Empowering Young People through Meaningful Experience

Work experience at BX Merchandise with Southfields Academy

At BX Merchandise, we have always believed that work experience should feel exciting, hands on and genuinely useful. It is not about making tea or sitting on the sidelines, it is about giving young people a real taste of the working world and helping them discover skills they did not even know they had. As a woman owned and diverse business rooted in Brixton since 2007, creating accessible pathways into the creative industry is a core part of who we are. We want local young people to feel seen, supported and able to imagine themselves in careers they may never have considered.

Our ongoing partnership with Southfields Academy is one of the ways we make this happen. For over three years, we have welcomed students who are curious, ambitious and ready to get stuck in. Every placement is designed to show them the real BX experience, from sustainability and ethical sourcing to creativity, teamwork and the fast-paced rhythm of agency life.

When students step into our HQ, they walk into a buzzing, energetic space where ideas move quickly and everyone is encouraged to learn by doing. We show them how each department connects, introduce them to the tools and processes behind the scenes and get them involved from day one. Whether it is logistics, design, account management or creative communication, we want them to see the bigger picture and understand how their work fits into the full journey from concept to delivery.

This year, we welcomed Clarence, who jumped straight into the experience with energy, curiosity and a willingness to try everything we put in front of him.

Getting started

From the moment students step through our doors, they are welcomed into the team just like any new starter. We show them around the workspace, introduce each department and walk them through the tools that bring our operations to life. After the usual health and safety bits, they are straight into real tasks, giving them an immediate sense of purpose and belonging.

We always begin with a guided tour across logistics, account management, sourcing, design and client services. This helps students see how everything connects, how each team contributes and why attention to detail matters at every stage.

Learning the foundations

One of the first tasks students usually support is adding new products to our website. It is a great introduction to accuracy, structure and organisation. They learn how to upload correct information, choose suitable imagery and maintain a clean layout that clients rely on. Alongside this, they spend time with our logistics team, helping manage deliveries, learning about stock movement and seeing how coordination keeps orders running smoothly.

These early tasks are intentionally practical. They teach students that even the smallest actions are essential in delivering a reliable service.

Exploring creativity

We also bring students into our creative process early on. This often includes supporting digital newsletters or client communications, where they explore tone of voice, visual layout and the way brands adapt their messages for different audiences. At BX, creativity is never just about making something look good. It is about clarity, impact and understanding a clients brand identity. This helps students see how strategic thinking shapes every project we deliver.

Here is Clarence’s reflection on his work experience placement, sharing the week from his own perspective.

My Week at BX Merchandise

By Clarence

To start of the day, I arrived at 9:00am and began by meeting the team, who showed me around the office, what I would be doing, and pointed out the fire exits. This helped me settle in quickly and feel more comfortable within the workspace.

Most of my day was spent working on newsletters, packaging boxes, sending deliveries, and adding products to the website. I also had the opportunity to observe how products are prepared and dispatched to clients and partner companies, which gave me a clearer understanding of the behind the scenes operations.

One of the most interesting parts of the day was creating a newsletter for one of our clients. It pushed me to think creatively and taught me how to communicate effectively in a digital format. I worked closely with Paulina, who guided me through creating quotes for clients and putting together product slides that included key details such as dimensions, colours, and pricing. Her advice gave me valuable insight into how the industry works.

I did face a challenge while making the newsletter, as my technological skills aren’t the strongest. However, by asking questions and taking my time, I managed to complete it, and it turned into a great learning experience.

The highlight of my day was preparing and sending packages to clients. Checking the quality and quantity of products to ensure everything met the highest standard was something I had never done before, and it reminded me why I was excited to start this placement in the first place.

Building confidence through collaboration

Throughout their time with us, students work closely with different members of the team. They learn how to put together professional quotes, client ready product slides and well-structured presentations. As part of this, they also gain valuable communication experience, answering phone calls, and passing them to the right team member, as well as calling suppliers directly to request quotes or gather product information. These tasks show how design, product detail, layout, communication and cost all come together to tell a clear story. With support and guidance, students build confidence using the software, tools and interpersonal skills that our team relies on every day.

Where everything clicks

Towards the end of the week, students get involved in quality control and final shipment checks. This is the moment where everything finally clicks. They see the full journey from the initial concept and design, through sourcing and logistics, right up to final packaging and client delivery. It teaches responsibility, precision and pride in producing work that represents both our standards and our clients’ expectations.

Building futures through real opportunity

Clarence’s week with us is exactly why we put so much value on work experience. Through hands‑on learning, real responsibilities and genuine involvement, he developed new digital skills, built confidence and began to see how different parts of the industry connect. Alongside creative tasks and project work, he also gained essential communication experience, answering client calls, taking down enquiry details clearly and passing them to the right team member, as well as contacting suppliers directly to gather quotes and product information. These real‑world interactions helped him understand the importance of accuracy, professionalism and teamwork. Watching young people discover their strengths is one of the most rewarding parts of our work, and Clarence embraced every challenge with real enthusiasm.

Supporting young people sits at the heart of our mission as a woman owned and diverse Brixton based business. Our partnership with Southfields Academy, combined with our long-standing apprenticeship programme, donations to local schools, support for the Brixton Foodbank and commitment to ethical and sustainable practices, reflects our dedication to giving back and creating meaningful pathways into the creative industry.

We are incredibly proud of Clarence and the growth he showed throughout his placement. We cannot wait to see what he does next, and we look forward to welcoming more Southfields Academy students into our HQ as we continue building an inclusive, creative and opportunity led future for the next generation.