Imogen’s work experience at Holkham

August 13, 2026 | Learning | 4 minute read

My name is Imogen and I am a Year 12 student at Fakenham Sixth Form and I’m studying A-levels in Sociology, Business studies and Biology. During my 2 weeks of work experience (7^th July till 17^th July 2026) here at Holkham I had the opportunity to spend time in the gift shop, visitor reception, with the education team and mostly with Alex, the Director of People and Culture. As soon as I arrived on Tuesday, I felt so welcomed by every member of staff I spoke to, everyone had a smile on their face and they were all very lovely people, which really helped me settle in!

I chose to do my work experience with Alex as I have always been interested in how people and businesses work together and as someone who enjoys studying both business and sociology, I was excited to learn how a large organisation like Holkham supports its staff, visitors and the local community.

During my 2 weeks, I spent time with the education team where I helped deliver activities at Wells beach and in the pinewoods where the children explored nature through bug hunting, making their own sea creatures out of shells and making woodland creatures from clay.

I also visited the gift shop and visitor reception which gave me a wider understanding of how the different departments work together to create a positive experience for the visitors.

For the majority of my time, I was with Alex where I learnt more about recruitment and how employees can be supported in the workplace. One of the highlights was sitting in on interviews, looking through CVs and learning how interview questions are planned. It was fascinating to see the recruitment process from the interviewer’s perspective and understand what employers look for in candidates.

Another memorable part of my placement was touring some of Holkham’s properties and farms. Seeing the variety of the estate helped me understand how many different areas of the business there actually is and how they all work together. During this tour I got to learn about Holkham’s approach to sustainability through a discussion with the sustainability manager! This helped me acknowledge how environmental responsibility is considered alongside the day-to-day running of the estate.  One thing that surprised me was how much I enjoyed learning about the wider operation of the estate, particularly sustainability and how environmental considerations influence business decisions. It showed me how subjects like business studies and sociology connect to real work places, strengthening my interest in understanding how organisations balance social, environmental and commercial responsibilities!

My favourite part of my work experience was sitting in on interviews with Alex. Before this experience I had never considered everything that goes into recruiting new staff. It was really interesting to see how each interview was different, even though all candidates were applying for the same role. It gave me a much better understanding of how employers assess skills, personality and experience.

Before my placement, I knew I was very interested and passionate in business studies and sociology, but spending time with Alex confirmed that I enjoy understanding how organisations operate behind the scenes. Sitting in on interviews, reviewing CVs and learning about the recruitment process gave me an insight into how employers make decisions and support their staff. I particularly enjoyed learning about recruitment and the wider management of the estate as these link closely with what I study in business and sociology. Overall, the placement encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone, ask questions and get involved, whilst helping me think more about the types of careers I might enjoy in the future.

I would definitely recommend completing work experience at Holkham. Everyone was welcoming and happy to answer questions, and I was trusted to get involved with a wide variety of activities rather than just observing. It gave me a real insight into how different departments work together and has helped me develop new skills while exploring possible future careers. Even if you’re not completely sure what career you want, doing work experience at Holkham will allow you come away having learnt something valuable.

I would like to thank everyone at Holkham who took the time to support me during my work experience. I really appreciated how welcoming everyone was and how willing they were to share their knowledge and experiences. It was a fantastic opportunity that has given me a greater understanding of the workplace and will stay with me as I consider my future career!