Company Blog

A month in the life of a Digital Marketing Apprentice

How do you manage your time?

The structure of my week is split into four days of ukBathrooms work, and one day of apprenticeship learning work. Some weeks we have virtual lessons which also take up a day. On a day-to-day basis for ukBathrooms, my role can vary. I split the total time into two aspects at the moment, SEO & Social media management.

The SEO work covered by Chris, is wonderfully helpful and informative on the subject. We (Danielle and I), are tasked with creating blog posts, editing and rewriting subcategories on the website among many other things. While also taking into account how we use backlinking, keywords, and copy in our work.

 

Digital marketing apprentice at his deskThe other side is covered by Jo, who is passionate, engaging, and never fails to support us when we are confused or need help. Here, we are tasked with managing the social media platforms. I’m in control of Pinterest and Youtube. Although there is some overlap with Danielle as we have both agreed that any Youtube video we post can be posted as an IGTV. So I do the editing for that as well. Another part of Jo’s work is creating banners. I have created (at point of writing this) 108 banners for the Affiliates.

We are also tasked with creating the quarterly internal Newsletter. We have just sent out the most recent one. I do the copy and narrative, Danielle does the design. We found this to be a great way to get to know many people in the office and warehouse.

What have you learned since starting your apprenticeship?

Pre-apprenticeship I had a lot of ‘loose’ knowledge of digital marketing. From odd youtube videos and personal research. With the backing of this apprenticeship, I have started to fill the gaps in my knowledge. I had never done business at school or university. In this course, we have started to learn about how certain businesses fit within the structure of civilization. We also have classes where we have peers across the north of England, going through the process with us. It’s been great to network with them so far, and we are doing group projects with them too!

How does the job differ from what you expected before starting?

Before starting I was expecting to take on a determined role, like in an agency. However, in reality, it is the opposite. We have been given certain tasks that suit our skills, and we are expanding on them constantly. For example, I have been tasked with editing a video for our YouTube channel as well as keeping the Pinterest account up to date. I am in the process of introducing a PPC campaign to Pinterest too.

What is ukBathrooms like?

Imagine an office in a highrise, with no accessibility to the outside world. Constantly glued to your screen with a sign above your head that reads “you are not being paid to talk”. Well, it’s definitely not that!

A view of Ripon CathedralAt ukBathrooms, I had settled in within a week of being there. All the staff are amazingly friendly and dedicated to constantly improving the brand. I am inspired to work here, and I cannot wait to see where this company goes. I am sitting next to Danielle which is great because we can bounce ideas off each other and has made the entire ‘new job’ anxiety dissipate pretty fast. Behind me are the Product Marketing team, where our line manager sits, and the rest of the team. I cannot express how happy I am that they are friendly, hardworking, and fun.

The location here is great too. So far I have been on a couple of socially distanced walks with the product marketing team on our lunch break around the canals and rivers. The area is beautiful, and so refreshing after coming from a big city like Liverpool. Here is a collage of images I took the other day.

What training have you attended with Apprentify?

So far we have attended a virtual lesson covering our basic marketing principles unit. We have another penciled in for the following week (although this blog will probably be posted after). Although it was based around the basics of the subject I found it enlightening and captivating. It was a good first look into what is to come over the next 13-15 months.

As an Apprentify apprentice, we have a development coach who supports us and keeps us informed throughout the process. My development coach is Rebecca Craven who is situated over in York. Only a stone throw away from us. Although we have not yet face to face because of COVID, I hope that when everything begins to relax that we can.

Is your apprenticeship overall what you expected it to be?

This time last year I was at University doing Fine Art, and at the time I thought I could be an artist full-time. With COVID and the declining job market, I very quickly realised that this was not a viable option. I am grateful for the support and encouragement that Apprentify has granted so far in this journey.

So overall, yes. I remember the first day I was so nervous about the job, the apprenticeship and how it would all enfold over the next year. Within hours, I was put at ease with the job, the environment I’m in and the people I would be working with. When the apprenticeship started and we virtually met Rebecca, all my anxiety lifted. I think that the apprenticeship will be a great stepping stone into my future, both with ukBathrooms and my knowledge in the industry.