TWO USP Palmer's College students from Thurrock recently had the opportunity to take part in work experience at digital music, podcast, and video streaming service Spotify.

Although the experience had to take place virtually, Level 3 creative media students Sophie Swaby and Kean Harrison from the college's Grays campus found it to be an extremely positive one.

The work experience was arranged through the 'Speakers for Schools' initiative and the week began with a brief introduction, before the students were split up into groups to work on a brief.

The brief was based on something that they get asked to do on a daily basis at Spotify, 'how Spotify could promote a film for Netflix using their advertising solutions'.

This involved students working in their groups and discussing the merits of Spotify as an advertising platform and putting together a PowerPoint presentation based on a client's brief and coming up with their own ideas on how they would market a movie.

The work experience involved collaborating with peers, research and presentation skills.

Sophie, 16, from Chadwell said: "Over the week I learnt how Spotify handles advertisements and what it takes to get a career in the industry. It also showed me the importance of teamwork, as well as being able to work independently, and how to follow a client brief."

Kean, also 16 and from Tilbury, said: "I learnt a lot about working in the media professionally, as well as social media advertising. It was a very positive experience where each person contributed and communicated. It was also great to be able to have a Q&A session with Spotify employees to find out what it is like to work at Spotify and the best routes to get into advertising."

If you would like to find out more about USP's creative media courses, click here for more information.