Four young creatives have just completed a month-long internship with Stoke-based agency i-creation as part of the ‘Best Summer Job Ever!’.
The scheme – a partnership between i-creation, The Challenger Academy and Lesniak Swann, returned after great success last year and 19 young people were offered paid placements.
Here, the four from i-creation reflect on what they learnt and where they hope their careers will take them.
Holly Martella
“A few years ago, I took a leap of faith and decided to study Media and Communications at Keele University. With no prior experience in the field, I immersed myself in the world of multimedia.
“Fast forward two years and I’ve built a portfolio of work ranging from graphics to short documentaries. Life quickly became full of event planning, magazine spreads, and content creation – only fuelling my desire to learn and grow within the industry.
“I’m thrilled to have gotten my foot in the creative industry’s door for an internship with i-creation this summer. The internship not only exposed me to real-world scenarios, giving me the opportunity to work on live campaigns for clients, but also to the team’s wide-ranging expertise in journalism, marketing, videography, and design. In only four weeks, I’ve absorbed a range of knowledge working alongside the other interns – combining our disciplines to create content for digital platforms and produce work in response to client briefs.
“Leaving the experience, I’ve gained a greater sense of direction regarding creative careers and look forward to taking my skills in idea generation and creative production further.
“In the run up to my 2026 graduation, I’m excited to continue working on both personal and professional projects, eager to partake in any opportunity that comes my way.”
Thania Rasool
“I’ve recently graduated from the University of Staffordshire in Graphic Design BA,
and I’m also a published children’s book author. I’m eager to make a mark in the creative industry, particularly in advertising, marketing, and social media.
“This summer’s internship at i-creation has been invaluable, allowing me to develop creative strategies and build character. I’ve really enjoyed contributing to team projects and forming connections with my other fellow interns.
“Now that the internship has wrapped up, I’m looking to jump into a full-time role in the industry and team up with agencies. I’m excited to bring my own flair to different brands and work in a fun, supportive atmosphere.”
Lara Costa
“I have just completed my Level 3 Media qualification at Stoke-on-Trent College, and I’m eagerly looking to take the next steps in my creative journey. My studies at college have helped me build a portfolio that showcases my skills and knowledge in graphic design, film, video editing, 3D modelling, and animation.
“With this variety of knowledge, I’ve found it difficult to choose one specific subject path to follow to make my mark in the creative industry. However, my internship at i-creation has given me the opportunity to experiment with my skills, whilst gaining valuable knowledge and discovering new passions along the way. Being able to work alongside industry professionals, and other aspiring creatives, has been extremely beneficial in growing my confidence as an individual, but it has also encouraged me to push myself and my skills to the next level.
“As someone who loves to seek out any opportunity to learn something new, I’ve been extremely grateful that the team at i-creation have given me immense support
to explore my numerous areas of interest. Not only have I been able to learn from the incredibly gifted team at i-creation, but I have also received invaluable advice from the other interns who have encouraged me to embrace unconventional and unique ways of approaching and completing creative briefs.
“Now the internship has ended, I find myself in the lucky position of being able to add so many exciting projects to my portfolio as I start thinking about my next steps.
“I’m interested in taking on more work experience or similar internships to grow my portfolio, but most importantly find an area of interest that I want to specialise in and start my professional career in the creative industry.”
Tom Millington
“I’m a first-class honours graduate in film production from the University of Staffordshire. I am an aspiring videographer with interests in content creation and digital marketing.
“My internship with i-creation has been one of the most enriching educational experiences of my life. Not only has it been a place that has allowed me to flex my videography skills on a couple of shoots the team presented to me, but it has also enabled me to work on various live projects across a range of creative disciplines.
“On a personal level, getting a feel of office life and soaking in info from the array of talented and professional creatives that work within this space, not just the i-creation team, but also the interns, I am proud to be learning and working alongside.
“Post internship, I am looking to work within the creative sector – of course, videography, but also if I get a chance to work with elements of ideas generation/marketing, then that would be ace!”
