Thuksha’s week of work experience at GL11

We recently welcomed Thuksha to GL11 Community Hub for a week of work experience:

During my Year 12 work experience placement, I was warmly welcomed by all the staff, which made the experience really enjoyable and easy to settle into. Ellie took great care of me throughout the week, guiding me through different tasks and making sure I understood everything and took time out of her way to always check in with me and guide me through it all. I had the chance to create posters for various projects, which introduced me to content creation and how marketing plays a key role in promoting ideas and campaigns. I also learnt about project management in depth, where Ellie talked me through the full process using real-life examples like her Long COVID project, explaining the different stages, challenges, and useful tips for managing time, resources, and people effectively. She also explained the hierarchical structure in a workplace, helping me understand how roles and responsibilities are organised and how communication flows within a team.

One of the projects I learned about was an eco-related campaign by Will, which gave me insight into how organisations work on sustainability and environmental awareness. I also had one-to-one Q&A sessions with various departments, including the CEO (Lisa) and one of the Managers (Erin), which gave me a deeper understanding of business functions like operations, management styles, motivation, finance, communication, and the specific duties of each team. I also had a one-to-one session with Owen who taught me about communication, social media, and company brand, and walked me through the creation of the website and how he engages the public through specific marketing. When I met with Jane, Head of Finance, she provided me information about Finance and duties in an organisation. Naomi talked to me about the steps between Sixth Form to University and the World of Work, providing me with advice and knowledge. These sessions helped me see how all parts of a business or organisation come together to achieve their goals.

Every morning, I attended team meetings where I was able to observe how the organisation plans its day, reflects on achievements, and maintains clear communication across the team. It was a great example of how a well-structured workplace encourages collaboration, clarity, and strong professional relationships. Seeing this in action helped me understand the day-to-day running of an organisation and how important effective leadership and teamwork are. I also had the opportunity to sit in on a team meeting, where I observed how the team discussed their plans, shared updates, and worked together to solve problems and keep projects on track.

This whole experience has been especially valuable to me as I’m interested in studying Business Management or Business with Law in the future. Even though this organisation is part of the third sector, I gained a lot of insight into how a different type of organisation operates. Unlike most businesses that focus mainly on profit, charities aim to make a positive impact—while still needing to manage finances and operations effectively in order to sustain their work. This gave me a broader understanding of different business models and how key principles of business like leadership, strategy, marketing, and operations apply across all sectors.