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Staff spotlight: Nicole Gilroy

Name: Nicole Gilroy
Job title: Communications Co-ordinator
Year started at BSMS: 2021

Tell us a bit about your background

I grew up in Hertfordshire and moved to Brighton a decade ago to study media at the University of Brighton. After getting my degree, I wasn’t certain about the area of media that I wanted to pursue so I took a bit of time out and worked in various childacare settings. It was around three years ago that I decided I wanted to do something more in line with my degree. When looking for a job I came across the ‘Junior Content Producer’ apprenticeship that was being advertised at the medical school. It sounded like an amazing opportunity to enhance my skills and knowledge in a work environment and so I applied for the role and was delighted to be offered it.

What’s your role like day-to-day?

My role in the comms team is very versatile. I get to collaborate a lot with the other teams within the medical school and I am usually working on several projects at one time. My daily tasks range from editing and captioning videos, populating the monthly student newsletter, scheduling posts for our social media accounts, designing graphics and other assets and making updates to the BSMS website. One of my favourite projects to work on is conducting student takeovers on our Instagram account as it’s great to be able to collaborate with students to generate some unique content for our channel.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

I really like the versatility of my role. Working in a small comms team means that instead of being limited to just one area of communications I am able to be involved in every aspect. This is not only of great benefit for me by enhancing my skillset but it also means that no two days are ever the same, which helps keep things interesting.

Also, for me, job satisfaction comes from knowing I’m making a positive impact. Therefore, working at the medical school where I am collaborating with some amazing and inspiring academics and researchers that are doing incredible work and helping to shape tomorrow’s doctors is really rewarding and gives me a great level of job satisfaction.

How have you developed your skills professionally since joining BSMS?

My initial role at BSMS was as a Junior Content Producer Apprentice. This meant that alongside working full time in the comms team I also attended college once a month to gain practical and theoretical knowledge and skills surrounding content creation. The apprenticeship was an amazing experience and a great opportunity for me to elevate my skills. I was able to immediately implement the things I was learning in the classroom within a professional environment meaning I was able to consolidate all my new skills and knowledge through my work.

BACKGROUND IMAGE FOR PANEL

Who are some of your biggest inspirations within your personal or professional life?

In my personal life, my biggest inspiration is my mum. She is the most kind and selfless person that I know and has always gone out of her way to help everyone around her. I have always aspired to be as caring as she is to others as I believe that it takes nothing from us to be kind to people but it can mean so much to others.

In my professional life, my biggest inspiration is Matt Bemment. I feel very grateful to have had him as a line manager and a mentor since starting my role at BSMS. I have always watched him go above and beyond in his role and I really admire his ability to remain calm in situations that most people would find extremely stressful. He is always happy to help everyone and I can see how respected and appreciated he is by so many of his colleagues. It has been a pleasure to work with him and I feel like I have learnt a lot from him and will continue to do so.

What are your other interests / hobbies?

Outside of work, I enjoy being creative and I like to crochet and make things like bags, hats and scrunchies. I am also really into fitness and regularly go out for runs, long walks and workout at the gym. I’m a very social person too and I like being around people so I spend a lot of my free time with friends either going out to eat, going to the pub, attending gigs or going on little city breaks away.