Northampton student brings theory out of lecture room to help rejuvenate building society’s marketing strategy

A University of Northampton (UON) graduate has started her career at a gallop after winning a marketing pitch as part of her course which led to a building society taking her on as a paid intern to implement some of her ideas.

Originally from Nigeria, 26-year-old Precious Ojeifo arrived in the UK in October 2024 with a Bachelor’s Degree under her belt and enrolled on UON’s Master’s in Digital Marketing. She chose UON having been impressed by the global connections she was likely to make after noticing the University attracts students from all over the world.

In December 2025 Precious completed what began as a three-week internship but ended after three-months, with the Market Harborough Building Society (MHBS).

The internship followed a networking event earlier in the year with MHBS, a mutual with over 150 years of history, which then invited students to pitch fresh ideas to attract younger members.

Competing against five other pitches, but working with fellow student Victoria Baiden, Precious delivered a pitch that impressed MHBS for its creativity and practicality. Their campaign focused on brand consistency, influencer partnerships, and social media engagement. The duo’s ideas won the top award for overall best pitch.

Months later, Precious took the initiative to reach out to MHBS via LinkedIn. That proactive step led to an internship offer starting October 1—just days after completing her Master’s. “I never imagined I’d be working with them,” she says. “But I embraced every opportunity UON gave me, and it paid off.”

During her internship, Precious worked on projects that had real-world impact. She audited MHBS’s social media channels, introduced a content calendar to improve consistency, researched TikTok strategies, and redesigned the ‘Thrive’ section of the Society’s website—a platform showcasing its charitable work and community engagement. Her recommendations helped boost engagement rates on Linkedin by over 70% and aligned MHBS’s brand identity across digital platforms. She even created templates for weekly and monthly analytics reports to guide future marketing decisions.

Reflecting on her experience, Precious credits UON for bridging theory and practice. “Northampton doesn’t just teach; they prepare you for the real world. From networking events with global brands like TikTok and Google to practical assessments, the course gave me the confidence and skills that translated directly into winning this internship and the valuable experience it has given me.”

Reflecting on her decision to study in Northampton, Precious added: “I wanted to study somewhere that brings people from different cultures together. That mix of ideas creates quality education. Her advice to future students: “Embrace every opportunity the University offers—you never know which one will lead to your next job.”

Helen Smith, Head of Marketing at MHBS, said: “Precious’s creativity and analytical insight reflect the University of Northampton’s strong curriculum and practical teaching approach, preparing students to meet workplace expectations with confidence.”