Ashley
"To further my development I have attended courses on all the IT packages, presentational skills and an Outward Bounds team-building course"I left Poynton High School in June 2004 after completing 10 GCSEs. I applied for an Apprenticeship with AstraZeneca after a visit by an AZ HR representative to the school. She gave a presentation on the various roles available within the company and also emphasised the advantage of being able to gain further qualifications at the same time as gaining experience within the workplace. After completing an application form I was asked to attend an interview for various different positions within AstraZeneca, such as Oncology International Conference Team, HR and European Business Centre. I was successful in being chosen as an Apprentice in all 3 departments and chose Oncology International Conference group as this seemed like the most challenging and fast moving environment. The position also allowed me to work with a close network of team members and also work internationally across all the AZ Marketing Companies worldwide giving me a detailed interface with the companys activities. The Oncology & Infection Conference & Exhibition Team manages the delivery of team designated events to time, quality and budget. It does so on behalf of, and as part of, the core TA brand teams. As well as congresses and exhibitions, our work can include Clinical Trial Investigator meetings, Stand Alone and Global Key Opinion Leader meetings. My role within the group is primarily supporting the delegate management team. We are presently piloting a new delegate management system where I can use my IT skills in building a concise database of delegates attendance at oncology meetings and congresses. This is a web based system where invited delegates can register themselves for conferences, eliminating the need for data input and double entering by the conference team. I recently supported an Oncology Conference Manager at the AZD0530 Monitors and Investigators Meeting in Chester. My role was to invite the relevant AZ staff and Marketing Company staff to the meeting along with the doctors taking part in this clinical trial. I collated all the necessary data to produce rooming lists for the hotel and airport transfer manifests for the transport company who were collecting the delegates from the airport. On site in Chester I provided a 24 hour service to our invited guests, ensured each had a room, meeting materials, name badge and airport transfers. I have also supported the Oncology Conference Team in their exhibition activities. I have assisted in producing stand manning rotas, staff briefing documents and staff badges for up to 130 AZ staff working on the AZ exhibition stand at the congress. On site I have manned an AZ Hospitality Suite being available to answer questions from AZ sponsored delegates. This role gives me the opportunity to meet new people from different backgrounds and enables me to interact with a whole spectrum of different cultures. I often need to work cross-functional, liaising with clinical teams, PR, Purchasing, Marketing and Sales. I have been able to develop my personal skills and the ability to work with a professional team. To further my development I have attended courses on all the IT packages, presentational skills and an Outward Bounds team-building course. Overall AstraZeneca has given me a great opportunity to sample working life combined with experiencing different cultural activities which are both motivating and rewarding. |
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