Marketing apprenticeships, what are they, who are they for, what’s it like to be a marketing apprentice? In this article, we hear from Jess Canning of Glu Recruit, who is currently pursuing her Level 4 Marketing Executive Apprenticeship, to find out what it’s like to be a marketing apprentice.
What is a marketing apprentice?
A marketing apprentice plays a crucial role in developing and delivering new products and services to meet customers’ ever-changing needs. This is essential for any business looking to grow and expand.
Day to day, the responsibilities of a Marketing Executive Apprentice involve creating marketing materials, planning marketing campaigns and executing marketing plans whilst working with a range of stakeholders including customers, colleagues, suppliers and agencies.
The apprenticeship costs £6000 and is funded through the government levy, with a minimum of 95% funding available, this is an excellent way for businesses to retain employees and upskill their teams.
Learn more about marketing apprenticeships.
Now you know a little about marketing apprenticeships, let’s hear from Jess…
How did you get into marketing?
When I left Sixth Form, I knew I wanted to go to University to do a writing-related course. I opted for English and thoroughly enjoyed my creative writing modules – more so than my classic literature ones…
When I completed my degree, I felt a bit lost. When it came to options of what to do next, I was presented with teaching and I knew this wasn’t what I wanted. I decided to complete my Master’s, at The University of Sheffield, in Magazine Journalism.
I absolutely loved the course, but again, preferred the creative aspect of it rather than interviewing – which surprise surprise, is a huge part of journalism!
During my Masters, I completed a marketing module. It was the absolute basics but I very quickly fell in love with it.
I completed my Master’s and entered into a marketing executive role. Here, I developed my copywriting skills and SEO knowledge. I initially worked for a more corporate company as part of a huge marketing team. I felt I had much more to learn and wanted a new role that gave me the opportunity to do so.
I initially uploaded my CV to Glu Recruit so they could help me find another job – only to secure an interview and get the job as Marketing and Communications Executive!
As the only member of the Glu marketing team, I’ve been given so many opportunities to develop my knowledge and experience in everything from copywriting and SEO to event planning and data management.
Why did you choose to start the Level 4 Marketing Executive Apprenticeship?
I’ve always believed that progressing in your role isn’t necessarily about climbing the ladder, it’s about continuing to learn about the industry you’re in.
I love being in my comfort zone and copywriting is something I love doing. However, I knew that I needed to develop my knowledge and learn more about all areas of marketing to help me progress in my role at Glu.
As the sole marketer, I also felt a bit like an imposter when I planned campaigns or shared ideas. What experience or qualifications did I have? How could I support what I was saying?
I thought the marketing executive apprenticeship would help me overcome this and give me the confidence to say “Here’s what I think and why” or “Here’s what we should do and why’.
What are you looking to learn from the Level 4 Marketing Executive Apprenticeship course?
As someone who has always gravitated towards reading and writing, numbers are the devil to me. I loathe Excel spreadsheets and anything data related which is a crucial part of marketing.
Data capture, data analysis and SEO are full of numbers and give marketers a clearer understanding of what works well, what doesn’t and just how effective their marketing is. It’s something I have been doing more recently, but I’m hoping the apprenticeship will help me gain a wider understanding of these things and help me take our marketing to the next level.
I’ve said it in my previous answers, but I key thing I want to take from the course is confidence. Having not obtained my degrees in marketing, I sometimes feel like a bit of a fraud and as though I’m not qualified to make these big marketing decisions. I’m hoping the course will help me overcome this!
What are the key responsibilities in your role?
In my role, I take care of our social media platforms, email marketing, PR and blog articles, event planning, award entries and advertising.
Describe your typical day
Every day is different in my role – depending on what’s going on in our world. I will always arrive and ensure we have social media posts scheduled for the day ahead – in line with whatever campaign it is we are running. I create two-three blog posts a week, targeted at both candidates and employers.
I spend time researching current news and trends that relate to recruitment and ensure these are tied into our marketing plan.
I will liaise with the rest of the Glu team, and find out what support they need from me with regards to social posts they are creating, or posts they want me to push on the business accounts.
I will create images to accompany the team’s post or assist with messages to send to clients and candidates.
Depending on the day of the week, I will create email campaigns in line with blog articles that have gone out on socials and our website or in line with events we are holding.
No day is the same – which is what makes it so great!
How do you fit the marketing apprenticeship training around your day-to-day responsibilities?
Initially, I struggled with the concept of ‘off-the-job hours’ but it quickly became apparent that I was applying my apprenticeship training to everyday tasks I was completing – without even realising.
The way I create content has changed dramatically, with me putting in more thought about why I’m doing what I’m doing and what effect this will have.
My face-to-face apprenticeship training session is at the same time and same duration every week, which makes it much easier to schedule everything else. I’ve gotten into a really good routine and when I’m not at Whyy? Change HQ, it doesn’t feel like I’m doing any additional work, but rather applying what I’m learning to everyday life at work – which is exactly what I wanted!
What’s your apprenticeship onboarding experience been like and why did you choose Whyy? Change?
When it came to wanting to apply to do an apprenticeship, I didn’t even have to think about which provider to go for. Whyy? Change’s reputation speaks for itself and having chatted with the team over there prior to it, I knew they would make me feel instantly at ease.
Emma, Laura, and Matt have been incredible, offering support from the get-go and regularly checking in to make sure things are going smoothly.
Whyy? Change HQ is a great environment to learn in too, almost feeling like a home-from-home!
Conclusion
Marketing apprenticeships are a great way to enhance your career, as Jess Canning’s insights into her Level 4 Marketing Executive Apprenticeship shows. They’re flexible and affordable with government funding, providing a strong foundation and skills for success in the industry. Whether you’re new to marketing or a company seeking to invest in your team’s development, it’s worth considering the benefits marketing apprenticeships offer. Be like Jess and discover your passion for marketing with a Level 4 Marketing Executive Apprenticeship.
