I never expected that just a few weeks into the new year, such an exciting work experience opportunity would come my way.
Between Christmas and New Year, one of my university lecturers emailed me to ask if I’d be interested in attending a BBC broadcast filming. The event was organized by a former university colleague who now runs her own PR and marketing agency, Be Better Known.
How this opportunity came about.
Rhian, the owner of Be Better Known, had previously worked with Northamptonshire’s sight loss charity and is passionate about creating opportunities in the industry for individuals with additional needs.
My lecturer thought of me for this opportunity because he was aware of my work with my local sight loss charity and my blog, where I share my experiences as a marketing student with a visual impairment. When asked if he knew of any students who would benefit from the experience, I was the first person who came to mind.
How excellent Accessibility enabled me to fully enjoy the experience.
I want to highlight just how thorough Rhian was in accommodating my vision and hearing impairments on the day. The day before the filming, she gave me a call to confirm that the TV broadcast would be going ahead and to ask about my specific accessibility needs. Thanks to her previous experience working with a sight loss charity, she was already familiar with my eye condition and wanted to ensure I could get the most out of the experience.
With my permission, she informed the broadcast journalist about my vision and hearing impairments and asked if I could stand close during interviews to follow along more easily. Additionally, during moments when standing near wasn’t practical, Rhian checked in and offered to describe what was happening.
None of these adjustments were major, but the thoughtfulness and consideration she showed made a huge difference. She ensured my impairments didn’t become a barrier while also keeping things natural and unobtrusive, which I truly appreciated. The journalist, Stuart Ratcliffe, along with the clients, Ian and Lauren Horton, were also incredibly considerate and made me feel genuinely welcome throughout the experience.
What actually happened on the day?
Beyond the accessibility aspect, I found it fascinating to gain real-world insight into the process of securing PR television coverage for a client.
The client, Ganders Goat, is an award-winning goat farm known for its goat milk ice cream. Nestled in a picturesque village in the far north of Northamptonshire, the farm was being featured—not for its ice cream—but for an unusual and eco-friendly initiative: goatcycling Christmas trees!
During filming, the clients, Ian and Lauren Horton, were interviewed about the scheme they launched last year. Local residents could make a small donation to have their Christmas trees collected from their doorstep at a scheduled time. Ian and Lauren would then drive through the village in their van, picking up the trees to be recycled—by feeding them to their goats!
The segment was filmed, edited, and aired on BBC One Look East all on the same day. Watching the final report felt especially exciting, knowing I had been there behind the scenes to witness the entire process.
As always, thank you for reading about this incredible work experience opportunity—I feel so lucky to have been part of it!
Becky. X
