Written by Sarah Declaro
Introduction
Sarah Declaro is a 15-year-old student at FICS who chose to complete her work experience at the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) to gain a deeper understanding of how marketing functions within the business environment. Her interest in creative subjects, particularly art, music and writing motivated her to seek a placement where she could apply and develop these skills in a practical setting.
She found the application and interview process clear, straightforward, and welcoming, which helped her feel confident as she prepared for her placement. During her time at FIDC, she enjoyed creating Canva designs and assisting with marketing tasks, allowing her to observe how businesses communicate, manage projects, and apply creativity effectively within their operations.
Experience Overview
A key part of her role involved creating graphics/content using Canva. Throughout the week, she completed three Canva courses to build her skills and understand the platform more deeply. FIDC encourages creativity during the design process, so she had the freedom to experiment with unique styles and layouts. This allowed her to explore her own ideas while learning how design choices influence clarity, engagement, and professionalism. Sarah has scheduled a post for the Business Development Grants which will be live on social media on Monday 1st December.
Beyond design work, she supported the marketing team with content preparation, organising digital materials. And helping with basic editing tasks. She also learned how the corporation tracks performance through metrics and data analysis, which showed her how important statistics are when deciding what works and what needs improvement. The balance between creativity and data helped her appreciate that strategic side of marketing.
During placement, Sarah also gained insight into FIDC’s wider projects, including a tour of Hillside Business Park with Asset/Administrative Co-Ordinator Amy Thorsen. Learning about how this business hub supports local enterprises and how marketing plays a role in presenting these initiatives to the public gave her clearer understanding of the corporation’s impact on the community.
Sarah had the chance to speak with Business Development Officer, James Marsh, about how FIDC support clients throughout business loans, grants, and the process of helping new or growing companies access funding. The conversation gave her a better understanding of how clients are assessed, how applications are reviewed, and how FIDC guides business throughout their development.
While taking part in her work experience activities, she was introduced to the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES!) the team explained how it helps young people build confidence and understand workplace expectations. All of these encouraged her to explore the programme further and deepen her understanding of professional development.
She also spent time reviewing FIDC’s 2023-24 annual report book, which provided insight into the corporation’s achievements, its community impact, and the support it offers to local businesses. In addition to this, she conducted research about the recent shearing competition, looking into how the event was run, how it was promoted, and what information was most useful for marketing. Learning about both financial support and event planning helped her understand the wider impact FIDC has on the community, and how different projects whether business funding or local events connect back to strong communication and effective marketing.
“Work experience at FIDC does not just help the students; it also supports the businesses the corporation works with” says Sarah, “By involving young people in real tasks, FIDC introduces fresh ideas, creativity, and new perspectives into ongoing projects. Students learn valuable skills in communication, problem-solving, and design, while local business benefit from additional support on campaigns, branding, and digital content. Through this partnership with Jane Clarke, Lane McKay, and the whole team, FIDC helps build confidence in young people while strengthening the visibility and professionalism of community businesses.”
Jane Clarke, Marketing & Communications Officer says “Sarah has taken to every task with genuine enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn. She consistently exceeds expectations and continually went above and beyond to demonstrate her skills. Her dedication and drive have been a real asset during her week with us and we wish her all the best with her studies.”
