CONEL Students Gain Insight Into Top Agency VMLY&R at Advertising Unlocked Event

CONEL students take part in the Advertising Unlocked event to learn more about careers, and campaigns and put their media skills to the test.

A group of students from The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) met with the global agency VMLY&R on 15 November at Sea Containers London to learn more about the world of advertising. VMLY&R is an agency with global reach and has worked with an impressive list of international brands such as Coca Cola, Oreos, Dell and Wendy’s.

Advertising Unlocked is a UK-wide initiative that encourages schools and colleges to participate in an industry-wide open day. On 15 November, top UK advertising and media agencies opened their doors to the next generation of talent, giving insight into how campaigns are made. The Advertising Unlocked event, organised by the college, allowed a group of 28 students from the Level 3 Extended Games and Media courses to gain knowledge and practical experience relating to the world of advertising. 

The day began with representatives from VMLY&R presenting the agency’s history and sharing details about its most memorable campaigns. Then, students took part in a networking session with people from the advertising industry which helped them build a bigger picture of the agency environment. They had the opportunity to learn about different roles within an agency and the skills needed in each area. 

Hannah Nwogu, a Level 3 Media student said: “Incredibly positive experience, the agency were very welcoming. The environment was amazing and all the staff were so friendly. The agency helped break down the different jobs in the advertising agency and take the mystery away from what job titles do what. I would 100% consider a job in advertising after this.”

To consolidate what they had seen and learnt, students then took part in a group task. They were presented with a brief for a “Drink Driving Safety” campaign with a target audience of 18 to 26 year olds.

After discussing their ideas, students worked together to pitch their campaign and advertisement proposals.

Francesca Perilli, a Level 3 Media student said: “This trip was so useful, I enjoyed speaking to people in the industry. I had so much fun doing the practical tasks as it put us in the same shoes as them for the day. The feedback we received back from the practical sessions was very helpful and made us think outside the box.”

You can find out more about our Digital Media courses here.

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