Any work placement ideas?

[BroadfordQueen]

At my uni, our second year includes a 20 week work placement. I have now got to seriously start sorting mine out, but I really don't know where to go! I'm doing equine management (hence why I'm posting in here!), and I really really want to go into event management. My ideal job would be to help organise and run BE events, so I sent off my cv and cover letter to Solihull riding club, which is local to me and runs be events/bs shows. They haven't got back to me yet, so I really need to find somewhere else.
Only drawback is I would need to be close to home (worcs) or uni (Cirencester) as I will be paying rent at my student house in Ciren so can't afford to pay rent in 2 places! Either that or get a placement where I can get free accom, which would be unlikely..
Any ideas anyone? Wouldn't particularly want to get paid, just doing it for the experience!

 

[SamuelWhiskers]

I would look up the BE events in your area and write to the organisers, they might be able to offer you some work.

Failing that you may need to go out of the area and write to people such as in our area BEDE events, who organise Osberton, Oasby, Shelford, Belton, Oasby 2, Shelford 2, Hopetoun. They might have ideas re: accommodation, particularly if you could help in other ways, yard work/ride/school horses, i'm sure there are ways round these things.

Anybody you write to, follow up with a telephone call a week later and say you are really keen and have a general chat, if they can't help, they might see if they can put you in touch with anyone else.

All these people are really busy, i get letters most weeks from students for work placements etc and sometimes i just don't have the time to get back to them, but if they ring, i'll speak to them and sometimes its quite interesting what they have to say and one that popped into to see me is now working over Christmas holidays for me!

You could also offer to meet up with them, go in and have a chat. If people have met you, they are more like to remember you in the future.

If you really want to do it, it needs to come across to the people you are approaching.

Good luck with it all....

 

[BroadfordQueen]

Thank you very much for the ideas! I sent a letter to src about 2 weeks ago and sent a follow up email a few days ago, they know who I am as I am an active member of the riding club, but I will give them a ring in a day or two. I will send a few letters to some local event organisers, thanks for the advice!

 

[poacher82]

Send your CV to all the major autumn 3DEs, and even explain your accommodation issue in your covering letter/email - if you don't ask, etc... I do know that Blair, which is a blummin long way from Cirencester admittedly, offers free accommodation to work experience students along with a pocket money type wage.

Also, remember so many BE events are run by volunteers, so they may not have regular office hours and set up that they can actually keep a work experience person busy 9-5. Why not spread your options a bit and try the major show centres for BS/dressage etc, they may be more likely to be able to utilise you. County shows? Racecourses? Would all be similar experience I expect.

Good luck!

 

[shelbug]

Sorry if this is a stoopid question, when do you do your placement? It might be worth getting in touch with Mitsubishi who are in Cirencester. I know they are (or used to be) very hands on in the organising of Badminton, even sending staff out of the office to help fence the course off! I worked with them when I did my dissertation (many many many moons ago!) about sports sponsorship and they were brilliant, and are literally on the doorstep x

 

[avthechav]

hhhmmmmm, may be completely off target here but what about Talland/ Hunters/ Summerhouse as equestrian establishments? Or depending where you are in Worcs BD/ BE/ BS/ BHS..who I *think* are based in Kennilworth. Where does Your Horse Live run? You could try them? Are there any equine magazines based locally to any of your areas? You could maybe appeal to their events teams? Good luck

 

[lynds81]

Holly Farr took one of the girls on my course on with her this year - she is based really close to Ciren, though you would need to get in touch with her asap as that would be quite popular. She is secretary for lots of BE's, but in particular Barbury...

A few of the racecourses take people on to help with organising their themed racedays etc - there was one at Newbury and one at Cheltenham this year I think.

Look on the Blenheim website - they sometimes take a student on over the summer to help with running the office leading up to the event...

P.S. Even if it seems a bit daunting now they are SERIOUSLY worth doing - my placement has now offered me a job at the end of it and I'm still working part time 2 days a week alongside doing my third year