Christy Orr, Business Management Student

As part of my Business Management degree at Edinburgh Napier University, I’ve spent the last five months on placement here at Balcaskie, although in many ways, it didn’t feel like arriving somewhere completely new. Having worked at the Bowhouse Market Weekends for the past three and a half years I already knew the pace, the people, and the buzz that comes with it all. Even so, stepping into a placement role opened up a whole different side of the estate for me, it’s been an experience I’ll always be grateful for.

Much of my time has been spent based in the office, getting to grips with the behind‑the‑scenes workings of Bowhouse and the wider Balcaskie business. From budgets to audits, reports to event concept planning, I’ve learned just how much thought and coordination goes into making everything run smoothly. I’ve particularly enjoyed working on social media and communications, looking at how Bowhouse, Balcaskie and the Butchery tell their stories, and figuring out how those stories are best shared.

One of the things I’ve loved most about this placement is that no two days have looked the same. One minute I might be working on a project with Playfair’s Consultancy, the next I’d be helping prepare for markets, prepping Grass to Grill tours or heading out around the estate to gather content, usually alongside Lucy, my fellow placement student and trusty side kick! A real standout moment was being involved in a RHET day for 120 local schoolchildren, teaching them about farming and where their food comes from. A busy but rewarding day that really highlighted the role Balcaskie plays in the local community.

Sustainability has been another big theme throughout my time here. I’ve been involved in exploring and implementing more sustainable practices as Bowhouse works towards progressing from its current Green Tourism Bronze award to Silver and Gold. Alongside this, setting up a Balcaskie Freecycle page to help divert waste generated from ending up in landfill, felt like a small but meaningful step in the right direction and something I loved being involved in.

I’ve also been given plenty of opportunities to develop practical skills along the way – whether through training, learning everyday business processes, or taking part in things I never expected, like a lamb breakdown with the butchery, a headshot photoshoot with Tim at East Neuk Studios or delivering a presentation to fantastic group from Fife Climate-Friendly Tourism Forum.

 

All in all, this placement has been invaluable in building my confidence and developing skills that I know I’ll carry forward into whatever comes next. Balcaskie has given me the chance to learn, to get stuck in, and to be part of a team that genuinely cares about what it does.

Finally, I’d like to thank everyone at Balcaskie for making me feel so welcome throughout my placement. Sam, Kylie and the rest of the team were incredibly supportive, and even in a relatively short space of time, I really felt like part of the team. They’re a huge part of what has made my time here so enjoyable and why this is a chapter I’ll look back on very fondly.