Meet Emily! Emily was once fresh out of school, jumping into her first apprenticeship role and navigating all the challenges that came with it. Today she discusses the start of her marketing career:

Emily: “Leaving school and stepping into my first job was definitely daunting. There’s a lot of pressure to know exactly what you want to do, and the stigma that comes with not going to university made it even harder for me to navigate my options. I knew that I still wanted to learn but didn’t think the classroom structure would be right for me. I was ready to learn from others and gain hands-on experience. In marketing, that experience can be hard to come by in the early stages. Being creative and wanting to explore this further, marketing and graphic design really appealed to me, so I looked for apprenticeship companies that specialised in this area.”

Leaving school in 2020, Emily faced the added uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. With businesses struggling to take on apprentices, she was fortunate to have the team at EMA Training guide her into her first apprenticeship role.

Emily: “Everything felt uncertain, and finding an apprenticeship at a time when businesses were struggling was tough. I was lucky to have the guidance and help from the team at EMA Training, but that still didn’t mean everything was plain sailing for me. It helped that EMA had fostered links with a wide selection of companies that could still operate under the COVID circumstances, but it did mean that I was going into a role as the only marketing person. I joined an estate agency, but this brought challenges as people were not moving house at that time. We were still operating, however, and had to rely on marketing to keep people aware of the business.”

Starting her first role as the sole marketing person, she was excited but also overwhelmed with so many questions. As an apprentice, you are learning on the job, but when there is no other marketer in the business, that knowledge is hard to find.

Emily: “I was nervous to ask questions because I lacked confidence in what I had to say—I also didn’t want to sound stupid. I had to learn as I went in my day-to-day job, and sometimes, it felt like I was just winging it. It would have been great to bounce ideas off someone within the company. This is where the college days were vital for me, as I got to chat with others from all ages and at different life stages. There were moments of self-doubt, but I kept pushing forward. I found that I was good at branding and design, and as soon as my confidence grew, I was able to work on other areas of marketing, from social media to sales.”

Despite the support from her training provider, Emily found herself constantly searching for answers.

Emily: “I would spend hours searching Google for the answers to my questions, but the problem was, there were a million different answers and no clear direction. I needed structured support, but I didn’t know where to find it. I wished I had a place where I could ask my questions in real time and get answers from people who has been where I was. I’m proud to be involved in the creation of The Marketing Mentor Hub and have helped to shape the tools, resources, and training to meet the challenges I faced head-on. If I can help one other marketer get the support they need, then I will be happy!”

Looking back, Emily knows that having structured support could have made a world of difference.

Emily: “I am so glad that I decided on the apprenticeship route. I have worked for three companies now, and with each job, I have been fortunate to grow my skills and learning. University wasn’t for me, but I know I made the right choice. If someone is looking for an apprenticeship, my advice would be to look for a training provider that focuses on marketing, don’t be shy, ask questions, and be curious to learn in your role. The apprenticeship route offers great opportunities to roll up your sleeves and try lots of different aspects so that you can quickly discover what you enjoy doing the most.

A place like The Marketing Mentor Hub would have been a game-changer for me. Having expert guidance, a supportive community, and resources all in one place? That would have given me the confidence to ask questions, make decisions, and grow faster. My advice is to seek out mentorship and never be afraid to ask for help.”