WLEP Apprentices take part in #AskAnApprentice day

As part of the National Apprenticeship Week’s #AskAnApprentice day, Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership has taken the time to ask their digital marketing apprentices, Alex and Russell, what they value so much about their apprenticeship.

Video Transcript

What is the aspect you enjoy the most about your Apprenticeship?

Alex – What I enjoy the most about my apprenticeship is being able to work within a proper team, in a business environment which is something you don’t get to experience much during school or college. So my apprenticeship has really opened the doors and allowed me to experience that side of the world which is really exciting and has brought on some good challenges and hopefully I’ve been able to achieve some good successes from those challenges.

Why do you think an Apprenticeship was the best route for you?

Alex- For me, I was a bit on the fence about University – I didn’t know if it was something I wanted to do and I know a lot of my friends and peers felt the same way. So for me doing an apprenticeship gave me the option to explore something I’m passionate about – to go into a business environment and work with a team, speak to mentors and business leaders who can teach you what they’ve learnt, and that’s something I’m not sure you could get from a University route.

Why did you choose to do an Apprenticeship?

Alex – I chose to do my apprenticeship because I was in sixth form and I wasn’t really sure that University was the right way for me, so I decided to try and apprenticeship. My parents were very big supporters of the scheme and I was lucky enough to find myself in the apprenticeship that I’m in now and it’s opened a massive door for me, it’s allowed me to meet people that I never would’ve known if I’d have been at University. It’s really given me the business experience and life experience that I hope to take with me as I progress through my career.

What have you been able to accomplish during your apprenticeship?

Alex – Having been in my apprenticeship for just over a year, I’ve been able to work on some really key projects with the Worcestershire LEP – obviously their conference every year and another one that’s quite close to the heart the apprenticeship awards that we work on. I’ve been able to help out behind the scenes on that and it’s really good to see all the effort that goes into that with all the businesses that get involved and all the apprentices that get involved. Another one would be the Worcestershire Skills Show that we work on – similar to the Apprenticeship Awards, it’s really good to see a team that are that passionate about skills in the county and making sure everyone is creating their future workforce.

What message would you give to anyone considering an apprenticeship?

Alex – For anyone considering an apprenticeship, I would say definitely go for it, look around. I found through the Government website that there is a whole world of options out there, it doesn’t matter what industry you’re looking at – there’s a lot out there. Also if you’re locally based, the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website has got all of the information you’ll need  and it’s really easy to find everything – and I wish you all the best!

What is the aspect you enjoy the most about your Apprenticeship?

Russell – Doing something new everyday, being actively involved in a business and not just sitting in a classroom learning, actually putting what I learn into practice everyday.

Why do you think an Apprenticeship was the best route for you?

Russell – University is more of a classroom, you sit down and learn, whereas with a job you’re thrown in at the deep end and I feel apprenticeships are a happy medium. You get to learn at the same time as actively putting what you’ve learnt to the test and you can expand your knowledge even further.

Why did you choose to do an Apprenticeship?

Russell – I always knew what I wanted to do, I always knew I wanted to digital marketing in a business. As soon as I found this apprenticeship I thought it was the best one for me, it’s local and I though that this was the best way to expand my knowledge and experience, and make sure I truly knew what I wanted to do.

What have you been able to accomplish during your apprenticeship?

Russell – I’ve been able to set up events, county-wide and locally within a small community. Being able to set up a conference and actually seeing what goes on, social media and being able to see that other people are liking and enjoying the content you post online through websites etc.

What message would you give to anyone considering an apprenticeship?

Russell – Figure out what you want to do, figure out what you feel is truly the best is for you and then look for the right apprenticeship – and then just get involved because the only way you’re going to learn and figure out your best path is by doing what you want to do.