Emily’s journey from clearing to co-founder

Emily Smith is graduating with a first-class honours degree in BA (Hons) Marketing, PR and Advertising, having also co-founded her own business whilst studying. But Emily’s path to University of Derby wasn’t the most traditional – she was already in her first year at another university when she was able to use Clearing to join University of Derby and pursue her passion.

A change of path

Emily initially started her studies at a different university on a Fashion Marketing and Branding degree, but soon realised the course wasn’t right for her.

“While I’ve always loved fashion, I quickly realised that the course wasn’t the right fit for me. I wanted something broader, with more opportunities across different industries. I’ve had a passion for marketing, particularly advertising, from a very young age. I remember being around ten years old and becoming fascinated with TV adverts, often imagining how I would recreate or improve them. That early curiosity never left me, so pursuing a degree in Marketing felt like the natural choice.”

Deciding to follow her heart, Emily called our Clearing hotline and secured a place for September on our Marketing, PR and Advertising degree. From the first time she contacted the University of Derby until the moment she received an offer to study here, Emily felt supported at every stage.

“I applied to Derby very late in the process through Clearing. The staff were incredible – friendly, understanding, and quick to respond. I spoke to some wonderful people on the Clearing hotline who made the process smooth and stress-free, and I received confirmation of my place shortly afterwards.”

Industry ready

Once on the course, Emily hit the ground running. Working on live briefs, which are incorporated in the degree to enable students to work on real marketing challenges during their studies, she gained important skills for her CV, and made valuable industry connections.

“A number of our modules incorporated live briefs which allowed us to work on real-world challenges and apply our learning in a practical setting. One standout experience was during our Social Media module, where we had the opportunity to work with a charitable organisation and take over their Twitter account as part of a ‘Twitter Takeover’. These experiences were incredibly valuable as they gave me a taste of what it’s like to work in the industry and helped me to develop the practical skills needed for a career in marketing. It made my learning feel more tangible and exciting.”

Becoming a leader

While studying at the University of Derby, Emily co-founded her social media marketing agency Narrative Social, and it has gone from strength to strength since.

“We work with a range of businesses across the UK – and more recently, with clients in the USA. Our services include social media management, content creation days, email marketing, and now coaching sessions to help business owners better understand and navigate social media.”

Emily credits the skills she learned on her degree for helping her navigate the world of business.

“My degree has played a key role in shaping the business. It gave me a strong foundation in marketing theory and, more importantly, provided me with real-world experience of working with businesses through various course modules. That hands-on exposure has been invaluable in helping me understand client needs and deliver impactful results.”

Growing in confidence

Graduating with a first-class honours in BA (Hons) Marketing, PR and Advertising, Emily is looking forward to the future, and aims to grow Narrative Social, expand their services, take on more clients and build a larger team. Looking back at her last three years, Emily says:

“Studying at the University of Derby has helped me grow in so many ways, both personally and professionally. I’ve gained confidence and a much stronger belief in my own abilities. In the past, I often doubted myself, but the support and encouragement I received from staff and peers helped me recognise my potential. The experience didn’t just help me become a graduate – it gave me the confidence and skills to become a business owner, which is something I’m incredibly proud of.”

As a message to those thinking about applying to university through Clearing this year, Emily reflects: