A taste of marketing

Sacred Heart Girls’ College ākonga Natalie Dwyer (pictured left with Marketing and Events Coordinator Sam Legge) is completing a unique Gateway work experience programme with the WITT Te Pūkenga Marketing Team to see if marketing is the career path for her and get a taste of working in an office environment. 

As a pathway’s student, Natalie is looking to gain real-world experience. Leader of Pathways Learning, Warwick Foy, organised the programme in conjunction with WITT, who he regularly works with to support students into further education. The arrangement with WITT is outside of the usual Gateway placements, but an opportunity he was keen to make happen for Natalie.

 “WITT has an amazing range of opportunities for students, from 3+2 and taster programmes, through to certificates, diplomas and degrees once they finish school,” says Warwick Foy.

The Gateway programme aims to give ākonga experience of the workforce while at school. For Natalie who is hoping to study marketing, the experience at WITT has been invaluable.

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to shadow the marketing team and gain hands-on experience in a workplace, a chance I often don’t get in the classroom,” Natalie Dwyer.

During her work experience, Natalie has spent time with events, communications and graphic design team members, and even got to work at O-Week running events for new and returning ākonga.

“We’ve enjoyed sharing our experience and knowledge to give Natalie a taste of what it is like to work in marketing and appreciated her help at events and in day-to-day office tasks,” says Marketing Manager Natalie Warren.