A Northumbria University graduate has been involved in a Marketing Internship Programme set up by Northumbria’s Newcastle Business School in order to provide students with first hand industry experience.
Economics graduate Conleth Maenpaa, has signed up to Newcastle Business School’s Marketing Internship programme, and is recruiting students to help run a music festival in Northumberland later this year.
After graduating from Newcastle Business School, Conleth worked in investment banking in London before moving to a City-based head-hunting firm. He has now returned to the North-East and runs his own events management business Nokomis and Bor. In September he is staging the Lindisfarne Music Festival.
“I wanted to work for myself as it gives you the opportunity to develop and really challenge yourself”, explained Conleth. “Setting up a company in is never easy as it is so competitive, but we managed to grow it to a good size. The challenge was huge, as is bringing the best possible festival to the North East. Northumbria gave me belief that anything was possible.”
In his venture to move his business across to the North East, Conleth reflected on his time at Northumbria University and his decision to implement his business here. “Northumbria University has definitely grown and moved up in the ranks. I fell in love with the region, area and culture of Newcastle and it definitely propelled me to want to do something in the future. It opened me up to different walks of life and opened my mind to the world and gave me a great standing to move forwards.”
In partnership with the business school’s Marketing Internship Programme, Conleth has already recruited one student intern to help with the management of the festival, with further opportunities to recruit more enthusiastic volunteers to be involved in some aspects of Northumbria’s new event management undergraduate programme.
“Students are enthusiastic and want to learn”, said Conleth. “They are willing to get their hands dirty and to learn from the bottom upwards. They don’t require experience because I’ll be on hand to guide them through the internship. The students that I have come across are also enthusiastic about music and festivals which is an important passion to have for these specific roles.”
Doctor Matt Sutherland, from Newcastle Business School and responsible for developing the Marketing Internship Programme, said: “Fostering relationships with industry partners such as Nokomis and Bor Events continues to be at the heart of our business and engagement agenda. With the introduction of the new BA (Hons) Events Management Programme this is another great opportunity for students to secure first-hand experience working for an events management company alongside their degree”
Doctor Pau Obrador Pons, who was recently appointed as the new senior leader for the upcoming events management programme, said “This collaboration with the Lindisfarne festival offers first class real life experience to our students in the world of events.
It an exciting opportunity that endorses our new BA program in Tourism and Events management starting next academic year.”
For more information about Lindisfarne Music Festival visit http://www.lindisfarnefestival.com/
