Practical Marketing Skills: Claire Clarkson
Claire Clarkson from Footprints Conductive Education Centre attended the Practical Marketing Skills and later went on to complete the Digital Fundamentals course.
Practical Marketing Skills is delivered through the Smart and Inclusive Leadership project and Digital Fundamentals is delivered through the Branch Out in STEM project, which are both part funded by the European Social Fund. Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is pleased to offer free (fully funded) places on this course to support employees of small and medium businesses that are based in Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire.
Claire Clarkson
Being back in a learning environment was very daunting so long after finishing university, but both courses gave me so much confidence. The course content is up to date and so useful, and I’m able to apply it in all areas of my role and enables me to talk confidently to colleagues and stakeholders about marketing.
Claire Clarkson, Head of Communications at Footprints Conductive Education Centre
Below is the written question and answer session with Claire Clarkson. Claire was part of a cohort on the Practical Marketing Skills course and then progressed onto the Digital Fundamentals course.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m currently the Head of Communications and PR for Footprints Conductive Education Centre, a Nottingham based charity. I have been part of the team officially since March 2022, following six months of volunteering in the office.
This followed a period of ten years where I had a planned career break to raise my two boys. I volunteered at Footprints to gain working experience again, which then led to a Communication Executive role, before being promoted to Head of Communications.
I have a BA Hons English Language and Literatures degree and before having my children, worked for nine years at E.ON, as an Internal Communication and Engagement Business Partner.
What first attracted you to the Practical Marketing Skills course? And why did you choose to sign up to the follow on course, Digital Fundamentals?
Having started in paid work again after ten years out of the working environment, I was keen to upskill myself in every way possible. I spoke to someone who had completed the Practical Marketing Skills course, and she spoke so highly of not only the course content, but also the group environment and potential networking opportunities.
Having completed Practical Marketing Skills, Digital Fundamentals felt like the next natural step and a way for me to gain even more experience and skills. This course was also well timed with the development of our new charity website, so I could use the knowledge very quickly!
What were you hoping to learn from both courses?
I learnt far more from both courses than I was expecting to. I was initially hoping to find out more about marketing and the wider function from Practical Marketing Skills and then information and top tips for maximising and getting the most out of digital communication channels from Digital Fundamentals.
What did you learn in the courses that you found particularly useful?
For my role and for our charity, the information on all of the digital communication platforms, along with the latest trends and how to use/measure them effectively, was the most useful and I was able to apply directly and quickly to my work.
How much time did you need to invest in each course to complete it?
One day a week for the course delivery, and then another day for coursework, research, revising and completing the task list for Digital Fundamentals. The assignment for this course is a lot of work, particularly when juggling paid work and other responsibilities, but working each week on the assignment helps massively.
How did taking Practical Marketing Skills and Digital Fundamentals benefit you?
Being back in a learning environment was very daunting so long after finishing university, but both courses gave me so much confidence. The course content is up to date and so useful, and I’m able to apply it in all areas of my role and enables me to talk confidently to colleagues and stakeholders about marketing.
The Practical Marketing Skills short course came just before my promotion to Head of Communications, and I know that my proactivity in taking the course in my own time and the experience and knowledge it gave me played an important part.
To have received a distinction in both the Practical Marketing Skills exam and the Digital Fundamentals assignment was far beyond what I thought I’d be able to achieve whilst balancing work and family life with studying.
They have both given me a huge amount of confidence, increased knowledge, opportunity to network with other students and course leaders, and some important personal content for platforms like LinkedIn.
Would you recommend doing both courses to other people? And if so, why?
Yes, for all of the reasons above! The content, along with the support and expertise from the course leaders was just fantastic.
How to access the support available
If you are interested in our marketing courses and would like to find out more, please take a look at our marketing courses page.