Tallulah: My First Week at Firestarter

So, tell us about yourself — what are your passions, interests, or hobbies outside of work?

In my spare time, I am often doing something creative – whether its painting, crocheting, sewing, or making music. Having a creative outlet is particularly important to me, I find it helps me wind down from the day and process my thoughts and feelings. As well as this, I enjoy reading. I am currently working my way through the sci-fi, space opera series The Expanse.

What’s one fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t expect?

One fun fact about me is that I am very interested in mythology and folklore. Most of my projects throughout my art degree were based around mythology in some way. My final project explored a combination of Greek, Norse, and Egyptian mythology and the way in which their afterlife journey has been depicted in art. I also read and research a lot of local folklore in my spare time, especially since moving to Worcestershire, as the Malvern area has such a rich and fascinating history.

What originally got you interested in marketing as a career?

In college, I completed an A-Level in Media Studies, in which I learned a lot about different marketing techniques and means of media production. I found this course to be interesting, learning about the behind-the-scenes of the media we consume is fascinating. During my final year at university, one of my modules focused on marketing yourself as an artist. In this module, I learned a lot more about marketing: I studied the way other modern artists were marketing themselves and used this to develop my website and social media platforms and studied the analytics they produced.

Was there a particular moment, project, or inspiration that made you choose the digital marketing route?

The marketing module I took in my final year of my degree reminded me of how much I enjoyed the A-Level Media Studies course I had completed in college. The main project that inspired me to explore a digital marketing career was creating my own website. While it was only basic, I enjoyed being able to explore the analytics it provided.

What are you most excited to learn or develop during your apprenticeship at Firestarter?

During my apprenticeship with Firestarter, I am looking forward to learning more about the analytical side of marketing. Since my previous courses have been focused on the graphics and media part, I think it will be interesting to learn how it all operates at a deeper level.

Do you have any early career goals within digital marketing or the wider business world?

My main early career goals are to build foundational skills that will be there for me throughout my career. As well as establishing a reputation for reliability and earning my degree in Digital Marketing.

What attracted you to Firestarter and our approach to helping businesses grow their sales?

Initially, the size of the team at Firestarter is what attracted me. I prefer working within a smaller team of people, I find it is easier to become familiar with them and how each individual works, which helps with communicating and working as a team.  Another aspect that attracted me to Firestarter is their strong values; they make sure the businesses they are taking on as clients align with their morals and values.

What would you say are your strengths?

I would say my key strengths would be working in a team, multitasking, and communication. I am able to see from other people’s perspectives and take on their views and opinions to form my own. I also prefer to have multiple projects on the go; I find it helps me not get stuck or tired with a project because I can move from one to another.

Where do you hope this apprenticeship will take you in the next 1-3 years?

By the one-year mark, I would like to be comfortable in my position and my knowledge of digital marketing. I have no doubt this will be achieved, given the amount of support I have received so far. By the end of my apprenticeship, in three years, I hope to be deeply knowledgeable in digital marketing and have taken on more responsibilities within my role. I also hope to be progressing within the company after my studies have ended.

The End of My First Week

Now that my first week has come to an end, I can say I have thoroughly enjoyed it. Meeting the team was the highlight of my first week. Everyone was welcoming and supportive and they have all helped me settle into my role. Much of this first week has been spent on getting to know Firestarter’s systems, exploring the different tools and processes the team uses every day, and understanding how everything connects behind the scenes. As I’ve worked through the onboarding tasks, I’ve begun to see how my role fits into the wider team and how the work I will be doing will support ongoing projects.

Overall, my first week has solidified how excited I am to be here and how much I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. It has left me feeling inspired, supported and enthusiastic for what’s ahead. The welcoming atmosphere, the engaging work, and the sense of collaboration across the office have all reassured me that Firestarter is a place where I can grow, develop new skills, and make a meaningful impact. I am genuinely looking forward to the journey ahead and the opportunities that the coming weeks will bring.