As Oluwaseun Ake reaches the end of his time with the Leas Lift, we caught up with him to reflect on his placement, the projects he has been part of and what he has taken away from working at the heart of a major heritage restoration.

Olu joined us as our Events & Marketing Placement Student while completing his MSc in Marketing at the University of Kent. What began as an opportunity to gain practical experience in events and marketing quickly developed into a much broader role across the organisation.

Looking back, it is that variety, and the opportunity to make a contribution across so many different areas, that Olu is particularly proud of.

“I think what I’m proudest of is how much I was able to get involved in across different areas of the organisation. When I started, I expected to gain experience mainly in events and marketing, but the placement became much broader than that. I supported events, retail operations, ticketing, stock management, research, partnerships, venue hire planning, recruitment administration and income generation work.

A few things particularly stand out. I’m proud of supporting the Quiz Night events, especially seeing how they brought people together while raising money for the restoration.

I’m also proud of being able to manage the end-to-end process of all things relating to retail and merchandise operations, as that helped give more structure to the retail side of things. Another big one was the structuring to the venue hire space, because it allowed me to contribute to something more strategic and future-facing for the Lift.”

Connecting with the community

While much of Olu’s work took place behind the scenes, his placement also provided plenty of opportunities to see first-hand what the Leas Lift means to the local community.

One experience in particular came through our work with St Eanswythe’s Primary School and Folkestone Museum.

“One standout moment for me was supporting the school/community case project with St Eanswythe’s Primary School and Folkestone Museum. Working with the children, helping them engage with Leas Lift objects and seeing their excitement around the project was a really special experience.

It reminded me that the Leas Lift is not just a restoration project, but something that genuinely connects with people across different ages and parts of the community.”

The Quiz Nights were another highlight. Olu was involved in the work required to take the events from an initial idea through to welcoming people through the doors.

“Another standout memory has to be the Quiz nights. Seeing an event move from planning, emails, venue arrangements and promotion into an actual room full of people enjoying themselves was really rewarding. It made all the behind-the-scenes work feel very real”

More than a restoration project

Joining the team also gave Olu an insight into the scale and complexity of restoring the Leas Lift. His experience demonstrated how areas such as marketing and events sit within a much bigger picture involving fundraising, operations, partnerships and community engagement.

“Working on the Leas Lift has shown me how much work goes into bringing a heritage project back to life. Before this placement, I understood events and marketing more from a campaign or audience engagement perspective, but this experience helped me see how marketing, community engagement, fundraising, operations, retail and partnerships all connect.

I’ve also learned that heritage projects are about people as much as buildings or structures.”

That connection with people has been an important part of Olu’s experience, particularly seeing the different reasons why the Lift matters to those who follow the project.

“The Leas Lift means something different to everyone — whether they remember using it years ago, have family connections to it, are discovering it for the first time, or are simply excited to see it restored. That has made the work feel meaningful.”

Looking forward to the Lift’s future

Although his placement comes to an end before the restoration is complete, much of Olu’s work has been focused on preparing for the future. From ticketing and retail to events, partnerships and venue hire, he has contributed to areas that will help shape the visitor experience when the Lift returns.

“I’m most excited to see the Lift open and become part of everyday life in Folkestone again. Having worked on different pieces behind the scenes, from events and retail to ticketing ideas, venue hire, partnerships and community engagement, it will be amazing to see all of that come together when people can finally ride the Lift again.

I’m also excited to see how the site develops as more than just a way to travel up and down the cliff. There is so much potential around events, retail, the café, education, heritage interpretation and community use. And yes, I will definitely be back to visit once it opens.”

What comes next

Olu now returns his focus to completing the final stages of his MSc Marketing with Industrial Placement at the University of Kent. His time at the Leas Lift has also helped give him a clearer idea of where he would like his career to take him next.

“Next, I’ll be completing the final parts of my MSc Marketing with Industrial Placement at the University of Kent and continuing to look for opportunities in events, marketing, communications and brand-related roles.

This placement has confirmed that I really enjoy delivering in areas that combine strategy with hands-on delivery, especially when there is a strong community or cultural purpose behind it.”

Before signing off, Olu had a final message for both the colleagues he has worked alongside and the wider community supporting the restoration.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to the whole Leas Lift team for welcoming me and trusting me with meaningful work throughout the placement. I’ve learned a lot from Jo, George, Yaz, Tom and everyone I’ve worked with, and I’m really grateful for the support, guidance and encouragement I received.

To visitors, volunteers and supporters of the Lift, I’d say thank you for the enthusiasm you continue to show. Seeing how much people care about the Leas Lift has been one of the best parts of the placement.

It’s clear that the Lift means a lot to Folkestone, and I’m grateful to have played a small part in the journey towards bringing it back.”

We would like to thank Olu for everything he has contributed during his time with us and wish him all the very best as he completes his MSc and takes the next steps in his career.