Work Hard, Play Hard: Welcome to Agency Life

Why bother with a placement? The simple answer is because it matters. A year in industry, whether it is marketing, construction, computing or fashion, it all matters. It matters because you will probably never be required to learn so quickly for the rest of your life.

After two years at Loughborough University studying Information Management & Business Studies, it was time to find a placement. Keen to gain experience in the advertising and marketing industry, I focussed on agencies in my home town and was delighted to be accepted by Southpaw, ‘the home of the brave!’

On my first day at Southpaw I was greeted by my line manager, who showed me around an office full to the brim with culture, creative minds and smiley faces, which I felt so lucky to be a part of.

I was made to feel at home pretty quickly and got stuck in to agency life. I had never previously had any experience of working in an advertising agency, so I was a little apprehensive. I can safely say that, before the first week was out, Southpaw had already set my future plans of working within the advertising sector in concrete! The induction scheme that all new starters undertake, gives you face-time with all members of the Senior Management Team (SMT) and key personnel. This allowed me to gain a broad understanding of the business in a short space of time.

For the first three months I joined Southpaw as an intern, mainly learning the ropes and getting to grips with the phrases and processes. After firmly getting my feet on the ground, I managed to secure a year placement contract as Marketing Executive, working in the Agency Marketing and New Business Department.

The experience that I have gained from working at Southpaw has been invaluable to me. My decision to choose a sandwich degree means that I will graduate from Loughborough with a Diploma in Professional Studies, with experience and knowledge in a field that I would like to further pursue in my future career.

I think it’s true that regardless of how much you think you have learned about your chosen career from your academic studies, you will learn so much more and acquire so many more skills from a work placement.

Southpaw has taught me everything from increased understanding and awareness of the world of work, accelerated personal maturity, self-awareness and ability to articulate skills and achievements, which will all help me on my way to finishing my degree. Ultimately it has taught me that ‘difficult is worth doing’.

Culture is at the heart of Southpaw, which I have really come to love. If there was ever a place that could define ‘work hard, play hard’, I’d give it to Southpaw. They have a dedicated culture team called ‘The Vibe’, who really push the boat out with everything from sporting events to summer parties.

There’s a real hands on approach to all our agency marketing projects and from my first day in the agency, I have been involved in, and helped to run, some of our big events. One of the most recent ones being the Royal Tunbridge Wells TEDx event, in which Southpaw were the headline sponsors.

Southpaw has increased my knowledge of the advertising industry and will allow me to make better informed decisions about my future career. I will start my final year at Loughborough University, confident in my abilities, leadership and teamwork skills and will be ready to dive head first into the advertising industry!

Amy Bonner, Marketing Executive at Southpaw