Margot Howell in the URN studio
By Margot Howell, BA (Hons) Liberal Arts with Geography and French Studies with year abroad
Hello! My name is Margot, I joined the University of Nottingham in 2019.
Here’s how I turned my biggest hobby during university (Univeristy Radio Nottingham) into my full-time job. I am currently an intern at the UK’s no.1 radio show, Heart Breakfast with Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston!
In my first week
Upon joining the university, I knew I wanted to try something completely new. I always had a passion for media, so when I stumbled on University Radio Nottingham (URN) at the Freshers' Fair during my first year, I knew I had to give it a go.
I began by hosting a weekly daytime entertainment show called It’s Margot Mondays, while also getting heavily involved in Varsity Sport coverage. That year URN also won the title of ‘Best Station’ at the Student Radio Awards, which hugely inspired to take my radio show seriously during my second year of university.
Two years later
Fast forward two years later, and I was beginning a year abroad in Paris, France. My hard work during my second year paid off, as I was nominated for ‘Best Entertainment Programming’ at the Student Radio Awards, receiving the Bronze award overall.
This felt like the turning point for me where I stopped and thought, ‘hang on a sec, I could turn this fun hobby into a job here!’
While in Paris, I joined a student radio station and began a podcast called It’s Margot Mercredis for students thinking of completing a year abroad in Europe. The podcast was a great success, receiving listeners from across the world and another student radio nomination for best podcast programming.
Returning to the UK
When I returned to the U.K after my year in France, I joined my local community station, where I began presenting It’s Margot Middays.
Finally, I reached my final year of university. URN had been undergoing a big renovation while I was away, so I choose to take the committee role of Station Manager, ensuring that URN would make a strong and smooth return to normal broadcasting.
During my final year of URN, I really threw myself into everything, however particularly focused on running events for students to network with industry professionals. It became increasingly clear to me that the media world had no clear path to get into, I felt it was important for students to hear a range of perspectives on how a hobby could be turned into a job.
To the present day
Sure enough, I became incredibly lucky that through my hard work, I was offered an internship as a Heart Breakfast producer, which takes me up to the present day.
So far, I have been working with Heart for just over a month and… I have been loving every second of it!
No day is ever the same and feel very lucky to be working with such an energetic and fun team of people. Meanwhile, I am also growing my radio skillset, learning more about the Zetta software, how to put together a great show as well as all the logistics behind it. I cannot wait to see where this internship takes me in the future.
Find out more about URN and other student societies that could kick-start your future career and talk to an adviser about your ideas and plans. You may also want to read Francesca Montefusco's career insight about gaining media experience through URN.
Posted on Thursday 27th November 2025