A year ago, I did something that absolutely terrified me. I left behind a career in policing, even though I had big girl responsibilities (mortgage, car, etc.), to start again in an industry I’d only ever admired from the outside. Marketing always felt like magic to me: colour, psychology, and strategy all rolled into one. Throughout this last year, I have learnt a lot about marketing. Still, one of the most impactful things I discovered is that marketing is not just about conversions or clever headlines. It’s about curiosity. The kind that makes you dissect, question, and build something that sticks.
Before S2F, I spent years searching for a career that made sense. From physics and maths to sales engineering in manufacturing, to finally policing. I thought work was meant to be a responsibility, something you did to pay the bills. At some point, I realised I wanted more than survival mode. I wanted to spend my days energised and inspired. When I joined S2F, something clicked. For the first time, I found a place where both sides of my brain, the strategic and the creative, could coexist.
I’ve always loved looking at ads, trying to understand the slogans, pondering the colour choices, and admiring the composition, but I had no idea how much thinking went into them. The process
behind every campaign still fascinates me. The research copywriters do, the strategy sessions,
the little details that make something remembered.
Agency life surprised me in the best way. It’s fast-paced, collaborative, and full of brilliant minds
who care deeply about what they do. I’ve learned that you can be assertive without being unkind,
that collaboration is the backbone of creativity, and that every great idea starts with one simple
principle: be curious.
This first year has been a crash course in growth, both in marketing and in mindset.
I’ve learned that quality always beats quantity. Two well-thought-out campaigns, built on strategy
and insight, will outperform five rushed ones any day. I’ve also learned that marketing is a
machine where timing is everything, even down to when you hit “schedule” on an email marketing
campaign or social media posts. Marketing is a science. A fun one too.
And perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned that it’s okay to have a voice. You can lead with
kindness and still stand your ground – something I like to call “bossy boots diplomacy.”
One of the best parts of this job is the range of clients I get to work with. Every project is a new
world to explore. From the technical precision of Muller and Arrow to the engineering excellence
of Landon Kingsway and Corbetts. Each one challenges me to learn, research and write with both
accuracy and energy.
One standout project has been our most recent and still ongoing five-part campaign for Landon
Kingsway. They initially requested a single piece of a key product. But we saw the potential. We
pitched a series, each highlighting a different benefit and positioning them as the leader in their
space. They loved it, and watching that campaign come to life has been incredibly rewarding.
And then there are the psychology and emotional marketing pieces, which speak to the part of
me that still loves to break down why people connect with things. It’s those projects that remind
me how much thought leadership matters, not just for us, but for every client we help to build
authority in their field.
Something I have noticed, both when working at other companies and now that I am at S2F, is that,
for a lot of people, outsourcing marketing can feel like a leap of faith. However, UK data shows
that 62% of SMEs now outsource at least part of their marketing function, citing access to
expertise and cost-efficiency as the main drivers (2024 UK Marketing Trends Report). S2F is
exactly the kind of strategic partner these businesses, and the remaining 38%, need.
Our clients gain a full team of strategists, copywriters, designers, videographers, and web
developers, a combination that would be prohibitively expensive in-house. They avoid burnout,
stress, and the guesswork that comes from trying to do it all themselves.
We approach every campaign strategically, combining research, data, and creativity. For example,
in the manufacturing sector, timing and precision matter, both in production and in marketing.
Campaigns must hit the right audience with the right message at the right time. Our structured
approach ensures they do.
Across all sectors, whether B2B, engineering, or professional services, our goal is consistent. We
help clients to be seen, remembered, and respected; and we do it while making sure the journey
is collaborative, insightful, and fun.
At its heart, S2F is built on one simple philosophy:
Look after the client, and success will look after itself.
That ethos is what makes us different. We care. We care about the details, about the process, and
about the people behind every brief. Our clients know that outsourcing marketing doesn’t mean
losing control; it means gaining a strategic partner that genuinely cares and invests in their
business. It’s a collaboration, not a delegation.
And the best part isn’t how talented everyone is, it is how amazing they are as individuals. Every
day, I feel lucky to be part of this team. The communication, the support, the shared drive… It’s
what makes S2F such a special place to grow.
There have been moments of doubt – imposter syndrome loves to make itself comfortable – but
every time I question whether I’m doing enough, I remind myself that I’m learning, contributing,
and growing.
Being trusted to help manage S2F’s own marketing alongside Sam was a huge moment for me. It
felt like trust, like belonging, like proof that I’m on the right path.
If my first year has taught me anything, it’s that career changes don’t have to be linear; they just
have to be true. And while there will always be ups and downs, the overall direction is steady and
clear. As we say in marketing terms, it’s an upward trend.
So I look forward to further curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and helping more businesses
discover that S2F might just be the answer they’ve been looking for.
If you want campaigns that result in an upward trend, let’s talk.
If you want more articles like this, follow S2F Marketing on LinkedIn.
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!
Andrea Gardia
Content Creator
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