The P81 Apprentice: You’re Hired

Over the past 18 months of my apprenticeship, I’ve taken the time to learn from the people around me by stepping into their shoes and finding out all I could about having a career in the digital world.

My apprenticeship has come to an end, and it’s time for me to look back and see just how much I’ve achieved in that time, but also to share some of the things I’ve learnt that could help future potential apprentices.

It’s time to answer my own questions… the questions that I’ve been grilling my colleagues with…

What were you like at 18?

I turn 20 next month, so it’s not like I’ve aged much since being 18 ha! I was definitely not as confident in myself then, and have certainly grown in my role and personality since starting. I had little to no knowledge of Digital Marketing as a whole, let alone SEO, PPC and coding!

Did you have a clear vision of what you wanted to do in the future?

At the end of 2017, the main man himself Nick Wroe visited my college to talk all things digital careers; it was at this moment I had an inkling that marketing might just be for me. I applied for The Juice Academy and to my delight it turned out that Platform81 would also be attending. I slid into their DM’s (professionally speaking of course) and the rest, as they say, is history! You can read more about what happened at TJA bootcamp here.

What did you study?

Through the Juice Academy I have studied towards my Level 3 Apprenticeship in Digital Marketing as well as achieving a Merit in my Level 4 CIM Award in Digital Marketing.

Alongside the above, I was also tasked by Platform81 to complete my bronze and silver Duke of York Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award (aka iDEA). It’s essentially the digital version of the DofE, but it allowed me to develop digital, enterprise and employability skills through a series of interactive online challenges.

Then came coding… something I never even knew about before starting this apprenticeship but luckily for me, I sit only around three metres away from three incredibly clever (and helpful!) web developers! After becoming some sort of technical wizard for a short while (I wish), and learning all about Java, CSS, HTML, Javascript, Databases, Servers and hosting, I passed my City & Guilds Qualification in Coding too.

Do you wish you had done anything differently?

Definitely not! Without going to that Juice Academy bootcamp in July 2018, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today. Learning every day, with a full time job and zero student loan debt haha!

What advice would you give someone wanting to become an apprentice?

Just go for it! Apprenticeships truly are amazing; you can earn whilst you learn, develop your skills, knowledge and maturity of the adult working world whilst also getting some great qualifications under your belt.

What’s your proudest achievement so far?

Just one year after starting, I found out I’d been shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year at The MPA Inspiration Awards. Not only that, but we were also up for ‘Big Bang’ award for our work with M.Hughes & Sons, one of my first ever clients.

Although I unfortunately missed out on my own award, we won the Big Bang award which is something I’m hugely proud to have been a part of. Not many apprentices can say they’ve worked closely on an award winning campaign!

What’s the best thing about what you do?

In all honesty, the team I get to do it with. Working in an integrated digital agency with a Web, Design, SEO and PPC team as well as our own Social Media team is definitely a massive factor in how much I’ve been able to learn during my apprenticeship. I’ve been able to learn about all things digital marketing.

The quarterly nights out and award do’s aren’t too bad either I suppose…

The best thing now though is that I get to continue doing what I love, as I will be staying with the team and have accepted the role of Junior Digital Marketing Executive. Bring it on!