Written by Emma Ward, Business Teacher at Shrewsbury College
As part of the Industry Insight Programme, I had the chance to spend two days with the brilliant team at Start 2 Finish Marketing and it honestly opened my eyes to how fast-paced, creative, and people-focused the world of marketing really is.
I started my Industry Insight Programme placement with Warren, the company’s Managing Director, who shared his journey from education into running his own business. His key message really stayed with me: “Look after your customers, and success will look after itself.”
But what struck me most was hearing Warren talk about his experience growing up with dyslexia. He spoke openly about the challenges he faced at a time when dyslexia wasn’t recognised in schools or the workplace.
As someone with dyslexia myself, I could really relate and I’ll be sharing his story with my students as a powerful reminder that grit, resilience, and hard work matter more than any label.
Later, I met with Kerst, an Account Manager, who walked me through some campaign examples and introduced me to DashThis — a clever tool they use for data analytics. Then came Leigh and Antonio, who gave me a crash course on AI. I’ve never been the biggest fan of AI, especially in education, but we talked about how it can enhance creativity rather than replace it. That conversation helped ease some of my own doubts and reminded me that understanding AI is far better than fearing it.
The next day kicked off with Satitia, who has been in marketing for 15 years. As a mum myself, I loved her honesty about balancing career and family life. Her colour-coded calendar showed me how thoughtful planning can bring calm to even the busiest schedule. We also had a brilliant chat about people management and how truly understanding your customers is the key to giving them exactly what they need.
Next up was Andrea. What began as a conversation about social media strategy quickly turned into a deeper chat about life, resilience, and how creativity so often comes from lived experience.
After that, I spent time with Shawn and Kirendeep from the design team, a dynamic duo who reminded me that creativity doesn’t follow a set formula. It’s about instinct, emotion, and connection, a perfect reminder that trusting your gut often leads to the best results.
My final meetings were with Richard and Sam. Richard shared practical advice on guiding students through the full marketing process from start to finish, along with real-life examples I’ll definitely be bringing into my lessons.
And then there was Sam, who deserves a massive thank you for arranging the placement and introducing me to the team. Sam was my go-to throughout the two days, always on hand to keep me in the loop. We wrapped things up with a chat on copywriting, SEO, and how those elements fit into his role — insights I can’t wait to share with my learners.
These two days were packed with inspiring conversations and lessons from some seriously talented people. What really stuck with me is how none of their career journeys were straightforward and that’s exactly the message I want to pass on to my students. Success isn’t about following a set path; it’s about showing up, staying curious, and learning from everyone around you.
A huge thank you to the whole team at Start 2 Finish Marketing for being so open, honest, and welcoming. You didn’t just give me industry insights; you gave me stories, inspiration, and lessons I’ll carry forward into the classroom.
Emma Ward – T-Level Associate Examiner &Business Teacher at Shrewsbury College