What’s It Like to Work at MCA? – Student Placement Experience
We’re delighted to share a blog post written by Zoe Innes, our recent student placement, outlining her experience working with Midlothian Community Action.
MCA would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Zoe for all her hard-work and the enthusiastic attitude she brought to our team. We wish her the best as she heads into the final year of her degree and can’t wait to hear about her future endeavours.
“During my student placement at Midlothian Community Action, I completed the role of Marketing and Communications Assistant.
Midlothian Community Action is a community-focused organisation that supports local charities, volunteer groups and social enterprises throughout Midlothian.
My placement offered hands-on experience in non-profit communications, digital marketing and event coordination, while deepening my understanding of how local organisations engage with their audiences and celebrate community efforts.”
1. Social Media Management
“One major focus of my placement was helping manage the organisation’s social media presence. I created content for platforms including Facebook and Instagram, aligning posts with current campaigns, and community initiatives. Some tasks include:
- Planning and scheduling content using digital tools.
- Creating visuals and writing to promote volunteer opportunities and local events.
Through this, I developed skills in social media strategy and digital branding while also learning how to tailor messaging to different audiences.”
2. Event Support: Midlothian Volunteer Awards
“One of the highlights of my placement was helping organise the Midlothian Volunteer Awards, an annual event that recognises the outstanding contributions of local volunteers. My responsibilities included:
- Designing and planning the programme.
- Help to publicise the event across social media and encourage nominations.
- Announce the nominations during the event and ensure the correct distribution of trophies.
Being a part of this event allowed me to experience firsthand the impact of volunteer work in the community and understand the value of recognition and celebration within the third sector.”
Skills gained:
- Digital communication: Strengthened my skills in social media marketing, content creation and brand voice.
- Event planning: Gained practical experience in coordinating a public-facing community event.
- Teamwork and communication: Worked collaboratively with staff and volunteers, contributing ideas in meetings and taking on responsibility for tasks independently.
- Community engagement: Developed an appreciation for communication and the importance of inclusivity and accessibility in nonprofit outreach.
“My placement at Midlothian Community Action was a valuable opportunity to apply my academic learning in a real-world setting. I left the placement with enhanced confidence in marketing and communication tools, a deeper connection to community values, and a clearer idea of how I might contribute to the third sector in the future.”
– Zoe Innes