THE Dream Placement Scheme, run by Cumbria's Centre for Leadership and Performance, will launch this week for its 10th year.

With this in mind, we have asked Times & Star chief reporter Bridget Dempsey to recall her time on the scheme and how it helped her achieve a place in our business...

I took part in the Centre for Leadership and Performance's Dream Placement scheme back in 2017, whilst I was in my first year of sixth form at Keswick.

Growing up in Workington I had always known about the Times & Star and read it when my parents and grandparents bought it once a week, but never really thought about how the paper was put together.

I went to the Dream Placement day at Carlisle Football Club and by chance got a slot with CN Group when someone had left at dinnertime, something which I am now convinced might have been fate.

I had always been nosy, liked to talk to people and had a strong interest in current affairs, but had never really thought about a career in journalism.

Previous to the scheme I had considered being a lawyer and went in to the CN Group placement thinking that the scheme would be something good to put on my CV.

I did a week in the commercial department on Dalston Road, but was given the opportunity to go into the newsroom and see how the editorial department worked at various points in the week - this is when I think the initial interest was triggered and the rest is history.

I feel extremely lucky to be able to work in my 'dream placement' full time and especially to have the role I do on my local title.

I am very proud of Cumbria and especially Workington, the town I was born and raised in, so feel a great sense of responsibilty and honour being able to report on our traditions such as the Uppies and Downies and share the stories of the people who make our county the best there is.

I hope I can continue to share and, I would like to think, promote our people's stories for many years to come.