ICS Learn Case Study: Overgate Shopping Centre | Online CIM Courses

Metta Ramsay enhanced her marketing acumen through an online CIM qualification, which allowed her to add value to her role as a Retail Marketing Assistant.

After graduating from Robert Gordon University in 2015 with a BA Fashion Management degree, I was lucky enough to secure my current role as Retail Marketing Assistant for Overgate Shopping Centre just months later.

As part of my degree, I completed a three-month internship within Overgate’s Marketing department and it was partly due to this that I was successful in securing the job.

With little marketing experience and no formal marketing qualification, it was a bit daunting at first and I felt like I had been thrown in at the deep end - what better way to learn!

I soon got to grips with the ins and outs of the centre and after two years in my role, it was recommended that a qualification from the Chartered Institute of Marketing would be beneficial to me. 

I wasn’t sure at first if I would cope with going back in to education whilst working full time and trying to maintain a social life, but I decided to give it a go.

Living in Dundee, I did some research online to find out what my options were, and this was when I discovered ICS Learn.

Suddenly, studying via distance learning with all resources available online didn’t seem so tough.

I chose to study the CIM Level 4 Certificate in Professional Marketing course as I felt this was best suited to my ability and the content seemed like a good starting point develop my marketing skills. From application to getting set up on the online portal, everything was so easy.

I sat my first exam for the Marketing module in April 2018. This exam took place in Edinburgh which isn’t far from Dundee via train.

In preparation, I was able to download and complete past exam papers and ICS Learn also had a test paper online that you could attempt once per day which was helpful.

The online PowerPoint presentations provided by ICS Learn were also helpful and I would advise paying attention to the recommended reading list.

Integrated Communication and Digital Marketing exams were both assignment-based meaning these were easily submitted online and by post.

Resources for these modules on the online portal again were really helpful and I liked the way they were grouped in to subtopics.

Having all study resources available online including textbooks and access to online journals was great and means you can access everything from your desktop, laptop, mobile or tablet easily.

Looking back, one thing I didn’t take full advantage of was the ICS Learn tutor support. Throughout my first two modules, I didn’t contact my tutor once!

It wasn’t until I started my Digital Marketing assignment that I really seen the benefit of having a tutor.

Another piece of advice for both Integrated Communications and Digital Marketing modules is to make sure you submit your draft assignments to your tutor for feedback. This was one of the most helpful things I did.

Since starting my qualification, I feel a lot more knowledgeable in my role and basing my assignments on Overgate really allowed me to apply this knowledge in real life instead of learning around fictional based scenarios.

The course really opened my eyes to the marketing world and the importance of marketing in the workplace!

I would recommend the CIM Level 4 course to anyone working in marketing who doesn’t have a formal qualification.

The knowledge you will gain will definitely add value to your role and allow you to progress in the industry.

I would also recommend studying with ICS Learn as the resources available are excellent and the one to one tutor support is a bonus.

Make sure you really take the time to explore the online portal as some of the information and guidelines aren’t in your face obvious, but all the information is there.

Finally, everyone says it, but DON’T leave everything until last minute as there is a lot of work involved.

Find out more about developing your staff through our online professional courses.