CIPR

The deadline for entries for the first PRIME Research/CIPR Fellowship is 31 May 2011 and the shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in London on 27 June 2011. The winner will be announced soon after. The success of the PRIME Research Fellowship awarded last year is reflected in the experience of the 2010 Masters graduate, Vanessa Procter, at Bournemouth University (see below).

Today, Vanessa Procter, 23, who originates from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is set firmly on the path to a successful career in media research and measurement.

Her prize last year included a £4,000 stipend and the opportunity of six weeks' work experience at PRIME Research in Oxford, England. The same reward awaits this year's successful candidate.

At the end of her work experience she was offered a full-time post with PRIME and later spent two months training at the company's headquarters in Mainz, Germany. She has since returned for shorter periods to build on her skills.

As she explains,

the training was more learning by doing, with support when I needed it. Having so many people around meant there was/is always someone to turn to for support, help and all-important lunch break company.

Now, as a project manager, she is given responsibility for handling client tasks:

It seems the more I show my ability to handle working pressures, the more responsibility I am able to take on; this means I can push myself and my career. I love it.

Vanessa is not left on her own:

I am able to sit down with a senior project manager and tackle problems I have encountered…and at the same time I can 'steal' their knowledge.

She currently works for clients in PRIME's automotive group, producing a variety of different reports; she also manages a team of coders to ensure that all required media is coded correctly:

My role at PRIME during my fellowship was very different to what I am doing now but without those six weeks I would not be where I am now! I love the direction my work is going in. It is varied, exciting, incredibly demanding with very long hours when needed but great fun.

PRIME Research, founded in 1985 in Mainz, Germany, combines academic rigour with practical relevance to provide a broad array of research and consulting services to many of the world's greatest organisations. The firm employs staff in eight locations around the world. The 600 analysts and 100 consultants constantly monitor, analyse and consult on communications trends in more than 35 global markets in 15 business sectors including automotive, financial, chemicals, energy, retail, IT, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, travel & transport, logistics, politics and NGOs.