Thinking about doing a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship? Louis from Youth Employment UK shares his experience…
Youth Employment UK strives to be a youth-friendly employer, just like all the employers in our youth-friendly network. We would like to thank our Digital Marketing Apprentice Louis for sharing his story to support any other young people who might be wondering if a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship is right for them…
How did you come across the apprenticeship?
When I was doing a computing course at college, one of the topics I did was about social media marketing and it was what I enjoyed doing most at my computing course at college. When I was looking for jobs after finishing college, a digital marketing role was what I was mainly looking for when applying.
I started working with Youth Employment UK as a Kickstarter as part of the content and marketing team, and after 5 months I got offered an apprenticeship with a level 3 course in digital marketing. It was difficult to get a job at first but when I started working with Youth Employment UK it became much easier to progress into an apprenticeship and I have had a lot of support from everyone. It did feel like an achievement when I got offered an apprenticeship, because after I finished college I was unemployed for about a year during the pandemic. It felt good to get an apprenticeship where I could learn and get better at what I enjoy doing.
What new skills have you been learning on the job so far? Have you been given any responsibilities of your own?
My main responsibilities are social media marketing and uploading content to the website. I’ve learnt a lot about coding, search engine optimisation and how to use Hootsuite to schedule social media posts. I’ve had a lot of training on marketing towards a target audience using multiple marketing channels such as social media and email marketing. I have also learnt how to use Canva, which is a digital design tool where I can design images and videos that are shared on social media platforms.
I’ve been given more responsibilities this past year and I have been given the training I needed to carry out these new responsibilities. For example, I am responsible for collecting metrics from the website such as pageviews and I was given significant training from my employer and training provider on how to use Google Analytics.
I’m also responsible for creating a weekly newsletter where I have had training on how to use Mailchimp to do this. I have had a lot of training from both my employer and my training providers with every aspect of my job since I have started my apprenticeship which has been helpful in building my skills and confidence.
What have you enjoyed most about your apprenticeship?
I’ve enjoyed learning about how to use digital marketing tools such as Canva, Hootsuite and Mailchimp. What I’ve enjoyed most is getting practical experience with working on digital marketing campaigns and learning about all of the aspects that go into managing a campaign.
The training provided through my apprenticeship has taught me the fundamentals of digital marketing campaigns, from researching marketing strategies to implementing those strategies and reviewing the results to make improvements for future campaigns.
What has given you the greatest sense of achievement?
My apprenticeship has opened more opportunities for me to go outside my comfort zone and develop in areas that I am not confident with.
I have been able to attend conferences and in-person events which is something I am uncomfortable with, so I am proud that I was able to do things that I previously would have never been comfortable with doing.
How do you feel about your future options and prospects?
My apprenticeship has given me practical experience with working on digital marketing campaigns and has taught me how to use various different tools that will help me progress in this career path. Once I have completed my apprenticeships I will also gain the qualifications I need to prove that I am capable within this role.
The staff at Youth Employment UK and Baltic Apprenticeships (the training provider) have given me a lot of support with my development during the course of my apprenticeship so I feel a lot more confident with areas of my role and skill set that I was previously struggling with.
Any top tips for apprentices just starting their programme?
Always keep notes or a record of what you learn so you can always go back to the notes if you’re struggling. It helps to keep track of how you’re progressing throughout the apprenticeship, so you know what you’ve learnt, how you have improved and what you still need to work on.
If you’re ever struggling, remember that your colleagues and training providers are there to support you so don’t be afraid to ask anyone questions or ask for help when you need it.
Any top digital marketing tips for new apprentices learning the ropes?
Keep up to date with trends within digital marketing and tools that you can use in your role so you have an idea of what you’re going to learn about in your apprenticeship. Keeping up to date with recent trends is important within digital marketing so you are aware of the most relevant marketing strategies and platforms for your audience.
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