Jodie Tipper

Media and Communication BA (Hons)

Coming from a small town, Jodie didn’t always know what opportunities were out there for her. But by throwing herself into work experience and internships during her degree, Jodie not only excelled at university, but also managed to get a job in her chosen sector under her belt months before graduating. Now, Jodie is going from strength to strength in the world of PR.

“I’d always wanted to go to university, but I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do. I’m from a small town in Stoke-on-Trent, where there’s not many media or PR opportunities, so it was hard to picture myself in the sector while living there.  

Media and Communications seemed like the right route for me, as it can open so many doors, but my family couldn’t get their heads around what it was. My brother is an Accountant, a career choice that has been around for years, so my family understood it, but they couldn’t grasp what Media and Communications was as it’s still a relatively new subject to study.

But when we went to the BCU open day, my parents were amazed at the facilities and I just fell in love with the place. The course allowed me to do photography, radio and graphic design all in the same year, so I wasn’t putting all my eggs into one basket. It made my parents finally understand what it was what I wanted to do too!

When you’re from a small area, it is hard to think about opportunities outside of there. But Birmingham has so many opportunities, especially in PR. At BCU, I didn’t feel like I just had the normal university experience, I also had the Birmingham experience, which is why I still live in Birmingham today. BCU showcase the city so well and during my degree, I was meeting new people all the time. The connections I made during my studies were so helpful for the future.

I remember finding the idea of work experience in first year daunting, but it was so beneficial for me. The importance of work experience was really drilled into us during the course, and I’m so thankful for that. I simply wouldn’t be where I am now without it. We had pretend interviews and they helped us to create our CVs and portfolios. The lecturers not only help you to get your degree, but also get you into work.

Each year, I did two weeks of work experience for my now employer East Village PR, as well as other placements at Plinkfizz in Stoke, and Tiger Bam in Birmingham, who are also BCU Alumni.

I managed to secure a job at East Village PR a few months before graduating. I simply asked my now manager if they had any opportunities for me after graduating, and luckily, they did. In May 2018, I submitted my dissertation on the Friday, and I started at East Village PR on the Monday just three days later, so it was great to not have the stress of finding a job after university.

I started as a Junior Account Executive, and 10 months later I became an Account Executive. A year later, I received another promotion to what I do now as an Account Manager. So I’ve now been at East Village for three years, and been fortunate enough to have had a promotion each year too.

As an Account Manager, I manage many of our clients’ accounts, campaigns and plans, as well as their delivery and strategy. I also manage the younger members of the team. The job itself changes every day as our clients are from a variety of sectors, so I’m always learning on the role. In the future, I’d like to continue to expand my knowledge, expertise, skills and learn even more from my role.

My advice to current students is to enjoy the experience, but also try and get as much work experience as you can during your degree. It is all about making new connections, getting out of your comfort zone and meeting new people.”