Pete
Coates
Managing
Director, Omnicom Media Group.
What role did the Northumbria graduate join your company in ?
We've hired two so far. One was for a Specialist Media Planning Executive role, with the other a paid Search Executive role.
What made the Northumbria graduate stand out during the recruitment process ?
Both candidates showed real proactivity and ambition throughout the application process and at the interview stage. They were able to demonstrate a real understanding of how they could apply what they have learned in a real-world environment, which really stood them apart.
How has the Northumbria graduate contributed to your organisation so far?
Both graduates have made a huge contribution to their teams, the clients they work on, but also the community we are building here in Newcastle. We only opened the doors to our office here at the beginning of 2025 and have so far hired 7 people at entry level positions.
Can you share a brief example of a project or achievement they have been involved in?
Both students have hit the ground running in their day-to-day roles and are actively involved in planning and buying media and dealing with clients on a daily basis. One of the standout moments for both of them was returning with us to Northumbria University to take part in the Ignite programme and pay their experiences forward to current students and graduates who are considering their employment options.
What specific skills (technical, soft skills, industry knowledge) did they bring that benefited your organisation?
When talking to Northumbria students and graduates we have consistently seen a strong understanding of the basics of how knowledge and experience is applied in a professional setting. Some universities focus so much on the academic side of learning without giving their students the chance to apply their thinking, whereas the Northumbria curriculum clearly provides opportunities to apply that learning in real world environments. That's critical for us as we need our hires to be effective from day one.
How did you find the experience of recruiting from Northumbria University?
A real pleasure. The team at the Northumbria are extremely helpful and couldn't do more to support us in promoting our roles to graduates. Northumbria is a key priority for us as we build our business in Newcastle.
Any final comments on your experience with Northumbria University and its graduates?
The standard of talent coming out of Northumbria University is incredibly high and anyone looking to grow a business in Newcastle or the wider North East region can have confidence in the pipeline of talent they are helping to produce.
