Meet Annabelle

What's it really like to complete work experience at Hillsgreen? Marketing student Annabelle Warburton shares what she got up to during her week with the team, from researching influencers and creating social media ideas to taking part in a brand workshop and visiting a working dairy farm.

My Week of Work Experience at Hillsgreen

As a first-year Marketing student at Lancaster University, I was really excited to spend a week with the team at Hillsgreen and see what it’s like to work at a specialist marketing agency.

The week gave me the chance to combine my passion for agriculture with the marketing skills I’m learning at university, while gaining valuable experience in an industry I hope to work in one day.

Why Hillsgreen?

I first came across Hillsgreen after listening to Andy and Shabawn on the R2Kast podcast. Their passion for agriculture and the way they talked about helping rural businesses really stood out to me.

I also loved the idea of working with lots of different agricultural and rural brands while learning about the wide range of marketing services the team offers. It felt like the perfect place to learn.

Monday – First Steps into Agency Life

My first day was a great introduction to agency life. After meeting the team and learning more about Hillsgreen and its clients, I got stuck into my first task.

I started by researching key events and awareness days across the agricultural and rural sector to help plan future marketing campaigns and content. It was interesting to see just how much planning goes into marketing before anything is even published.

One of my favourite tasks was researching influencers for a client. Before this week, I hadn’t realised how much thought goes into influencer marketing. It’s not just about finding someone with lots of followers; it’s about finding people whose audience, personality and values match the brand.

I really enjoyed looking at different creators and explaining why they would be a good fit. It showed me just how important authenticity is in marketing.

Tuesday – Creativity, Content and Cultivate

On Tuesday, I spent time researching Hillsgreen’s 2026 Cultivate Conference. I looked at what the event achieved and came up with ideas that could help shape future events.

I also had the chance to create ideas for organic social media posts for a client. I really enjoyed thinking creatively while keeping the audience and the client’s goals in mind. It made me realise how much planning goes into even the simplest social media post.

Wednesday – Building a Brand

Wednesday introduced me to something completely new: brand messaging.

I spent the day taking part in a client workshop, helping to build a clear and consistent brand message. We talked about where the brand is today, who it’s aimed at, what makes it different and how those messages should be communicated.

It was really interesting to see how much strategy sits behind a successful brand. The workshop showed me that great marketing starts long before a campaign goes live.

Thursday – Back to the Farm

Thursday was a chance to get out of the office and see another side of Hillsgreen.

I visited Andy’s family farm during the Müller Dairy Farmers’ Event. Having worked on farms myself, it was great to see how new technology is helping dairy farmers while also learning more about where the Hillsgreen story began.

During the farm walk, we saw innovations including heat detection systems, the Hoofcount footbath, the Lely Juno feed pusher and ADF automated milking technology. It was brilliant to hear farmers sharing ideas and learning about the latest developments in the industry.

Looking Back

Overall, my week at Hillsgreen has been an amazing experience.

Every day was different, and I got involved in everything from research and social media to brand strategy and influencer marketing. I loved seeing how the team works together and how much thought goes into creating marketing that really connects with people.

A huge thank you to everyone at Hillsgreen for making me feel so welcome, taking the time to explain everything and giving me the opportunity to get involved.

I’ve learned so much in just one week, and I’ll definitely take these experiences with me throughout my degree and into my future career.

If you’re thinking about a career in agricultural marketing, I’d definitely recommend getting as much hands-on experience as you can. My week at Hillsgreen showed me just how varied, creative and rewarding the industry can be.