My week at Ongo: A work experience blog by Ruby Sanderson

Hi! I’m Ruby Sanderson, and I’ve just spent an amazing week doing work experience with the PR & Communications team at Ongo. I wanted to share what I got up to, what I learned, and how it’s helped shape my ideas for the future. Spoiler alert: I loved it!

Monday – First day nerves (and coffee!)

My first day started with a coffee and catch-up with the PR team. It was such a warm welcome and really helped me feel comfortable straight away. I even got my own ID badge, which made me feel like a proper part of the team

I had a health and safety chat with Roger, who was lovely and made me feel really reassured. Even though my role didn’t really involve any risky tasks, it was nice to know what to do in an emergency.

Leah then walked me through the plan for the week, which was super helpful. One of the first ideas we discussed was creating this blog and taking photos throughout the week—so here we are!

I also sat in on some really interesting meetings, including one about the upcoming Ongo Carnival and another about asset and investment communications. I learned how events are planned, how tenant requests are handled, and how the PR team balances promoting both the positives and challenges within the organisation.

Tuesday – Exploring career paths

I had a great chat with Sarah about different career options, like degree-level apprenticeships. It was eye-opening to hear about everyone’s roles in the PR team. I realised I’m more drawn to creative roles than strategic ones.

Later, I met Jan and a creative marketing agency, Resource, about colleagues moving over from Cole Street to Ongo House. They explained how both organisations work together and how important it is to create a welcoming environment for everyone. I even shared a few ideas of my own, which were taken on board!

Then it was onto an afternoon with Carl from the Technology and Innovation (T&I) team who gave a fascinating talk about online safety and current affairs, like the recent cyber hack on M&S. While I found it interesting, I discovered that I’m more into the creative side of T&I than the technical side.

Wednesday – Behind the lens

This was one of my favourite days! I spent the day with Lucy and Rick the photographer from the company Image North, learning all about photography and filming. I even picked up some fun tips, like saying “rhubarb” to look like you’re chatting in photos!

We visited Myos House, a dementia-friendly building, and I was blown away by the thoughtful design features. It was such a lovely, homely place and really showed how much care goes into supporting residents.

This day made me seriously consider photography as a career path, especially alongside marketing. They go hand in hand, and I’ve always loved taking photos.

Thursday – Engaging with the community

I learned about customer engagement with Ollie and how tenants are involved in shaping Ongo’s communities. Then we went to a meeting with residents all about sustainability and the environment. A key thing I noted down was how Ongo are helping to reduce tenant bills through things like solar panels and better insulation.

It was inspiring to hear how they listen to tenants, work to improve their homes and go above and beyond providing support with jobs, training and lots more.

Later, I joined Ellie at the Arcafé and got to use tools to design a social media post,  helping to promote a product. I loved experimenting with colours and layouts, it was so much fun and right up my street!

Friday – AI and reflection

On my final day, I had a session with Lucy where I got to talk about AI tools and try out Microsoft Copilot. It was amazing to see how it can turn notes into polished content, super helpful for someone like me who sometimes struggles to find the right words.

I ended the week with a review session with Leah, reflecting on everything I’d learned. It was a great way to wrap up such a positive experience.

Final thoughts

This week has confirmed that I definitely want to work in PR and marketing. I’m especially drawn to creative roles like Ellie’s, where you get to bring ideas to life. Working with Lucy and Rick also sparked a new interest in photography, which I’d love to explore further.

I’ve learned so much, not just about PR, but about how all the teams at Ongo work together to support the community. It’s been inspiring, educational, and so much fun.

Thank you to everyone at Ongo for making me feel so welcome and for giving me such a brilliant experience. I’ll never forget it!

— Ruby