When James Caddick joined the Vesta team as a Peak Performance Intern earlier this year, he was looking for a role that offered a challenge, exposure and genuine opportunity to grow. Less than a year later, James has stepped into a full-time position as a Peak Performance Analyst — a testament to his hard work, curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.
We caught up with James to reflect on his journey so far and what’s next for him at Vesta.
Tell us a bit about your background and what led you to pursue an internship at Vesta
“I finished university in summer 2023, where I studied marketing and management,” James explains. “After that, I went off to play cricket in Australia for a year and did some travelling once the season wrapped up. When I came back to the UK in April, I was actively looking for my next step.”
That next step came when he spotted the Peak Performance Internship on LinkedIn.
“The role jumped out at me — there were overlaps with what I’d studied, especially on the management side. It just seemed like a great fit.”
What made you choose Vesta for your internship?
“It seemed like a brilliant opportunity with lots of learning and exposure,” says James. “Some of my friends were doing similar internships or grad schemes, but they were quite protected from different experiences. What stood out to me about Vesta was the chance to get a holistic view of the business rather than being limited to one department.”
What stood out to you about the group when you first joined?
“My first week, I was asked to reach out to all the Business Unit Leaders to introduce myself,” James recalls. “Everyone was so open and friendly — they genuinely wanted to hear about me and my journey, not just my work. That made me feel really valued. You get the sense that people want you to feel at home here.”
How does it feel to now be part of Vesta full-time as a Peak Performance Analyst?
“It feels like a natural continuation of what I was doing before,” he says. “It’s quite a unique role — there are only two of us in the team, and it’s still evolving, so you have a strong voice in how it develops.
I really felt like I was a good fit for Vesta,” he says. “A lot of my work involves competitor intelligence — understanding everything from websites to social media — to gauge where business units stand and how they could improve. It’s a fascinating way to get a view across the whole group.”
What excites you most about stepping into this role?
“Definitely the further exposure,” James says. “Right now, I’m at a stage where I’m rinse-and-repeating certain experiences, so I’m looking forward to taking on new challenges, visiting more companies and continuing to develop my skills.”
He adds, “You pick up so many things just by being in the room with the Business Unit Leaders — it’s a constant learning curve.”
What advice would you give to someone considering applying for an internship at Vesta?
“Just do it!” James says without hesitation. “You’ll be welcomed into the team with open arms. People here really want to see you improve and progress, and there are so many opportunities to do that. If you work hard, there’s no reason why you couldn’t be here for the long term.”
He also highlights the strong focus on personal development across Vesta. “There’s so much access to resources and knowledge sharing — it’s a brilliant place to grow.”
James’s journey so far is a clear reflection of Vesta’s culture — one that values curiosity, encourages growth and celebrates potential. What started as an internship has turned into a long-term opportunity, thanks to a combination of hard work, openness to learning and the supportive environment that Vesta fosters.
If you’d like to explore opportunities to grow your own career with Vesta, take a look at our current openings on our careers page.
