Hi, I’m Paddy! I’m a second-year Marketing student, and I’m currently wrapping up an action-packed, 10-week summer internship with the University of York’s central Marketing team.
From fast-paced content creation and high-profile shoots to team socials, these 10 weeks have been an incredible journey. Not only has the experience boosted my professional confidence, but it has also allowed me to apply my academic coursework to real-world campaigns as I prepare to head into my final year of university.
The brand film: behind the scenes
Without doubt, one of the absolute highlights of my internship was getting involved in the production of the University’s new undergraduate brand film, I even made an appearance as an actor! Keep an eye out for me on the steps of Heslington Hall! This project will serve as the centrepiece for the University’s upcoming promotional campaigns, and it is such a privilege to have played a part in the planning and production processes.
Watching the project evolve from initial storyboards to the high-energy reality of shoot day was fascinating. Being embedded in the creative pipeline and seeing every stage of a major advertising campaign firsthand was a true eye-opener.
Hitting the ground running: graduation week interviews
Another standout learning opportunity and a great character-builder was interviewing graduating students on the opening day of graduation week.
Having spent the preceding days mapping out logistics, prepping questions, and organising equipment, this was my first real test conducting on-camera interviews. Navigating the fast-paced environment on the day pushed me out of my comfort zone, but hearing the graduates’ inspiring stories made all the prep work entirely worth it.
Watch here on the Uni of York’s TikTok, and please give it a like!
A conversation with Lord Bilimoria
A personal highlight from Graduation Week was having the honour of speaking with honorary graduate Lord Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer and a crossbench member of the UK House of Lords.
His journey from humble beginnings to launching a global brand and entering the upper chamber of Parliament is nothing short of inspiring. Opportunities like this highlighted one of the best aspects of this internship: the chance to connect with and learn from a truly diverse group of leaders.
Expanding networks and unexpected adventures
Beyond professional development, one of my biggest takeaways has been the incredible network of students and staff I’ve built along the way.
For instance, my fellow intern, Lindsay, happens to be on the same marketing course. Surprisingly, despite sharing modules, our paths hadn’t really crossed until this summer. After discovering a mutual passion for tennis, we started playing weekly matches. It’s been fantastic getting to know her, and it’s brilliant knowing I’ll have a familiar face going into third year.
The internship was full of unexpected surprises too. Each week brought a new challenge, none more surprising than being invited to join the University staff cricket team! I never imagined when I started the placement that I’d end up out on the crease representing the Uni of York in a fixture against Aviva.
Going global: the Mumbai campus
Given my academic interest in international business and global markets, following the development of the University of York’s new Mumbai campus was particularly exciting. Seeing York expand its brand footprint into such a dynamic economic region was a fantastic case study in global marketing strategy.
During my placement, I had the privilege of meeting with the Provost of the Mumbai campus, Professor Lindsay Oades, as well as hosting visiting professors visiting York from Mumbai. Engaging directly with the team behind this launch broadened my perspective on managing international stakeholders and launching brands across global markets.
Connecting with academic leadership
Finally, a particularly memorable aspect of the experience was interacting directly with the University’s executive leadership.
On several occasions, I had the privilege of speaking with (now ex-)Vice-Chancellor Charlie Jeffery, whose encouragement and positive feedback on my work meant a great deal to me. Additionally, engaging with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Kiran Trehan and receiving ongoing updates and support from Professor Bob Doherty while he was out in Mumbai gave me invaluable insight into how higher education institutions operate at the highest level.
Final thoughts
This summer has been so much more than a typical placement, it’s been an immersive lesson in marketing, networking, and personal growth. As I look ahead to my final year at York, I feel far more equipped, confident, and excited to take on whatever comes next.
Thank you to everyone in the Marketing Department who made this experience so unforgettable!
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