Patrizia: Design Consultant at the Bay Tourism Association
Patrizia completed their MSc in International Innovation at Lancaster University and interned at Morecambe Bay Tourism Association as a Marketing Assistant for 6 months. Upon completion of the internship, they have worked in various roles, such as researcher, contributing writer and business support officer.
Q: What is the Bay Tourism Association?
A: The Bay Tourism Association is a self-funded group of local tourism businesses dedicated to promoting the Morecambe Bay area.
Q: Why did you apply for the internship?
A: As I was approaching the final months of my university studies and working on my dissertation, I wanted to gain real-world experience. Thanks to the support of the FASS Internship Scheme, I successfully applied for the role of Marketing Assistant. I was thrilled to spend my summer promoting the beautiful Morecambe Bay area, which allowed me to blend my academic work with practical marketing experience.
Q: What were your responsibilities during the internship?
A: My responsibilities began with assisting in the design of the website interface by conducting UX/UI research. In the initial weeks of the placement, I was able to apply my studies in a practical setting by creating and developing surveys for visitors and members, and organizing focus groups with Bay Tourism’s stakeholders. I worked closely with the website developer to understand user expectations for a new website, which was set to launch in September.
Q: What are you doing now?
A: As of June 2023, I am an Executive and Administrative Assistant at EMBL. In this role, I ensure the smooth operation of my unit by scheduling and coordinating meetings, arranging travel, accommodation, and reimbursements. I also draft correspondence, conduct research, and coordinate projects, managing timelines and strategies while providing progress updates. Additionally, I collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders and continually develop procedures for effective and professional office management. I have also been the co-founder of REVR, a mobile creation tool and publishing platform that allows real estate agencies to build virtual house tours quickly and easily for better international sales and marketing.