eCommerce Apprentice Review

I work the SEO department as part of the Performance Marketing team. Day-to-day I analyse data from different platforms on our organic performance, pull data for Product Managers, fix broken links, do keyword research, and look organise third party emails for campaigns (although this is outside my department).

When I started I had very little knowledge of SEO and no real knowledge of Digital Marketing. I have now learn lots of different skills in SEO, using different analytics platforms, how to extract data from these, how to read HTML code in websites and emails, as well as a lot of knowledge about e-mail marketing, social media marketing, content marketing and paid advertising including PPC and other elements.

I enjoy the courses and learning new skills, but there is a lot of paperwork and keeping track of learning time, use of English and Maths (though I am exempt from taking qualifications in these) and where objectives have been achieved. I don't think this is down to my workplace or training provider - but BCS we run and create the program & it's criteria.

As Digital Marketing is quite an evolving discipline, my program and course requirements have been changed mid-way through my time on the program, and I have also changed learning mentors in that time. The change in mentor went fine, and has been a little more beneficial to me specifically as he has had more knowledge about my course, but I think the changes to my course requirements were communicated quite poorly on my training provider's part & I think this has been similar for other apprentice they look after doing the same standard.

My employer and workplace has been really great in supporting my to do my apprenticeship. My manager makes sure that I have the amount of time I need to complete projects, learning time and studying for my course. As my standard is quite broad in looking at Digital Marketing, I have also had to work with different areas of the business and everyone that I've talked to about working with or learning something from has been really enthusiastic to help me do my apprenticeship.

My training provider makes sure that I have some pre-reading material and videos to watch before my course, and while my learning mentor has been good at pointing me to different resources and making sure I do something to prepare - these videos specified by the training provider are out-of-date if relevant at all. I have watched IT structure videos for a Digital Marketing which is not just confusing but also a little bit of a waste of my learning time. At the course, the training provider and teachers all make sure that they are available whenever we might need but I do wish the courses were less intensive.

Up to a point, my qualification has helped me to understand broader marketing concepts and ideas that I can relate to my role, but as I work in one specific aspect of Digital Marketing, the learning I have done around social media or paid advertising just doesn't apply. I do wish the standard would allow for apprentices to specialise as that is how the marketing roles in my organisation are created, and I think it's the same for a lot of other workplaces.

I know that we do a lot of social activities and networking events at work, I believe there are some sports teams too. On the whole, I think it is quite easy to get to know other people you work with & I think the social side of my workplace is pretty good.

Yes

In doing my apprenticeship I have felt really supported and encouraged to learn about different areas of the business that interest me. outside of apprenticeships generally, there is a big focus on personal development and I really enjoy working with a lot of hard-working motivated people.

Be open to where it might lead you - I never wanted to focus on my apprenticeship but it's been helpful to my role and broadening my way of thinking and solving problems. It's a great company for development and learning, so you can start somewhere that interest you and also move and focus on the things that you'd like to learn or gain more exposure to.