Holly: Events Intern, Active Lancashire.

Sociology student Holly completed an internship with Active Lancashire which she discovered through the Employment and Recruitment Service. The internship was for an Event Management position specifically designed to support the Lancashire Sports Awards 2019. Currently, she works as an Associate Lecturer in Sociology. 

How was the recruitment process for you?

The interview process was a four-panel interview, including two representatives from the FASS Internships Scheme. Before the interview, FASS actually offered a trial interview, which was really helpful for preparation. During the internship, they made it clear that they were there for any support or problems I might encounter. Fortunately, I didn’t face any major issues because Active Lancashire provided continuous support throughout the entire experience.

How did you feel about the role?

Balancing the internship alongside my third year at Lancaster was definitely a challenge, but the flexibility of the working days made it manageable. I could fit the internship around my university schedule, which allowed me to apply what I was learning on the job directly to my coursework. Before taking on this role, I had no marketing experience and even less event management experience, so I was a bit nervous about whether I’d be able to handle the tasks. But the team at Active Lancashire was incredibly supportive—they took the time to teach me the basics and helped me develop my skills along the way.

What were your responsibilities?

The main focus of my internship was on the Lancashire Sports Awards, a major event with 84 nominees and 350 guests. This was the 18th year of the awards, celebrating those in Lancashire who’ve gone above and beyond in their respective sports. I got to take on a variety of tasks, from writing press releases and creating content using Adobe programs to planning social media content. On the day of the event, I helped with last-minute changes and focused on maintaining the social media updates to keep followers informed about the event’s progression and the winners.

Originally, the internship was supposed to last four months, but Active Lancashire extended it for another seven, which gave me the chance to broaden my skill set. I started focusing more on social media and marketing outside of the Sports Awards, working on national campaigns and creating promotional content for Active Lancashire. I also coordinated promotional videos, like the corporate video and the #ALittlebitmoreathome Recognition Awards video, which taught me a lot about how concepts are delivered and executed. It also gave me experience in coordinating with external partners, including an AV company.

What did you do as a Marketing and Campaign Assistant?

My work mainly revolved around producing social media content for the #ALittlebitmoreathome campaign and helping to organize the #ALittlebitmoreathome Recognition Awards. Working full-time during lockdown was a constructive way to use my time, and I got to learn and practice essential skills for jobs in the media and marketing industry. Being part of an in-house marketing team meant I took on different roles, from designing graphics and planning social media to writing press releases. Working during COVID also taught me how to adapt to independent working and create social media content that was sensitive to the global situation.

What happened after the internship?

When lockdown began, and my university teaching and exams ended, Active Lancashire offered me a full-time contract as a Marketing Campaign Assistant. In this new role, I focused on supporting a new social media campaign while continuing to assist the Marketing and Communications team.

Overall, how did you find your experience at Active Lancashire?

The internship was incredibly beneficial for me. It gave me valuable experience in a field I’m passionate about and helped clarify my post-university career path. It was great to put theory into practice, and applying for this job equipped me with industry-specific skills that I hadn’t had before. Plus, the flexibility allowed me to balance it all with my university studies.