By Rhianna Parsons

As I come to the end of my third summer placement with Gilly and the team, I can’t quite believe how far things have come. When I first joined, I was a 16-year-old waiting nervously for my GCSE results — and now, three years later, I’ve just received my A-Level results and finished college with amazing grades. I was also featured in the Express & Star!

I still remember sitting down with Gilly in that very first meeting to explain why I wanted to be part of her team. I’d just started my Business course and thought this placement would be the perfect way to bring my studies to life. Looking back now, I can see how right I was. I went on to take A-Level Art alongside a BTEC Double Business, achieving an A in Art and a double Distinction* (star) in Business. So many of the projects I worked on for college — from presentations and essays to designing marketing campaigns — were skills I had already been developing during my time here.

A note from Gilly Bachelor:

“Rhianna has been an amazing team member and it’s been such a pleasure to watch her grow and develop over the past three years. We’re going to miss her hugely, but we’re absolutely delighted she’s taking this next step into university. And of course, if she ever wants another placement, we’ll welcome her back with open arms. Wishing her the very best of luck in her degree — she’s going to be incredible.”

When I got my results last week, we celebrated with tea and cake at Lazy Days in Brewood. We chatted about everything I’ve learnt over the past two years and how much working alongside the team has shaped my confidence. One of the biggest advantages was simply being exposed to real-world terminology. I’d hear business terms, understand how they worked in practice, and then when they came up in college, I already had the knowledge to write essays and complete assignments more easily.

Now, I’m really excited for the next chapter. I’ve had my university placement confirmed and will be starting my degree in Primary Education next month. I know that so many of the skills I’ve developed here — from organisation and planning to communication and technology — will be invaluable as I take this next step.

Most of all, I want to say a huge thank you to Gilly and the whole team. These three years have given me more than just work experience — they’ve given me confidence, guidance, and inspiration for the future.