Jamie-Leigh lands a job working for 'the most radical arts festival' around

Headhunted during her work placement at Islington Mill, Jamie-Leigh Hargreaves, 30 is a graduate of our music industries management foundation degree. She is now the press officer for Manchester International Festival (MIF).

MIF was described by The New Yorker as ‘probably the most radical and important arts festival today’.

Unruffled by this prestige, Jamie coolly describes her work as; ‘writing press releases, collecting information, building relationships with local, regional, national and international press, right across print, radio, TV - trying to get people to write about what you’re doing! Talking them into things…badgering!’ It helps when your degree leaves no stone unturned when it comes to working with the creative industries: ‘We learnt everything from PR to artist liaison, to A&R – working with musicians, helping them build their portfolios, the technical requirements for setting up live bands… You can relate to people in the industry in any context. One of the tutors used to be head of PR at Universal Records and she’s just really good at bringing out the best in people.’

‘I found my placement at Islington Mill through another tutor at the college who had a studio and an office there. I started as a volunteer co-ordinator for their festivals and did well at that so they gave me a job. While I was there someone contacted me to offer me another job. They said “we’ve heard you’re good at what you do” and, of course, I didn’t contradict them! I was incredibly lucky to do the music industries management foundation degree and get headhunted after my placement, but there was also a lot of hard work involved.’