For marketers who walk the walk

Our first Guest Blogger spot goes to Jennifer Morris, graduate from this year’s IDM Summer School, where 20 talented undergraduates, hand-picked from hundreds of applicants, were put through their paces in frankly the best introduction to the business there is. How was it for them? Here’s Jennifer’s diary.

Monday
So today was the big day! I met a few of the group last night at the (lovely) accommodation and we all went for dinner. Today was great; it was all go (not without numerous coffee breaks) and we were given our Case Study brief by EHS 4D – was so exciting meeting people from a top agency. The brief sounds really interesting – it’s on Odeon, can’t wait to get my teeth stuck into it, we have to present on Friday. After this, we had Geronimo come in and tell us ‘how to be a great Account Handler’ which was very useful. The day was rounded off with a fantastic Welcome Meal along with some of the Summer School graduates from previous years who are now in top agency jobs!

Tuesday
Today was inspiring – the people we’ve had in to talk with us have had/are still having the most fascinating and impressive careers in the industry; Martin Troughton particularly stood out, having founded two of his own agencies! This afternoon was the ‘big event’: our visit to an agency. We all piled into taxis (just like on the Apprentice) and headed off to Rapp’s headquarters. After an introduction from Marco, the CEO, we were taken through all the different roles that exist within an agency, along with some examples of Rapp’s work – their heavy involvement with charities particularly impressed me. Afterwards we all headed outside for drinks and chatted with employees, a fantastic opportunity.

Wednesday
It’s all going too quickly! This morning consisted of more inspiring, interactive presentations from experts in the field (including people from archibald ingall stretton and The Marketing Store). After yet another fabulous lunch we sat down in our groups and really got to grips with the Case Study work. My group gelled really well and we’re very excited about some of the ideas that have sparked between us. Now just to get really stuck in with the knitty gritty of it – it’s amazing how much you can learn and develop through group work situations like this. We also had a mentor in from EHS to comment on our ideas so far – a great help.

Thursday
After a lovely presentation on ‘Creativity’ by Claire from Ogilvy, and a little more group work, we were whisked away in taxis yet again for a drinks reception at the Goring Hotel opposite Buckingham Palace. Here we got to chat and network with some of the most influential individuals in the marketing industry. Guests included senior management from Ogilvy, Tequila, Barclays, Proximity, Geronimo, archibald ingall stretton and many more! As the evening drew to a close (lots of wine had been flowing) we reluctantly climbed into our taxis and headed back to the accommodation, knowing that the big presentation day was just hours away!

Friday
Today was very exciting, and nerve wracking! My group presented first and as we filed into the room we were hit by many highly qualified eyes, appraising us, keen to hear what we had to say. The presentation went really well, thank goodness, and afterwards it was good fun watching everybody else’s. After ‘the agency solution’ was presented by EHS, it was sadly time to head home. It has been a truly memorable, richly informative week and I will genuinely miss all the others from the course. We’ve all swapped details and are going to keep in touch, who knows, we may comprise the key marketers of the next generation!

Hear what Jennifer and fellow Summer School students had to say as their week was drawing to a close (4-minute video).

Find out more about the IDM Education Programme

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