Ogilvy & Mather Trip

Last Friday, 10 sixth form students attended the Ogilvy offices in London. We spent the day learning about the advertising industry, discussing career opportunities with employees and even trying our own hand at a pitch! The day began with a lovely breakfast in a glass boardroom overlooking the Thames, throughout which we were introduced to what exactly Ogilvy does and where the company originated. We were then visited by the CEO of Ogilvy;  we asked him questions about his career path and how he balances work and family. Next we were visited by creative directors who talked us through what makes a good advert and even played us some created by Ogilvy. Many of us were surprised to learn that Ogilvy runs British Airways campaigns, Dove body campaigns and even the Boots Christmas adverts, all of which we were already familiar with. We spoke with apprentices at Ogilvy, all of whom were incredibly helpful in answering our questions regarding working life as a young person. We spent the afternoon in groups doing a practice pitch for a British Airways Valentine’s Day campaign, which was exciting and challenging. Finally, we had a session on CV writing from the head-hunters at Ogilvy, who gave us lots of top tips on how to be concise whilst still allowing our personalities to shine through. On the whole, the entire group felt inspired after the trip. Given our upcoming university decisions, we felt more informed about our options in further education. I think I speak for everyone when I say that one of the most exciting things about the Ogilvy trip was finding out that employees are allowed to bring their dogs to work! We are all very grateful to Mrs Gower for offering us such a fantastic opportunity; this wonderful trip was enjoyed by all.

Milla, Upper Sixth