project managed the group of six students where we had to complete weekly tasks and encourage people to write thank you messages on our website to promote the company. We made T-shirts, advertised on the Student Union Radio and gave blood, to help drive the sales. I have learnt that a placement will give you lots practical experiences and is something different to use in interviews as examples of teamwork in different situations. Feedback from applications helps you learn so much and improve.”


“I think I have learnt so much, and would like to take the knowledge gained from my Marketing degree and start up my own business. I will use the experience gained from my placement year to help me decide on my dissertation and what part of the industry I want to focus in.”


“I finished my A-levels and I didn’t know that I wanted to go to university, so I went to work my way up a large company, mainly working on sales and campaigns for a couple of years until I couldn’t get any further without a degree.”


“When I decided to go for a degree I came to visit Plymouth and just loved this course, with loads of theory which could be put into practice and lots of opportunity to work with companies on real life projects.”“We also just started an online course on Digital Marketing which Victoria arranged for us as it was not on our degree structure when we started, but now is available for first years.” “I think the course gives real insight - 1st year was broad, but to be honest everything I learned has been useful for this year.”


“With the PDP module we got to work with a social enterprise company that was just starting up so we had lots to do with them to make their material more engaging for audiences.”

“I recently entered the Tectona Start-up Business Competition with a group that were also entrepreneurial. After getting the opportunity to get advice from Gurus of fields including strategy, law, marketing and accountancy we won with our business plan and the £1000 prize money from Santander was lovely!”


“Well I think Work Experience will be massive for my career path. Having had 2 years out before university, I’m a lot more determined and really focused. Although I wish I’d taken more notes on my projects in employment for things like CVs and application! Also LinkedIn, which I use a lot, is amazing for networking with the right people.”“I really like the creative, innovative side of Marketing and since doing the course I’ve also been able to do the Sustainability add-on course with Victoria, which has opened up my mind, I think. I’ve learned that through marketing you can really change the way people consume for the better.”

Melissa Reed 2nd Year

Sophie Kemp1st Year


“My name is Sophie and I am a First Year Marketing student from Kent. I have a great interest in scuba diving and did a spell in the Bahamas for ten weeks before university where I learned how to scuba dive and teach others. I am now a qualified teacher and rescue diver.”


“First year is invaluable as you get to study a range of new modules such as economics and accounting which is really useful, and without the background knowledge you wouldn’t be able to do the marketing course. I have found that marketing gives you a great understanding of the structure of a business and get ahead in the market around you. As the industry is ever changing I find that the course changes to facilitate that as have had the opportunity to do a separate digital marketing qualification on top of the marketing degree. ”


“I am fortunate enough to have great an aunt and uncle who are marketing managers in McLaren & Estée Lauder. I have already completed a ten-week work experience with Estée Lauder, which gave me an insight into where I want to work and aim to work with McLaren in the future. The university has given me the opportunity to be involved the FLUX competition. I was also an applicant buddy, which involved me emailing back people to answer questions about the University.”


“My aunt is my role model and inspires me to pursue a career in the fashion industry. I will use the experience gained from my industrial placement to get ahead.”


“I’m a 2nd year ‘Home’ student, and I’m really enjoying my time so far, without having to move away from just across the bridge in Cornwall.”

“What drives me is knowing that at the end the course I’m going to get a really good degree that I can use for lots of applications, different jobs and the success that I might get from it.”


“The course is really good, and it helps that the lecturers and modules are great too. They’re consistently supportive- and Victoria, who’s head of the course, is so nice and works really well with everyone.” “A lot of the work is group work which is useful for skills and experience, it forms a decent amount.”“It’s also good because you develop relationships with different people, and you’re always encouraged to work with people from various places to get experience communicating.”


“Well I’m working with a company called Silverstream TV, which is an opportunity in marketing support that I got through the university, which was mentioned on the newsletter.”“After emailing them explaining why I was interested, they called me an hour later- and four days later I went to London with them to a Technology for Advertising and Marketing event- where I met the CEO of the company organising the event and with a director of Google!”


“I really want to get into Music. That’s where I want to go and the company I was with let me work with TV as they stream live music events and festivals as well, so hopefully there’s something there that I can benefit from in the long run towards that ambition.”

Tom Prideaux 2nd Year

Rosie King1st Year


“I am a First Year Marketing student with an interest in nursing and caring for others. I come from a medical background, as my father is a doctor and mother is a nurse; I like to work closely with others. Before university I took a gap year to Asia, as I wanted to take a break from education and to explore somewhere different.”


“I chose Marketing at Plymouth because I loved the campus and the university. I studied Business Studies at GCSE level and liked how it was people focused and communication orientated, as these are my strong points. Marketing to me is fun, exciting, creative, and allows me to work closely with people to give out a positive impact. Ideally I want to do something that combines marketing and health care, such as marketing for a charity.”


“I participated in FLUX, which is a fast paced business competition where we had to pitch a strategic business plan to a set brief to a group of ‘experts’ where the ideas were then judged. This was a valuable experience because it boosted my confidence in a practical environment, and our team got to the final.”


“When people think about business they automatically think of shows such as the ‘Apprentice’ and ‘Dragon’s Den’, where you see people pushing others out the way to get their business done. I almost feel that as a marketer, society expects us to aspire to be millionaires and work for a bank. I want to do something that makes me happy, and doing things for others achieves this. You have to be driven within yourself and really motivated, but I think there are other ways to get business done ethically whilst enjoying it and making a positive difference to other peoples’ lives.”

In Their Own Words - PBS Marketing

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