Hi, I’m Thomas Sharp, I studied media and communications at Teesside University, and I spent a year working on a placement at Barker and Stonehouse. This blog covers my experience and how it benefitted me.

I decided that media and communications at Teesside University was the course for me as it aligned with my interest in media production. It helped towards my career goals by providing me with a theoretical understanding of the industry and how to produce successful media texts. It pushed me to learn a wide range of skills, including how to use industry-standard equipment and enabled me to gain a deeper insight into successful marketing approaches.


Why I chose Teesside University

I was inspired to study at Teesside University thanks to the passion of the course lecturers, and the industry-standard equipment and facilities on offer to support my projects.

Throughout my studies, it was clear how much the lecturers wanted to see you succeed, and I am grateful to have graduated from a course so supportive towards my development.

How I decided on Barker and Stonehouse for my placement year

I had learnt that a placement can be very helpful in providing a stepping stone into the industry after graduating, by providing you with contacts and a starting point for industry experience.

One of the main reasons I chose Barker and Stonehouse to complete my placement was the company’s well-known brand identity. I knew that it had more than 75 years of experience, making it a company with a lot of knowledge around marketing and advertising that I could learn from.


My Barker and Stonehouse experience

My placement was slightly different than I expected but in a good way. In my previous experience during a volunteer marketing opportunity, I was the only person focused on marketing. But at Barker and Stonehouse, I joined a much wider collaborative environment.

I met people from across the business in different areas such as data analytics, SEO, marketing, web design and conversion optimisation. This was beneficial for me as I had the opportunity to learn new skills from each area. I walked into the role thinking I would primarily work with the marketing team, but instead, I learnt additional employability skills which I took back to university and applied to further employment.

 

My role

I primarily worked with the marketing department of the e-commerce team. I aimed to highlight new products or that the business wanted to focus on. I helped develop and produce marketing campaigns and supported the social media team.

I also explored other areas my skills could be applied to, like conversion optimisation and marketing from a web design point of view.

 

Highlights

One of the things I enjoyed most about the role was how friendly and supportive the team were. The team understood that I walked into the role new to the industry and guided me through the transition from education to employment.

The team also provided feedback on my work and validated my ideas, which made me feel more confident that my skills were at an industry level. It made me feel ready to apply for employment opportunities after graduation.

 

Key takeaways that helped me in my final year at university

My placement opened many doors for me:

  • it enabled me to gain support from experienced members of the industry, who offered advice as I progressed through my final year, such as feedback on my final major project.
  • It helped me to secure future employment, with Barker and Stonehouse offering me a role after completing my placement.

 

Barker and Stonehouse’s Michaela Quinn commented:

“During his placement year, Thomas worked with us across many different areas and projects where he was always happy to help and learn new skills. Thomas became a valuable member of the team, so much so, that he was offered employment with us after his placement year ended.”

 

Reflections  

I would 100% recommend a placement to other students. It builds your confidence and helps to demonstrate your skills and employability to those in the industry, as well as yourself.

It also helps you to visualise life after graduating. Your placement gives you a feel of the industry, whilst allowing you to refine and hone your skills further once returning to university. It shows you areas you can improve during your final year of studies, too.

Future plans

My placement allowed me to plan post-graduation more clearly.

During my final studies, Barker and Stonehouse contacted me and asked me if I wanted to rejoin the company. This shows that a placement not only helps you build your confidence and employability, but it can also open doors for future employment.

Check out Teesside University’s media degrees here.