From Placement to Permanent Role: Sarah’s Big Yellow Success Story

At Big Yellow Self Storage, we are proud to support young people into sustainable employment through The Big Yellow Foundation and our long-standing partnership with Street League. By combining funding, volunteering and meaningful workplace opportunities, we help create pathways into work for young people who may face barriers to employment. One such success story is Sarah, whose journey with Big Yellow began at a CV and mock interview workshop hosted for Street League participants in July 2025.

For Sarah, this was more than an introduction to the world of work. It was a chance to be seen, supported and encouraged in a real workplace setting, with people around her who wanted her to succeed. For young people facing barriers to employment, this kind of community support can make the first step into sustainable employment feel more achievable.

 The workshop provided practical support around CV writing, interview preparation and confidence building, while also giving participants an insight into careers at Big Yellow. Following the session, attendees were invited to apply for a 12-week paid work placement. Sarah was one of two successful candidates and joined one of our stores as a Sales Advisor. From the moment she arrived, Sarah made a positive impression on the team. Her enthusiasm, willingness to learn and commitment to delivering excellent customer service quickly stood out. Over the course of the placement, she developed hands-on experience with customers, colleagues and the day-to-day running of a busy storage company. It also helped her build customer service skills, develop workplace confidence and understand what it means to be part of a supportive team.

 The impact of the placement extended far beyond work experience. Sarah described the opportunity as life changing, helping her become more confident, positive and optimistic about the future. Supported by a welcoming team and a workplace culture focused on people, she discovered strengths she did not know she had. Following the success of her placement, Sarah secured a permanent role with Big Yellow as a Sales Advisor. Sarah’s journey shows what can happen when opportunity is matched with hard work, commitment and the right support. It is a reminder that, when someone is given the chance to prove what they can do, it can make a lasting difference to their future. As a UK brand leader with more than 30 years operational experience, Big Yellow remains committed to creating opportunities that help people build brighter futures while strengthening the communities we serve.