‘I’ve felt more like a full-time member of staff than an intern!’ Alicia Parker reveals what life is like as an intern at LOTUS.

When I first started my placement as an Account Assistant at LOTUS last year, I never imagined that I would have gained half of the knowledge and experience that I have been lucky enough to obtain over the past 11 months.

I have always described myself as a confident, outgoing person who is comfortable in whatever situation I may be thrown into. However, when I first started at LOTUS and had my first taste of a full time job and serious working environment, I surprisingly felt reserved and shy. Although it didn’t take long for me to settle in – with the help of friendly faces in the office (willing to help if there was something that I was stuck on) and guidance from my manager Katie. Not before long, I felt relatively relaxed and like a member of the team.

Over the next few months, I felt not only my confidence, but also my knowledge of both the PR and travel industries had grown immensely. I was given more responsibility as the weeks went on, which led to me learning a whole host of new skills as a result of this.

As an Account Assistant, your role is to support the Account Executives and Account Managers. For me, this has given me the opportunity to work for a diverse range of exciting clients which include Teletext Holidays, the Balearic Islands Tourist Board, Heathrow Express and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI). These accounts all have different requirements which is reflected in the variety of work that I have carried out. From analysing and creating coverage reports to writing press releases and media pitches as well as organising events. Every day has been different which has kept the last 11 months exciting.

I have spent the majority of my time working on the Alaska Seafood account. I have not only been lucky enough to attend lots of different events – a supper club dinner, an exclusive book launch and multiple trade shows to name but a few - but I have also played a key role in the team on a day-to-day basis. With a strong focus on marketing, working on the Alaska Seafood account has given me the chance to explore my interests further since it’s the subject that I’ve chosen to specialise in when I go back to university in September.

We represent Alaska Seafood across Northern Europe and I would say that the highlight of my time at LOTUS was my trip to Malmö. It was here that I attended the Parabere Forum – an annual event that gathers thought-leaders in the field of gastronomy, food and nutrition. The aim of the event is to create a powerful, global network in order to strengthen the influence of women in the food sector. This event not only empowers the views of women, but it is also run completely by women. To support their Women in Seafood campaign, Alaska Seafood were a proud sponsor of the two-day conference. This meant that I was heavily involved in organising our part in the event – from liaising with the caterers and suppliers to co-ordinating chefs and product. I was thrilled when I found out that I would also be attending the event on behalf of ASMI, flying out the day before my colleague to ensure that everything was set up as it should be. I felt extremely privileged that the team had confidence in me that I could be trusted to hold my own and represent a client as an intern.

I have been lucky enough to begin my career at one of the leading independent travel specialists. Having been given so many amazing experiences and responsibilities at LOTUS, I have rarely felt like an intern and instead more like a full-time member of staff. I am so glad that I chose to do my placement here, and I can’t wait to see what my final month will have in store!