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Ketchum London operates an unpaid work experience programme for students and new graduates wishing to gain an initial understanding of the workings of a PR agency, and experience firsthand Ketchum's unique culture and atmosphere.
Students will spend their time working with Ketchum Consumer, Corporate or Healthcare. As an integral part of an account team, students will gain hands-on experience in the day-to-day business of PR account work.
Who is eligible for this programme?
Our main source is students and new graduates. However, we also offer work experience to exceptionally qualified candidates. You must be an EU citizen or alternatively have obtained a visa that authorises you to undertake work experience or an internship in the U.K. We are unfortunately unable to help you obtain visas. Please contact www.bunac.org.uk and/or the British embassy in your home country in order to obtain a visa or information about how to obtain one.
How long is a placement?
The placement lasts for four weeks, starting on the first Monday of each month.
What sort of work do students do?
Our aim is to make the placement as mutually beneficial as possible. Typical assignments include photocopying, faxing, pasting cuttings, mounting coverage, helping with ring rounds, conducting research, shopping, assisting at events, coordinating mail-outs, sending product samples, setting up meeting rooms, compiling media and invitation lists, attending team meetings and brainstorms, and other ad hoc projects - all the kind of tasks Account Coordinators themselves carry out on a day-to-day basis.
If my application is successful, where and with whom will I work?
Students are placed with the same team for the entire length of their placements. This allows students to get to know one area of the business more thoroughly and also allows them to establish a working relationship with Ketchum team members. Once mutual trust has been established, the student may, depending on his or her level, be given his or her own projects to work on.
How are the different groups divided up at Ketchum London?
There are three practice groups in Ketchum London and each practice group is divided into a number of different teams. Our award-winning and growing Healthcare Practice specialises in ethical healthcare PR, our Consumer Practice has teams working across sports, entertainment, fashion and beauty, and food areas, whilst the Corporate Practice spans public affairs, corporate social responsibility, and issues and crisis management. It would be helpful if you can specify your preference, however due to demand we cannot guarantee you will be placed in your first choice, however we will always try and accommodate your wishes.
Will I be paid?
Unfortunately, Ketchum is only able to offer unpaid work experience, however we are able to reimburse your travel costs up to a maximum of £65 per week.
Do I get time off?
As long as you inform your team of your whereabouts well in advance, you will be allowed time off to attend interviews or appointments.
Can Ketchum help arrange accommodations?
Unfortunately, due to the numbers of work experience students that we accept at Ketchum we cannot give out any accommodation information, or make bookings. Please try the YHA, the YMCA/YWCA, or the London Tourist Board.
What’s it like working at Ketchum London?
We pride ourselves on our hardworking but relaxed atmosphere, which was recently ranked as one of the best places to work by The Sunday Times as well as selected as one of the Top 6 Media Employers of the Year in the UK for 2005. Public relations offers an exciting and challenging career that combines interesting and stimulating work with the need to be creative, flexible and client-focused. We aim to promote an environment that gives everyone at Ketchum the opportunity to create the best work of his or her career. Below is more information about what it's like to work in some of our practices.
We pride ourselves on our hardworking but relaxed atmosphere, which was recently ranked as one of the best places to work by The Sunday Times as well as selected as one of the Top 6 Media Employers of the Year in the UK for 2005. Public relations offers an exciting and challenging career that combines interesting and stimulating work with the need to be creative, flexible and client-focused. We aim to promote an environment that gives everyone at Ketchum the opportunity to create the best work of his or her career. Below is more information about what it's like to work in some of our practices.
- Corporate: Ketchum London’s Corporate Practice combines looking after the reputation of some of the world’s most high-profile companies with raising the credibility of smaller businesses, charities and cultural initiatives across Europe and the Middle East. The team always strives to provide interns with the best work experience possible based on their personal interests. We can also arrange a few sample days in other Ketchum departments to get a feel for the company as a whole and one-on-one time with team members with areas of particular expertise such as media relations. Responsibilities on the Corporate Practice include these tasks:
- Media monitoring and evaluation
- Research for clients, including new-business research and executive visibility
- Event support (venue sourcing and proposals)
- Media list creation
- Brainstorm participation
- Healthcare: Work experience in the Healthcare Practice offers an important role in supporting the account teams during busy periods. Interns will have the chance to gain an insight into what an account co-ordinator does day to day. Responsibilities include these tasks:
- Monitoring the news for articles key to clients, products and disease area
- Analysing coverage to gain greater understanding of a client, product or disease area in the media
- Helping coordinate travel and accommodation for congresses, on-site client meetings, etc.
