Hi! It`s Alessia here
I`m an Erasmus+ student from Italy. I`ve been a student work placement at LINK for three months and I`m writing this hoping to help someone who like me months ago feels lost in the choices and process to get started on an internship.
Firstly if you are considering joining LINK for your internship, I would say that they have treated me really well! 😊 Everyone has been incredibly kind, welcoming and ready to teach me new tasks. (This is not so easy since I`m kind of thick headed sometimes!).
To be honest, I came here knowing nothing about the work or even the UK, but I`m leaving with a lot of new business skills and marketing knowledge thanks to them. So if you want to really learn something useful and come away with valuable professional skills (and not be used as a slave working long days on boring tasks with no appreciation), LINK is the place for you!
During my placement (during the Covid pandemic in Sept, Oct & Nov 2020) I still got the chance to work on a real experiential marketing and sampling campaign for ice tea drink Maytea.
MayTea, wanted to utilise LINK’s new Covid Safe Sampling Equipment to build its retail sales growth across Morrison’s supermarkets. Their existing compact sampling carts and uniforms were upgraded and used for sip sampling and retail sales activation in different supermarkets. LINK sent me to different cities to join the work, paying for my transport – and paired me up with experienced event staff to learn what to do. It was great fun!
It was also really interesting and valuable to learn about marketing for a business too. I was taught what it takes for a marketing company to create an effective brand sampling campaign, especially during Covid-19! Starting from the research of new products, to identify the relevant company contacts, to creating the marketing communications – and then supporting right through to the actual retail sampling activity!
Lots of valuable commercial business skills learned, that you just can’t be taught at college or university!
Fun things to do in the area: Leeds is a city for everyone and everything! There is a wide variety of activites for everyone, from nature lovers to the most fashionable. The centre of Leeds is a tangle of bars, pubs, night clubs, restaurants and shops. Lots of free museums, art galleries, beautiful parks and monuments.
A TYPICAL DAY OFF should always start with a real British Breakfast Brunch! It’s called a ‘Full English’, usually made with eggs, tomatoes, beans, bacon, sausages and toast.
Tips and advice!
– Getting around the city of Leeds is very simple, there is a large train station for fast inter city travel, a bus station in Leeds, with national coach service from National Express, as well as regular local bus services right across the region. Keep in mind that the city centre of Leeds is very pedestrian friendly, with many attractions within easy walking distance.
– Leeds is well known for the variety and mix of styles and cultures. Some place I`d recommend are its vintage and couture shops like Blue Rinse for a detailed insight into the UK’s fashion’s past and Independent bars such as North Bar, Sela and The Reliance are all perfect for an alternative evening out; tasty food, comfy seats, local art on the walls and a killer selection of board games!
– Leeds is wonderful I know, but if you get the chance try to travel a bit outdoor. Near here you can find some really attractive city such as Manchester, Sheffield and York. Or if you love trekking, you have plenty of choice since we are surrounded by Yorkshire Dales National Park, Peak District Park, North York Moors Park…. The choice is up to you! Plus London is only two hours on the train too; so easy for a cheeky weekend!
