Student placement – A week with Expro’s Marcomms team

Day 1 – Monday 23 June
I was not really sure what to expect from my week at Expro, but I felt welcomed as soon as I entered the building. As my dad is the Group Global Business Development Director, I was lucky enough to be offered the weeks work experience in the heart of Aberdeen, which was a new experience for me. To be honest, I was very nervous to start off with, but I soon felt at ease after I was shown around by the Marketing Communications Manager.

After being shown around, there were clear observations to take into account. Expro take pride in their health and safety procedures – the House Rules stated many different safety procedures which I had to undertake while working in Lion House.
I had always wanted to follow my dad’s footsteps, and my first day has really shown me what it’s like working for Expro. Throughout the week, I will be working with 3D Designers, Marc and George, to create video ‘Vox Pops’ of some of the Expro graduate/trainees, which accurately reflect what it is like to work for Expro. So for me, this first day has been very educational and exciting and I cannot wait for tomorrow!

If I could use two words to describe my first day they would definitely be educational and challenging. I’m enjoying my work at Expro and the week ahead should be very informational and constructive.

Day 2 – Tuesday 24 June
Today I felt a lot more comfortable with work, I was able to make progress with Marc and George on my Vox Pops assignment and am slowly making my way to finishing my research. Today I researched interview techniques and created a brief for the interviewees and the producers on the day.

At the rate I am working, we should be filming on Friday, just before I head back to Reading for the summer holidays. I’d love to stay as I have learnt a lot over the last couple of days, everybody is happy and friendly and extremely willing to help me out if I have any issues with anything.

I am looking forward to meeting the Expro graduates on Friday afternoon, I’d like to learn about them and how they entered the graduate programme, and I think the Vox Pops assignment will provide a great way of communicating this.

This week is providing me with the opportunity to improve my organisational and time management skills and complete what is expected from me by the others in the department. Although I have only been here for a couple of days, I feel a lot more mature than I was yesterday morning; I am finally learning what it’s like to work and be independent.

Day 3 – Wednesday 25 June
It feels good to be able to say that I have actually contributed to some work with Expro. We are slowly getting closer to finishing the assignment which was set for me on Monday morning. The interviews which I have to undertake will be located in classrooms and in the warehouse, where I will have to wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for safety reasons.

Today I formalised the schedule and briefing notes. Also, I have had a group discussion with Marc and George about HSE requirements to ensure all PPE is in place. Tomorrow, we must be ready to start filming the following day, ensuring that all arrangements are in place. Unfortunately, I won’t be here for the editing process which will take place the next week. Marc and George have told me that they will send me the final video before it goes live, which is good because I can make any final comments on the finished video.

So far this experience has really benefitted me educationally, and has also been rewarding. This hands-on experience will also help me a lot in the future. If I ever want to work in the oil and gas industry, I will have a head start with some basic knowledge I have picked from my week with Expro in the Marketing and Communications department.

Expro’s workplace is extremely organised and safe, which makes me feel comfortable while working. Everyone is helpful and kind and are always willing to help me out. I am glad that everybody has made me feel comfortable talking and working with others in the office and I now feel like a part of the team.

Day 4 – Thursday 26 June
Today has been an important day for the team working on the Vox Pops assignment. George, Marc and I have been engaging with the camera to try to finish off some last minute adjustments so that we can go straight into filming tomorrow. My dad and I were invited to tapas with the team last night; it was great fun as it was an ideal opportunity for my dad and I to get to know the group a little better.

I’m looking forward to filming tomorrow; I’m interested in learning about the graduates’ time at Expro as their career path is something I’m interested in doing in the future. I am also being assigned my PPE today so that I am free from danger while working in the workshop. This is my first real attempt in using lighting and film cameras, so it is a great opportunity for me to learn some new skills, Marc and George are helping me along the way with any queries that I have.

Tomorrow is my last day, but it is also the day that George, Marc and I have been working towards. We will be travelling to the workshop around 1:30pm to chat with the Expro graduates. I’m really impressed with the health and safety standards in the Expro workplace so far.

Day 5 – Friday 27 June
Today is the day! During my project at Expro, I have been working towards today’s filming and interview sessions. Marc and I travelled down to the Bruce Building to film some of the students on the Graduate Development Program (GDP). I got the opportunity to learn about them and their positions, and apply the research I had produced over the week to conducting interviews. I think that the interviews were successful; we acquired some great answers and insight from the graduates. Unfortunately, I’m not here for the editing process, but Marc has said that he will send me drafts to comment on over the next couple of weeks.

I am very thankful to the Marketing and Communications department for helping me over the past week. As well as camera, video, writing and interview techniques, I have also learned about Expro’s safety procedures including the importance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and their Graduate Development Program.

I was also given a tour by the UK Area Manager, who showed me around the Wellington and Drake buildings. It gave me the opportunity to learn more about how fluids are extracted and their history with some of the fluids stored dating back to the early 1970’s and the early industry in Aberdeen.

In conclusion, this week has been great hands-on educational experience learning about working in business, the function of the Marketing & Communication team and the industry in general. I have met some great people in Lion House and I am sad that I have to go so soon. Hopefully one day I will return and work with the team again.
Ethan