The Leeds Limelight Mia Ellerton & Connor Young W

Mia: Yeah, I'm really enjoying it, it’s something new and exciting. You meet lots of different people and build some great friendships.

Connor: I’m quite shocked actually, I didn’t know what I wanted to do so wasn’t expecting to find something I saw myself building a career on. It’s opened my eyes.

Could you tell us a little about your first month? What challenges did you come across?

Mia: I’ve never been much of an independent person, so the confidence to speak with people by myself took some time, but now I’ve got to grips with it I’ve realised I can be confident and I speak to anyone. They’re just people.

Connor: I treated my first month as a massive learning curve. I knew there was a lot to learn so I carefully watched the more senior people and tried to build relationships throughout the network.

How have you found the training?

Mia: Really good. You make your first friend in the business quickly, but then you get introduced to everyone else, and to see that everyone is also learning something new to them meant I never really felt too far out of my comfort zone.

Now I’m starting to coach other people too, the training is just getting more fun. I’m improving, they're improving, and it’s really rewarding.

Connor: Yeah the training’s been incredible. I couldn’t picture myself in this industry this time last year, and I’m so happy with the range of skills I’ve developed. I’m more confident, training others, and planning for my future. I've surprised myself.

What’s your favourite part of the business?

Mia: The fun element for sure - You go on team nights, we’ve got office goals we work towards, and the mornings are always fun and energetic with ‘battles’ so everyone can get involved with some form of competition. The office is always a fun place to be.

Connor: For me, it’s the fact that the progression is unlimited, nothing can stop you. The incentives, road trips, and financial elements are all great too. I’ve never really had an end goal in my life, and now I feel like I’ve got one. I’ve got a direction that I’m excited about.

Are there any areas that you’ve found more challenging?

Mia: I had to get my head around training other people; I’m so young, only 18, so everyone I train is older than me. Wrapping my head around the fact that I am good enough to be able to train someone was tricky.

Connor: A big thing for me was learning to bite my tongue actually. Working with the public, you do encounter negative people, you just have to learn to accept that it’s part of life. They won’t ruin your day if you don’t let them. For one negative person, there’s an abundance of positive people, you just learn to direct your energy accordingly.

What tips would you give to new people joining the industry?

Mia: Don’t overthink it. When I first started I overthought everything. I’ve learned that whatever happens, happens, essentially, so if I get a slight change in my day, although it can initially be difficult to set my mentality straight again, I’m now more relaxed about it. Letting a hiccup upset your day doesn’t help you.

Connor: Educate yourself on how far you can progress because the end goal is what matters. Don’t let a challenging week scupper your chances of an amazing career. I’d love to thank everyone who’s helped me so far because I’ve come a long way in a few months. I’ve surprised myself but my family are really shocked and so proud of how far I’ve come. Give yourself a chance to prove it.

So, how much have you raised for clients so far?

Mia: £33,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital

Connor: Just over £82,000 for The British Red Cross and Great Ormond Street Hospital

What fantastic starts to blossoming careers, well done to you both.

'“When I first started I overthought everything. I’ve learned that whatever happens, happens, essentially, so if I get a slight change in my day, although it can initially be difficult to set my mentality straight again, I’m now more relaxed about it.”

“The training’s been incredible. I couldn’t picture myself in this industry this time last year, and I’m so happy with the range of skills I’ve developed. I’m more confident, training others, and planning for my future. I've surprised myself"