The University of Salford and Skiddle, the UK’s number one event guide and ticket agent, have launched a unique training programme to provide students with practical, work-based experience to help prepare them for the world of work.
As part of the partnership, the University of Salford and Skiddle will give third year Journalism students the opportunity to undertake valuable training to enable them to hit the ground running after graduation.
Five Journalism degree students will take part in the training programme, which will focus on developing writing style, social media skills and newsgathering abilities. The students will be expected to produce creative content and generate interesting news pieces, which they will use to secure coverage in the local press.
The student’s overall performance in the programme will be assessed and will contribute directly to their final degree qualification. Two students that show particular promise will then be offered job placements at the Skiddle headquarters in Preston.
A pop-up office is to be erected on-site at the University where the students will complete the training programme.
Skiddle and the University of Salford have formed a strong working relationship over the last year after Becca Frankland, a former graduate at the University, successfully completed an internship with the ticketing agent, which consequently led to her securing a full-time position with the company.
Jimmy Coultas, head of content and communication at Skiddle said, “It’s great for Skiddle to be involved directly with one of the leading universities in the country for journalism, tapping into this huge resource of talent and helping them to achieve their degrees.
“Skiddle have already benefitted from working in partnership with the University of Salford after taking on Becca as an intern last year. We were so impressed with her abilities we immediately offered her full-time employment at Skiddle once her internship had ended.
“We have tailored this training programme to directly benefits the students and give them vital, practical experience which will prepare them for potential freelance and paid roles when they graduate in 2016. We’re looking to build a long-term relationship with the University where we help develop the country’s leading music journalists of tomorrow, and this is the next step in doing that.”
Jimmy Coultas and Becca Frankland will lead the placement programme and will work directly with the students to develop their practical journalistic abilities.
Paul Broster, Director of Journalism at the University of Salford, said: “Work placements are an integral part of our journalism courses at Salford and I’m delighted that Skiddle has joined the many media partners we work with to enhance not only the students’ experience at Salford but also their employability.”
