My name is Nicola Sartini, I am 19 years old and I come from a small city in the province of Rimini, Italy. I study Food Marketing at an ITS in Reggio Emilia and, thanks to the Erasmus programme, I had the opportunity to do a three month traineeship in Belfast, Northern Ireland, with Trainer Christine Watson at Watson & Co. Chartered Marketing. From the beginning, I knew this experience would be special, but I didn’t imagine how much it would change the way I work, learn and relate to people.
My goals at the beginning of the traineeship
I set out to:
WorldHost and certification
One of my proudest moments was successfully completing the WorldHost principles of customer service training course in the Harrison Boutique Hotel. Not only I gain a score of 100% in the assessment, but I also obtained the certificate, which in Italy (and everywhere in the world) is recognised as a guarantee of customer service expertise and commitment to delivering service quality. It is a goal that I will always carry with me and which, I am sure, will open many doors for me.
The people I met
Belfast is not just a city: it’s a place where I found a lot of good people. First of all I want to thank Christine Watson, my Tutor: a tireless professional, with contagious energy and incredible availability for me. It guided me step by step, but it also gave me the freedom to experiment and learn in the field, I also taught her some words in Italian, how to translate pages with a photo on Google translate and make a good strong Italian coffee with a moka pot! I also want to thank Andrea Suma, my Swiss colleague on Erasmus, with whom I shared a month of work, laughter and discoveries. Despite the little time together, we formed a beautiful friendship and we learned from each other too.
Unforgettable places and trips
During my stay, I was fortunate enough to visit Dublin two times and explore lesser-known corners of Northern Ireland. Of all of them, Newcastle will remain in my heart: a city that combines sea and mountains in a breathtaking landscape. From there you can reach the top of Slieve Donard, the highest mountain in the country, to enjoy a breathtaking view. 
I also participated in local events and activities, immersing myself in the cultural life of the city: Belfast Linen Quarter Festival, where together with Andrea we enjoyed artisanal Guinness ice cream (yes a strange flavor, but very good) while listening to live music. An exclusive event at the Slieve Donard Hotel, a 5-star hotel with an elegant atmosphere and incredible views, where we worked as a team to build a proesthetic hand guided by Lightbulb Teams. A workshop at Ulster University held by Christine for Shopping Centres NI, a unique opportunity to see first-hand how high-level professional training is delivered.
What I take home from this experience
Erasmus in Belfast taught me much more than I could have imagined: How to work in an international and dynamic context. How to use technology (AI, Canva, Mailchimp) strategically for marketing. How important adaptability and communication is. And above all, that the most significant experiences arise when you leave your comfort zone. This experience was not just a chapter in my training path: it was a true grounding for life.
Advice for those who want to live and work away from home
If you have the chance to have an experience like this, do it without hesitation. No matter how ready or prepared you feel: you will return with skills, memories and friendships that will accompany you forever. And, as I learned, the best things come when you decide to get 100% involved.
About Me: My name is Nicola, I am 19 years old and I come from a little city in Rimini (Italy). I study Food Marketing at an ITS in Reggio Emilia.
About Erasmus: I have done an Erasmus traineeship in Belfast, Northern Ireland, thanks to a project coordinated by my school. I completed my traineeship at Watson & Co. Chartered Marketing, a business founded by Chartered Marketer Christine Watson.
About Intern Europe: My Erasmus traineeship here in Belfast was coordinated by Intern Europe, an international team passionate about delivering work experiences in Belfast. In cooperation with European partners and local host organisations they organise work placements as part of a culture and language experience.
About Watson & Co. Chartered Marketing, my host employer in Belfast: Watson & Co. Chartered Marketing is a marketing consultancy and training company established by multi-award-winning and industry-experienced Chartered Marketer Christine Watson in April 2005.
- Improve my English, especially my understanding of the Northern Irish accent (spoiler: it’s not always easy!).
- Learn more about Canva to create professional graphic and video content.
- Understand how to write effective prompts for AI and use it as a working tool.
- Manage content plans for the company and customers.
- Improve my photography and video skills for social media marketing.
- Learn to use platforms like Mailchimp for email campaigns and WordPress for website content.
WorldHost and certification
One of my proudest moments was successfully completing the WorldHost principles of customer service training course in the Harrison Boutique Hotel. Not only I gain a score of 100% in the assessment, but I also obtained the certificate, which in Italy (and everywhere in the world) is recognised as a guarantee of customer service expertise and commitment to delivering service quality. It is a goal that I will always carry with me and which, I am sure, will open many doors for me.
The people I met
Belfast is not just a city: it’s a place where I found a lot of good people. First of all I want to thank Christine Watson, my Tutor: a tireless professional, with contagious energy and incredible availability for me. It guided me step by step, but it also gave me the freedom to experiment and learn in the field, I also taught her some words in Italian, how to translate pages with a photo on Google translate and make a good strong Italian coffee with a moka pot! I also want to thank Andrea Suma, my Swiss colleague on Erasmus, with whom I shared a month of work, laughter and discoveries. Despite the little time together, we formed a beautiful friendship and we learned from each other too.
Unforgettable places and trips
During my stay, I was fortunate enough to visit Dublin two times and explore lesser-known corners of Northern Ireland. Of all of them, Newcastle will remain in my heart: a city that combines sea and mountains in a breathtaking landscape. From there you can reach the top of Slieve Donard, the highest mountain in the country, to enjoy a breathtaking view. 
I also participated in local events and activities, immersing myself in the cultural life of the city: Belfast Linen Quarter Festival, where together with Andrea we enjoyed artisanal Guinness ice cream (yes a strange flavor, but very good) while listening to live music. An exclusive event at the Slieve Donard Hotel, a 5-star hotel with an elegant atmosphere and incredible views, where we worked as a team to build a proesthetic hand guided by Lightbulb Teams. A workshop at Ulster University held by Christine for Shopping Centres NI, a unique opportunity to see first-hand how high-level professional training is delivered.
What I take home from this experience
Erasmus in Belfast taught me much more than I could have imagined: How to work in an international and dynamic context. How to use technology (AI, Canva, Mailchimp) strategically for marketing. How important adaptability and communication is. And above all, that the most significant experiences arise when you leave your comfort zone. This experience was not just a chapter in my training path: it was a true grounding for life.
Advice for those who want to live and work away from home
If you have the chance to have an experience like this, do it without hesitation. No matter how ready or prepared you feel: you will return with skills, memories and friendships that will accompany you forever. And, as I learned, the best things come when you decide to get 100% involved.
About Me: My name is Nicola, I am 19 years old and I come from a little city in Rimini (Italy). I study Food Marketing at an ITS in Reggio Emilia.
About Erasmus: I have done an Erasmus traineeship in Belfast, Northern Ireland, thanks to a project coordinated by my school. I completed my traineeship at Watson & Co. Chartered Marketing, a business founded by Chartered Marketer Christine Watson.
About Intern Europe: My Erasmus traineeship here in Belfast was coordinated by Intern Europe, an international team passionate about delivering work experiences in Belfast. In cooperation with European partners and local host organisations they organise work placements as part of a culture and language experience.
About Watson & Co. Chartered Marketing, my host employer in Belfast: Watson & Co. Chartered Marketing is a marketing consultancy and training company established by multi-award-winning and industry-experienced Chartered Marketer Christine Watson in April 2005. 
