A former Glasgow student has credited Glasgow Clyde College for helping her land her dream job in the showbiz PR industry, which recently saw her rubbing shoulders with the likes of Holly Willoughby and Rochelle Humes on the red carpet of the National Television Awards.
Caitlin Connolly, 28, a former Media and Communications student at Glasgow Clyde College, saw her wildest dreams come true when she bagged her dream role as a Publicity Manager on Coronation Street, a soap which she has been a huge fan of since childhood.
Caitlin now works alongside the star-studded cast of the hit show and has credited her college lecturers for enlightening her about the world of PR and talent management, an area that she had no idea existed.
After missing out on the grades to get her into university, Caitlin stumbled upon a Media & Communications course at Glasgow Clyde College in 2015 and decided to give it a shot with no idea that it would one day lead to her working on the red carpet at the NTAs.
After a module in PR which gave her access to inspirational guest speakers and work placements, Caitlin realised that she’d found her calling in life and started applying for full time PR roles after graduating.
She first landed herself a job at a PR agency in Glasgow where she worked for clients including UEFA before a Publicity Manager role at ITV came up which she was successfully hired for.
Just a week after applying, Caitlin found herself packing up her belongings to move to Manchester for the job.
Her role at ITV has seen her manage publicity surrounding household name actors such as Peter Ash and shadow directors and most recently work at the NTA red carpet event where she managed press interviews and photography for actors.
Caitlin said: “My siblings used to tease me for being so obsessed with Coronation Street from such a young age, so it feels like a full circle moment to now work with the cast and crew every day.
“If it wasn’t for Glasgow Clyde College and their amazing teaching staff, in particular Fred Hannah, I’d have never been introduced to the world of PR or had the confidence to think I’d be successful in applying for my dream job at ITV.
“I was that school leaver who felt uninspired by the idea of further education and didn’t think it could lead me anywhere exciting, working at the NTAs last month proved me wrong. I’d encourage people going into further education or questioning what to do after school to have an open mind and never give up on your dreams”.
Fred Hannah, Media & TV Curriculum Manager at Glasgow Clyde College said: “Caitlin stands out as a remarkable example of our alumni’s potential. Her progress highlights the promising futures our graduates can look forward to.
“From day one, Caitlin’s passion for the industry was evident. Her achievements not only make us proud but also serve as a powerful inspiration to both current and prospective students, illustrating the exciting career paths that await after graduation.”
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