Olivia Price graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2021 from the BA (Hons) Public Relations and Brand Communication course. Throughout her studies, she discovered her passion for written and verbal communication, and enjoyed learning more and developing her skills through lectures, workshops and work experience to equip her for a career in PR. Here, she shares her experience.

Course: BA (Hons) Public Relations and Brand Communication

Tell us a bit about yourself and what you've been doing since you graduated.

I absolutely loved studying Public Relations at university; it’s where I really got to delve deep into my passion of written and verbal communication. I don’t think many people know about the world of PR, so I really used this to try and become an expert in the emerging field of communication and now I can’t stop! Whilst still finishing the final assignments for my degree, I began applying for graduate roles in the public relations industry. I accepted a job offer at Hatch to begin as soon as I finished my course and have been working there since the day I handed in my final assignment – no time to rest! Since I started my career, I’ve been busy working on lots of different accounts in a range of areas, but mostly focusing on lifestyle clients which is where my passion really lies and is beginning to build even more. I’ve grabbed as many opportunities as I can, including meeting lots more people within the industry and creating vital connections.

What have been the highlights and challenges of your career so far?

To be promoted from a Graduate Account Executive to an Account Executive after my first year was definitely a highlight of my career so far. It showed me that I’m on the right track and have all the right skills to continue in my career and grow even further, taking on more opportunities at Hatch. I’m really interested in the events side of PR, and some of the main highlights of the past 18 months are running some exciting events for clients to launch brand new products and stores. They’re not as glamorous as they may seem for the guests when working, but nonetheless I loved the build up to the event and pulling off an amazing evening for the client is the best feeling. A challenge I’ve faced so far in my career is probably just how fast-paced working in a PR agency can be, and the constant change in dynamic of working. During busy periods of the year, there’s so much to do which is great, but managing your time efficiently and prioritising correctly can be a challenge. It’s definitely something I have mastered in my first year of work.

How has your experience studying at Leeds Beckett influenced you and your career? 

On my course at Leeds Beckett, we had so many guest lectures and speakers, from past students to local agencies and PR experts. This was really inspiring to me and pushed me to keep working in my degree as I saw the places I could get to from listening to real experiences. It was through these guest lectures that I was able to gain some valuable work experience. I contacted one of the guests and was invited to gain some experience, which was such a great opportunity to gain even further insight into the industry and day-to-day work in PR. The teachers and lecturers at Leeds Beckett were also unbelievable; always there to give advice and share their experiences, which also had an influence on where I wanted to take my career. I feel as though I really was taught by the best of the best. 

What advice would you give to someone thinking about studying a course in PR?

Work experience alongside studying is vital as it gives you that edge compared to other students when looking for a job. It meant that when I was applying for jobs, I was really able to apply my knowledge to everyday tasks within PR and show this to the company as I had already used these skills in industry before. It can be difficult to apply the knowledge you learn in lectures to work, and took me some time to get my head around the application, so work experience can help you there. It also helps when studying, not just when applying for roles after university as it helps even more with your understanding. The second thing I’d say is to attend everything your course offers you. I remember being the only person on my course who attended a workshop that was provided for us, so even though it was a bit awkward I was the only one, it gave me extra knowledge and experience over my peers, never mind anyone else looking for work in PR. Don’t be embarrassed to contribute and answer questions either – this shows your lecturers you’re capable and they will push you even further and help you progress.

How are you/your employer collaborating with Leeds Beckett and how has this benefited you/your organisation?

Hatch have always had a great relationship with Leeds Beckett. When I was at University, I knew all about Hatch as an agency which just demonstrates their great connection with the university, the course and the lecturers there. In fact, one of the Managing Partners of Hatch also studied at Leeds Beckett, so it shows what’s really possible and Leeds Beckett provides the foundations for a great career! We have booked in a talk with Leeds Beckett students to come and see the Hatch offices and for us to chat about the agency to give insight into agency life for students. It’s really good to be working with the university as I know how valuable it was to me as a student and it’s great to provide this to students studying the course now.