We caught up with Film and Television student, Mitchell to find out about his Enterprise Placement and launching his business, Tree Bark Films.
Can you tell us about your placement role and what you’ve enjoyed most?
I was a student on the Work for Yourself Enterprise Placement at Sheffield Hallam University, which supports students to establish their own businesses with the support of the University’s Enterprise Team. This allowed me to work as a freelance videographer through my business Tree Bark Films.
The thing I most enjoyed was getting to prove my skills by filming for clients at national conferences and with promotional videos.
What did a typical day look like for you in this role?
Every day on the placement was different as the time was mine to organise. When I wasn’t going out and filming videos for clients, I could have been working on my website, listening to a guest speaker, or meeting my coaches for advice.
There are two days required in the University’s iLab, a coworking space for student freelancers, and the rest of the week can be completed anywhere as long as you are working towards improving your business idea.
Did you have any concerns before starting your placement? How did you overcome them?
I was initially concerned about the financial side of the placement, as working for yourself rather than an external employer requires being more proactive and putting your skills into action to generate income through your business. I overcame this challenge by combining my placement with a part-time job with the Students’ Union and applying to different funding schemes for entrepreneurs.
How has your placement supported your career development?
The placement made me a much more independent and confident filmmaker. It led to me being much more ambitious with my final year projects than I would have originally intended. I also believe that it has given me a good base to continue to work on a freelance basis through Tree Bark Films after I graduate.
Have you engaged with the Careers Service during your placement? If so, how have they supported you?
While I mainly interacted with the Enterprise Team through my placement, I did also meet with my career’s advisor early on. We had to pitch our business ideas within the placement, and I was able to run through my presentation with her and receive some valuable feedback.
Why would you recommend doing a placement to other students?
I would recommend doing a placement if you can find one that is a good fit for you. In the case of the Enterprise Placement, I would recommend it so long as you are confident in the financial aspect of it and balancing it alongside another source of income. The placement was an inspiring experience, and allowed me to develop my skills in a way that applies to the real world, not just the classroom. The personal growth was worth it, and I would do it again if I could.
As you think about your next steps after university, how do you plan to stay in touch and share your progress?
I have been invited to return to the iLab by its new management, to be a presence to the next year of students while I continue to work on my own business. Hopefully, having this space and continued support will help me to prioritise my business so that it can become a long term role. Hallam is an important connection to me as I have found so many great contacts through the University, many of which have led in some form to further freelance video projects. It’s not what you know, but who you know!
How can other students share their progress following University and why is this important?
The Graduate Outcomes Survey is sent to all students 15 months after they finish their course, and it is a great opportunity to feedback. This data can be used to keep in touch and let the university know what you're up to. I think that it's important to share your story with other students as it could help to give them ideas about what steps to take in their careers during and after their time at Sheffield Hallam.
Find out more about the Graduate Outcomes Survey.
Tree Bark Films
Based in Sheffield, Tree Bark Films is a video production company that specialises in promotional videos, live music event coverage, and music video production. To find out more visit their website and social media channels below.
Website: treebarkfilms.co.uk
LinkedIn: @treebarkfilms
Facebook: @tree-bark-films
Instagram: @treebarkfilms
