Rap Interiors Hosts Luca for a Week of Work Experience

It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Martyn’s son, Luca Pilcher, at Rap Interiors for a week of work experience. As Luca approaches his final year of secondary education, he was eager to gain first-hand experience in the commercial interior design and fit-out industry. During his time with us, Luca rotated through various departments, gaining valuable insight into the different areas that keep Rap Interiors running smoothly. Read on to find out what Luca got up to during the week and discover the key highlights from his experience.

Design Team

I began my placement by spending time with the design team, where I learned about their role during the design phase of a project and how they interpret a client’s brief to develop effective design solutions. It quickly became clear that their involvement doesn’t end once the design is complete—they continue to play an essential role throughout the entire project, working closely with project managers and providing accurate, detailed information to ensure the fit out or refurbishment is delivered correctly. I particularly enjoyed working on a live office fit out project, where I was given client feedback on a design and had the opportunity to implement that feedback by developing ideas and solutions to refine the concept.

Project Management

I spent a large part of my time with the project managers, where I learned just how vital their role is to the success of a commercial fit out project. Their central position—coordinating communication between subcontractors, clients, and internal team members—ensures that projects run smoothly and avoid unnecessary delays. I had the opportunity to join a weekly project meeting, where the team reviewed the progress of current live projects. It was clear that strong communication is essential to keeping a project on track, both in terms of programme and budget.

I was also fortunate to spend a day on-site at an upcoming London office refurbishment project, where we met with the client to discuss key details and prepare for the project’s start in the coming weeks. One of the key takeaways from this experience was the importance of identifying potential issues early on. Doing so allows time to develop effective solutions and communicate them to all relevant parties well in advance.

Marketing

I also enjoyed spending time within the marketing department where I gained a deeper understanding around Search Engine Optimisation and how the company’s website and online presence serve as powerful marketing tools It was interesting to see how SEO strategies closely connect with and support the social media side of marketing. I particularly enjoyed contributing to the creation of social media content and having the opportunity to utilise my own ideas.

What have you learnt from your time at Rap Interiors?

Overall, this work experience has given me valuable insight into the operations of an interior design and refurbishment business. I have gained a clear understanding of how different elements—such as design, planning, and execution—come together to deliver high-quality projects. I also learned how a business remains successful in a competitive market by embracing innovation and offering unique value to clients. The skills and knowledge I’ve acquired this week will help me apply what I’ve learned to real-life situations, and may even inspire me to start a business of my own in the future.

Let’s Hear From the Rap Team

“We thoroughly enjoyed having Luca join the team for a week. Luca demonstrated enthusiasm and autonomy, contributing his own creative ideas to the tasks he worked on. He also showed great initiative on site, supporting our project managers and helping to ease the workload during a busy period of pre-project planning and setup. We’re confident he has a bright future ahead and look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next.”