Hear from Kayla Manga, who spent a week with our communications team, gaining insight into the community business sector and the impact of Plunkett’s support.
Work experience at Plunkett was one of the most insightful experiences I have ever had. Not only did it give me the opportunity to ease myself into the world of work, but it also allowed me to develop invaluable skills that I will carry with me throughout my life.
I am currently studying media as one of my A-levels at sixth form, and I plan to pursue a media-related degree at university once I finish next year. Because of this, I was grateful for the opportunity to work in Plunkett’s communications department. The experience gave me a genuine glimpse into what my future career in media could one day look like.
My first task was to write a press release about Minety Community Shop, Wiltshire. As journalism has always been a key interest of mine, I was thrilled to have the chance to practice and refine my journalistic skills. Although I had never written a press release before, the Plunkett team supported me and helped me feel confident in my writing and ability to communicate a story effectively. I was really pleased with how the press release turned out and incredibly grateful to the team for trusting me with the opportunity.
Kayla outside Plunkett HQ, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
In addition, Michael Wolverson, Communications Officer at Plunkett, gave me the responsibility of creating a Canva post for Plunkett’s Instagram. A task I enjoyed because it allowed me to express myself artistically whilst developing my skills in digital marketing, an area that fascinates me.
When I first read Plunkett’s 2025 Impact Report, I was genuinely struck by the difference this charity makes. As the only organisation dedicated to supporting rural community-owned businesses across the UK, their work is both unique and vital. The report gave me a clear insight into how their support helps communities take ownership of essential local assets and transform them into places that have a profound impact on local people.
During my placement, I was given the task of writing interview questions for community shops that had once received Plunkett UK awards. The aim was to understand how these community-owned businesses are doing now, in order to update their case studies on the website. Through this project, I was able to speak with some of the shops directly, gaining valuable insight into how they operate and continue to thrive. It was a privilege to learn more about what it takes for a community to own and run a business, and I was grateful to have had the chance to communicate with the shops myself.
One thing I really appreciated about my placement at Plunkett was how personalised the whole experience was. Every task was chosen with my career goals in mind, ensuring that the work I did genuinely helped me prepare for my desired field. On my final day, I had a one-to-one guidance session with David Lydiat, Head of External Affairs, who kindly reviewed my CV and gave me tips on how I could improve it to stand out to future employers. This consultation encouraged me to think carefully about the career path I want to pursue and the steps I need to take to get there.
Overall, my week at Plunkett UK was an experience I will always value greatly. It helped me better understand what a career in communications could look like, and has made me even more excited about my future, and gave me memories I will never forget.
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