Having recently completed an internship at S2F Marketing, I can honestly say it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my university journey so far. From day one, I was trusted to contribute to real projects, sit in on creative discussions, and see first-hand how a full-service agency brings ideas to life.
The team made sure I wasn’t watching from the sidelines: I was learning, experimenting, and growing every day.
Being a final-year student at university comes with pressure to build up your CV, ideally with one or two internships before entering the world of work. At times, it even feels like employers want graduates to have three or four years of experience before being considered, which for me would have meant graduating from secondary school.
Internships often get a reputation for being mundane or bottom-of-the-barrel work. I know peers who have spent a year at prestigious global brands only to end up photocopying for months. While I know everyone has to do their share of admin at some point, I was determined to find an internship that would give me more than just printer duty; I wanted to learn skills I could put straight into my toolbelt.
Under the supervision of Andrea and the S2F team, I’ve learned skills that many year-long placements don’t even touch. It’s been intense, packing so much into a short month, but I now have a clear sense of what employers are looking for.
From the first week, I hit the ground running. I watched the team handle client feedback, got involved in data merging, and quickly developed a solid understanding of how a marketing agency operates. Keeping data up to date turned out to be critical, especially for email marketing campaigns.
It wasn’t all numbers and spreadsheets. I got to showcase my research skills while working on my end-of-placement deliverable: a marketing analysis report for S2F. I also expanded my creative toolkit. With prior experience in Canva, I dived into Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator for the first time. After some trial, error, and guidance from colleagues, I delivered assets ranging from e-shots to static cards and carousels.
A key part of my placement was producing a video on SEO, positioning S2F as a thought leader. I applied my university research skills to create content that educates and engages clients. Planning, scripting, and recording the video also gave me a chance to refine my presentation skills while collaborating with Warren and the team.
Throughout the internship, my days alternated between research and creative work. One morning, I’d be analysing market data and competitor strategies; the next, I’d be designing visuals or planning content. By the second half of the placement, I was balancing creative projects with heavier research, constantly moving between strategy, data, and design. It was a fast-paced switch-up, and I loved it that way.
In my final week, I brought together all the research I had been conducting into a comprehensive report and presentation. While creating a report for an actual business was daunting, treating it like a university assignment helped guide me.
Presenting was a confidence boost. The questions I was asked required quick thinking, and I realised how much I’d grown in terms of handling feedback and thinking on my feet. Andrea consistently challenged me with the golden question: “Why?”, something I hadn’t experienced at university, where feedback is often limited to a grade. This made the internship feel like an intensive extra module condensed into a month.
The internship wasn’t just about learning new tools; it was about understanding how an agency functions day-to-day, how research feeds into campaigns, and how design and content link back to strategy. I came in seeking experience for my CV, but I left with so much more: confidence that I can succeed in a real-world marketing environment.
Every day pushed me in new directions, sometimes completely out of my depth, but that’s where most of the learning happened. I’ve come away with new skills, industry experience, and a strong understanding of how a marketing agency ticks. Most importantly, I left knowing I can hold my own, and I didn’t once have to visit the photocopier!
I’m incredibly grateful to the team, and especially Andrea, for structuring the internship and guiding me patiently through the S2F ways.
We believe the best way to learn is by doing. Our interns get hands-on experience in real client projects — from researching and writing to campaign planning and creative execution. No photocopying marathons here.
At S2F we understand the importance of adaptability. We are more than happy to discuss each individual case and work around the student’s availability and/or university schedule.
Not at all. What matters most to us is curiosity, initiative, and a genuine interest in marketing. We’ll teach you the rest.
Interns leave S2F with a strong grounding in strategy, copywriting, creative thinking, and digital marketing. You’ll also gain real insight into how agencies work. Everything from client communication to campaign delivery.
Absolutely. We may post internship opportunities on our website and LinkedIn page throughout the year. Keep an eye out! Alternatively, you can also drop us a message!
To request our services, you can email us at info@s2fmarketing.co.uk or call us on 0121 607 1908. And to keep up with the latest news and events from S2F and the team, you can follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!
Tom Manion
Tom is a final-year student at Henley Business School, studying Business Management and Marketing. He also represents his school as an affiliate of The Chartered Institute of Marketing. A well-rounded individual with experience at the House of Commons, campaign management, and content creation, Tom joined S2F for his second internship of the summer. After university, he hopes to continue developing his marketing career and put his hands-on industry experience into practice.