- Liaising with suppliers to ensure materials are developed to the highest standards and on deadline
- Researching and creating media lists using our online system
- Compiling and completing financial administration
- Preparing for client meetings and calls
- Summarising articles for teams
- Brand: Interns play a crucial role on our Brand Practice teams. Responsibilities include these tasks:
- Helping with press send-outs
- Scanning for daily coverage
- Compiling media lists and contacts
- Participating in brainstorms, company meetings and other events
- Media: This internship is designed for excellent writers who have an insatiable appetite for media. We are seeking candidates who not only have a passion for the daily news agenda but who also can stand back and assess media trends. In particular, we are looking for an engaged and energetic individual who would relish the opportunity to write a new weekly media newsletter highlighting media trends. Ketchum’s media team in London has evolved since 2007, when former BBC reporter Richard Griffiths joined as Head of Strategic Media. This growing team of media specialists includes PR professionals and ex-journalists. The intern is responsible for using key industry research tools and support work in message development, story sell-in, media audits, media training and executive visibility programmes for clients.Responsibilities include these tasks:
- Writing a newsletter looking at media trends for agency circulation
- Conducting media research for the Ketchum Global Media Network
- Media monitoring and evaluation for clients
- Researching for clients, including new business research and executive visibility
- Creating media lists
- Attending brainstorms
How can I gain the most from my placement?
By asking lots of questions and observing teams, by reading press cuttings and magazines, by listening to colleagues talking to journalists and clients on the phone, by attending brainstorms and team meetings, by keeping an open mind and being alert, and by taking ownership of tasks and using your initiative.
Are employment opportunities at Ketchum available to me upon completion of my internship?
The majority of Account Coordinators at Ketchum started via internship programs. You have the opportunity to see if you like us, and you have the opportunity to impress us. We advertise all internal vacancies via e-mail. Sometimes there are no immediate vacancies, but if we think you are a strong performer, we will be pleased to stay in contact with you and keep you informed when any future vacancies arise.
What have other students said about the work experience program?
"I spent a month working for the Beauty team at Ketchum. I really enjoyed my time there and learnt a great deal about the world of PR. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming; it is a really young and vibrant place to work. I gained experience in many aspects of PR, from making press calls to organising themed mailers. I mainly supported the account coordinators, shadowing their daily duties, such as scanning coverage, reacting to press enquiries, conducting competitor analyses and co-ordinating product and press-release send-outs. I would definitely recommend doing a placement at Ketchum; it is a great opportunity to work for a successful and fun PR company."
-- Emily Doran, July '07
"I spent three weeks at Ketchum with the Beauty team and absolutely loved it! The office atmosphere was very friendly and made me feel as though my contribution was genuinely appreciated. My placement enabled me to gain a real insight into working for a large PR agency and helped reinforce my decision to start a career within Beauty PR. I would definitely recommend a work experience placement at Ketchum for anyone considering working in PR."
-- Shikira Austin, September '07
"My time as an intern at Ketchum was spent within the Beauty team. The environment, community and spirit of the team and the agency as a whole are like none other I have experienced. From the very beginning, interns are included as an indispensable part of the team. I was given the opportunity to work on exciting projects, including research for both UK and Global PR projects. Interns act largely as assistants to account co-ordinators and therefore are given an excellent insight into what the role of an account co-ordinator at Ketchum entails. Ketchum’s Beauty Team works with top brands such as Max Factor, Olay and Pantene, making it an immensely valuable experience for anyone who hopes to build a career in PR."
-- Saphira Kuerschner, November '07
What is your address?
Our address is 35-41 Folgate Street, London, E1 6BX. Our phone number is 020 7611 3500. Our nearest railway and tube station is Liverpool Street, although Moorgate or Old Street is also a short walk away. We are located behind Old Spitalfields Market, and a short distance from Shoreditch and Hoxton.
How do I apply?
The scheme runs all year round, but work placements during the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays are the most popular. So if you are interested in these times, you will have to send in your application well in advance. If you are interested in gaining a place on the scheme, please e-mail your CV to the appropriate person in the area in which you would like to work:
- Corporate and Technology: Victoria Morrison
- Healthcare: Sarah O'Gorman
- Consumer Beauty: Shikira Austin and Saphira Kuerschner
- Fashion: Sarah Kucera and Jade Taylor
- Food and Nutrition: Julia Morgan
- Consumer Entertainment: Victoria Groves
- Generalist Consumer Brands: Gene Chui
- Consumer Technology: Danielle Daly
- Media: Richard Griffiths
- General Enquiries: Victoria Groves
We look forward to hearing from you!
