“When I tell people I work at Channel 4, the most common reaction is ‘wow’. That’s quite rare these days. I think this is down to the fact that we do things differently here. We’re innovative. We’re distinctive. We’re different. Not for the sake of being different but with a purpose. As a channel, we can be quite raw and unflinching in what we do. We’re here to champion the underdog and give a platform to voices that might otherwise go unheard. This spirit and inclusivity is reflected in how we work too.

“There’s a real feeling of community here. People know each other’s names. That might sound like an odd thing to say but, having worked in some larger organisations, that’s not always the case. You have to be someone who gets on with people to work here; relationships are a big part of what I do.

I started out here as an intern; that was five years ago. This was a great way in to the channel and gave me a properly solid grounding for what I do now. It was quite intensive and the exposure this gave me; the overview and insight I got into how the whole business works was invaluable. It also meant I got to know people and hear about opportunities that were coming up. That’s how I got into my first full-time role as an Airtime Assistant.

Airtime sales is the biggest team on the sales floor. I learned the ins and outs of buying, selling and trading ad space – our biggest revenue driver. I looked after a patch of agencies and clients, managing their spot buying. You have to be pretty agile to work here. It’s fast paced and deadline driven, so being able to think on your feet, multitask and develop relationships with the people you’re looking after is vital.

You’re learning all the time in this environment. These days, I think training is more structured; I had classroom-based courses but most of my development happened on the job. I did well and progressed quickly; first to a Partnership Exec role and then on to become Regional Partnerships Manager. Which is what I do now. The best way to explain this is probably to look at an advertising deal I brokered recently with Visit Scotland.

This client is perceived as kind of heritage driven. They wanted to shift this. So with our influential E4 millennial demographic we were perfectly placed to help. Essentially, we pitched an interactive TV campaign which invites viewers to direct and star in a series of ads across a week. We aired a series of 60-second ads featuring a group of six young travelers doing stuff around Scotland to showcase the client’s wares, so to speak. Viewers could then vote via Twitter to decide what they’d do next. It was multi-platform. It was groundbreaking – as far as I know this is the first campaign of its kind on any channel. It’s what we do best and it’s why I love what I do.

There are so many strands to what I do and this campaign is the perfect example. The idea itself came out of a group brainstorm. It was a dream to pitch because we did it with passion – and won. Seeing it through pulled on so many of the channel’s departments and resources. That’s where your internal relationship building comes into its own.

You have to be creative, lateral, meticulous, organised and a commercial thinker. Above all you have to believe in your product but communication skills are crucial too. You have to be able to adapt and flex your approach. You need the emotional intelligence to read the room you’re in. You have to get people to buy into you as well as what you do.

Being in Manchester is pretty cool too. I went to uni here so it’s kind of a home from home. It’s smaller than London, obviously, but perfectly formed. The people are friendly and it’s a buzzing, vibrant place to be. You’ve got the Northern Quarter which is like our version of Shoreditch; then you’ve got Spinning Fields which is our West End.

As for where I go next, my dream job right now would be Head of Department or Head of Floor. I’ve got some more skills to acquire first but there’s so much more growth to come out of the regions and a lot of learning to be had.

I feel proud to work here. I never take it for granted. We do some amazing things here. I’m looking forward to deciding what comes next.

“I pretty much knew that uni wasn’t going to be for me. I wanted something different that would suit my learning style better. I also wasn’t too keen on racking up a lot of debt so the idea or earning while I was learning appealed to me too. . I’ve grown up with online; it’s something that’s always interested me. So that’s where I first applied.

“I was pretty much on my own with setting this up. But I managed to get a work experience place with the All 4 online team and I made sure I made the most of it. I didn’t really know the extent of the opportunity in online I just thought, that must be the website. When I got here and started my placement, I got to see how much was involved.

“There was lots to learn. I spent time getting to know the team and how everything worked and I shadowed the Assistant to the head of the department. Then there was how exclusive content was made for that particular platform. I saw how the product team work, got an insight into the techy side of things and how editorial functioned. So it was an incredibly useful experience – especially as I made lots of contacts which were to come in handy later.

“The thing that surprised me most, was how comfortable I felt here. I was in Year 11 at school and I’d never worked in an office environment. So, initially, I was apprehensive. I was thinking ‘how do you behave in an office? What do you wear?’ But when I turned up, everyone was really chilled and relaxed; people dressed down. That’s when I realised I didn’t have to be a certain way or behave like this or that. I just had to be myself. That’s why the channel hires people. For you. For who you are and what they see in you.

“Even though I was coming in at the bottom of the ladder, I was never made to feel that way. No one saw me in this way; no one treated me that way. People asked for my opinion. People were interested in what I had to say. So when I saw the opening for an apprenticeship advertised, I went for it. I let the contacts I’d made during my work experience know that I’d applied and, after going through the assessment centre, I got a place.

“I’m not going to say it wasn’t hard work. I was still living in Northamptonshire at the time so I was commuting every day which was a bit mad. I’d be starting and ending the day in this sleepy little place where I lived, with the buzz of the big city in between. But I learned so much. All the effort and investment of time I made were worthwhile. I was like a sponge. I made sure I took everything in, met us many people as possible, built as many relationships as I could. Because I never knew when our paths would next cross. After my Apprenticeship I secured a permanent role and I moved to London and I love it.

“My role as Team Assistant means I get to see the whole end-to-end process of a TV project – from someone coming in with a piece of A4 paper saying I want to make this on TV, right through to production and final output. It’s fascinating, particularly as ALL 4 and online is where the future will be.

“I don’t know where I’m going next. I want to stay within TV, hopefully within C4. But I’m also interested in the production side; and the team is so encouraging. They really want you to learn. So, if I see something that’s being made that interests me, or with a celeb I like, I ask if I can go along and they’re like, yeah, sure, let us know how it’s going. And I guess it’s good for them too as I’m the target audience. So the insights I can give do have value and do matter.

“My advice to anyone thinking of applying would be, don’t be intimidated. OK, it’s a TV company and it might seem a bit scary. It really isn’t at all. I was hired when I was 18. They could have thought here’s just some teenager who wants to work for us because he likes Made in Chelsea. But they didn’t see me as a teenager. They saw me as someone who was keen to learn, got on with people, got on and got things done. It’s a good place and everyone wants you to succeed.

“It’s massively social too – which is great for me as I’m a really social person. Before I joined I used to think ‘what do people do when they finish work? Do they just go home?’. We go out for drinks, there’s heaps of parties. I’ve met some of my best friends here. For Stand Up for Cancer in 2016 me and my friend Nicole did a 24-hour camp out in a pod on the office terrace , It was great. everyone got involved in fundraising. That’s another thing about working here, we don’t just make telly for the sake of it. We do things because we’re passionate about them and believe in them. We don’t just entertain; we educate. I’m certainly learning all the time.”