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Date 19th February 2026
All information is accurate at the time of publication. Please check individual course pages for the most up-to-date information.
What are placements really like? We caught up with one of our current BA (Hons) Marketing & Communication for Fashion students, Madison Grant, to hear all about her placement with Oliver Bonas! From insights into what a placement is really like, to a look inside her journey and key takeaways, Madison dives deep into her experience.
When we asked Madison how she secured her placement, she shared:
I secured my placement with Oliver Bonas through my mentor that I was given from the FRA in my first year of the undergraduate degree. She works there as a Performance Marketing Manager. We agreed on two days as I couldn't take time away from work but I was happy to take any opportunity I could get!
During her time with Oliver Bonas, Madison got hands-on experience with a range of marketing activities:
I was introduced to the majority of their marketing team. I started by shadowing Katie (my mentor) and she spoke me through her job role, where she focuses on paid socials and showed me the tools they use to track consumer behaviour etc. I researched their consumers' paid ads and creating ideas for Oliver Bonas to think about for their paid ad strategy. I also assisted on organic socials by dissecting the top and bottom performing posts on their Instagram to assess where the brand can improve for the new year.
Katie's manager did a session with me on customer journeys as I mentioned I was focusing on that in one of my last projects on Consumer Behaviour. She showed me the tools OB use. The lady who worked on campaigns highlighted how they prepare for upcoming drops and showed how the whole team collaborates on creating the marketing for these drops! It was great to see how everyone in the team contributed their own piece. Lastly, I sat in on meetings, which was a great experience for getting used to being in a professional workplace.
At the FRA, all our undergraduate degrees include a work placement. We believe it’s the best way to give students with real experience and a feel for the industry.
Madison shared her highlights and key takeaways:
A highlight and key takeaway of my experience included gaining insights into what path I would like to take in marketing when I leave the FRA. The placement at Oliver Bonas gave me some clarity on the type of role I would enjoy! Therefore, I am thankful for how accommodating the team was.
Reflecting on benefits of placements, she added:
I would say placements are beneficial for students as they allow them to experience a short glimpse of the working environment and are a great way to get a feel of the type of role they are looking towards. They can help solidify decisions on future roles and also boost confidence in yourself!
Madison also talked us through her academic journey so far, from Level 4 Fashion Retail with Marketing to BA (Hons) Marketing & Communication for Fashion:
I started at the FRA doing Level 4 Fashion Marketing for a year and it really helped me establish a good understanding of the basics of marketing and gave me some friends for life! I felt comfortable at the FRA and knew I wasn't totally ready for the working world just yet and therefore continued on the Marketing degree. This accelerated degree was a perfect fit for me as I didn't feel I would be behind as the course is condensed into two years and the modules have built on my knowledge from Level 4.
Placements give you a real insight into the industry, hands-on experience, and the confidence to plan their career path - just like Madison discovered at Oliver Bonas. Do you want to gain real industry skills? Explore our undergraduate degrees.
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