I am Alex Irwin!

I am currently working for Carrot Media as part of an eight week work placement set up by Shell Step, a placement scheme matching students and graduates with valuable work experience in relevant businesses. After several interviews with other companies, I was excited to read about this company as the project they were offering for a prospective employee was like no other; the eCommerce experiment. At a time when it is getting progressively harder to find a job,  I would have welcomed any placement offered to me, hence why I am so excited to be part of such a unique project that I know I will enjoy.

I have just completed my second year studying Media, Communications & Cultural studies at Newcastle University and I am hoping to gain valuable experience in the media industry from this placement whilst offering my own ideas. Part of the Shell Step scheme is to find a student to be awarded ‘The UK’s most enterprising student’ through consideration of what each student has offered to their host company.

I must admit my knowledge in the field of social media is somewhat limited, however I am hoping my enthusiasm in this project will make up for what I lack in technical ability and those following this blog will agree that it’s hard not to get excited about the project.

Throughout my eight weeks here I will be assisting the team with:

• Market Research to maximise sales
• Advertising the eCommerce experiment
• Social Media sites
• Social Media Marketing
• Blogging the process
• Working with the national and local print media to gain interest
• Building Connections with both suppliers, potential customers and those interested in the project
• Product Buying
• Product Advertising
• PR

I am looking forward to learning from and inputting towards this project!

We’re moving on with the eCommerce experiment and currently putting the design together for the new store. The sneak previews will be shown in the coming week. We just wanted to let everyone know that a new name will be popping up on the blog in the next few weeks.

I had the opportunity to interview a few candidates as part of the ‘Shell Step Programme‘. The Shell Step Programme brings together students and graduates who want to gain valuable experience on real work placements with companies who want an injection of fresh ideas, talent and enthusiasm to inspire and build their business.

The last interview took place last week, and we offered an 8 week placement to ‘Alexandra’ an extremely enthusiastic student from a North East University.

Alexandra will be doing some competitor analysis, social media work, marketing, advertising and generally giving me a hand with the promotion of Eliot Turner.

We will be setting some goals for Alexandra to complete before she leaves and we can’t wait to get her on board.