- Lily Smith
Hi! I’m Lily and I started my summer internship with YOURGB at the beginning of June which involves me working 3 days a week in their office in the centre of Edinburgh!
I have just finished my second year of university studying Festival and Event Management which I am enjoying so far. The opportunity to do this internship with YOURGB fits into what I want to achieve in the future and is such a good way to learn in the field both in the office and on-site, which is super fun.
All Things Getting my Internship
I have worked with YOURGB on-site previously and have been following their Instagram ever since. I saw a post on Instagram about them looking for a summer intern and I was immediately interested and sent them an email! From there, I was welcomed into the YOURGB office to meet some of the team before being offered the role.
My biggest tip for anyone who is writing their CV would have to be to not be afraid to write down all the achievements and past work experience you have, no matter how small and unimportant you may think it is.
Also get someone to read over it as it is so easy to make a little mistake! The team at YOURGB tell me this is just a general life lesson too.
Initial Challenges
Everyone will find different things more challenging than the other. I think one of the biggest challenges when starting anything new is those first day nerves. It can be so scary walking into a brand new place and not fully knowing what you are doing. However, once you have gone in and done it, it is never as bad as you think it will be. Another challenge is coming into a totally new work environment from what I have been used to. My current work experience has involved retail and hospitality roles, and these environments are quite different to office life. You are on your feet for long hours in front of customers, which is a great way to prepare for on-site work at events, such as CHAS where I got to look after three tables at a big charity dinner. In the office, learning the way around a new software and just a new way of working altogether can take some time to understand and get used to.
Tasks I was Given
I am a month and a half into my internship and so far one of my main tasks is to support with research. I have completed research for different projects coming up and bringing that information together to send to the event lead.
I also had the opportunity to support some of the team on the CHAS Rocking Horse Ball in my very first week which was lovely and a great way to start my internship.
What I Have Learnt So Far
One thing I have learnt so far is that confidence is key! You need it to communicate effectively with clients, vendors, and your team. Believing in yourself and your abilities makes a big difference.
Another learning was understanding the amount of forethought and research involved before an event is even confirmed. I had no idea there was so much to consider!
What’s been the biggest difference between traditional learning at University to on-site experience?
The difference between what you will be able to learn with a company like YOURGB compared to at university is hugely dependent on whether you are a practical or theoretical learner.
I would definitely class myself as a more practical learner, I learn more when I am physically doing something in comparison to learning the theory in a class setting. Therefore completing tasks and being in the environment is much more beneficial. However, if you are more of a theoretical learner you can still benefit and learn so much from an experience like this as a lot of theory and processes do also come from the job.
My Favourite Thing so Far About The Internship
My favourite thing that I have done so far would have to be CHAS! It is such a lovely event to be a part of and to do it on my first week was awesome as well. It was a brand new experience for me and it was a great way to get started.
My advice for Someone Looking to go Into the Events Field
My advice if you are looking at joining the events field either full time or just part time, would be to be open to trying new things, because you never know what could get thrown your way. I would also say be confident, don’t be scared to suggest an idea or meet new people as that is how you learn and grow, this will also come with time so don’t put too much pressure on yourself when just getting started
Is an Internship Worth it?
I think an internship is absolutely worth it! You are able to gain hands-on experience in events. You are able to see and be a part of the process from start to finish. It gives you so much more knowledge on the events industry and can allow you to really grow in the industry and as an individual. Depending on the person I think an internship is much more beneficial than sitting in university classes, getting spoken to for hours every week but that is all dependent on one’s learning style.
