National Apprenticeship Week
10th February - 15th February 2025
Posted by Connie Courtnell on Feb 10, 2025
National Apprenticeship Week
National Apprenticeship Week (10th February - 15th February 2025)
National Apprenticeship Week 2025 is part of the Department for Education’s ongoing Skills for Life campaign which is engaging young people, adult learners, and employers with government skills and training programmes and the opportunities they bring.
This week, we celebrate the diverse opportunities that apprenticeships offer for individuals at any stage of their career. Whether you're just starting out or looking to further your skills and knowledge, apprenticeships provide a valuable pathway for learning and development.
At Procurement Services we are proud to support lifelong learning through our apprenticeship programmes. In this blog, you'll hear from our employees who have embraced these opportunities, sharing their experiences of growth, achievement, and the positive impact apprenticeships have had on their careers.
Connie Courtnell – Channel Marketing Assistant
Marketing Executive Apprenticeship with Chartered Institute of Marketing
Why did you decide to choose the apprenticeship route?
I chose the apprenticeship route because I wanted to gain further skills in marketing. Learning on the job and applying my knowledge straight away has been so valuable. Plus, being able to work towards a qualification enhanced my motivation.
What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from your apprenticeship so far?
One of the biggest lessons I have learnt during my apprenticeship is just how many different elements go into successful marketing. It’s not just about creating good content – it’s about understanding the audience, analysing data and making sure every campaign has a purpose. I’ve gained hands on experience in areas such as strategy, plans, content creation and campaign performance. This has really helped me in understanding how all the different parts of marketing work together to drive results, and I’m excited to keep building on that knowledge!
How do you feel your apprenticeship has supported you with your current role?
My apprenticeship has been a huge support in my role as a Channel Marketing Assistant. It has given me the chance to apply what I am learning directly into real working projects, applying theory into practical.
How would you describe the support and guidance provided by your mentors?
The support and guidance from my mentor have been amazing. She has not only helped me develop my marketing skills, but also given me the confidence to take on new challenges. Whether it’s giving feedback on modules and projects, sharing industry insights, or just being there to answer questions, her guidance has made a huge difference in my learning journey. It’s great knowing I have people who genuinely want to see me succeed and are always there to support me.
What advice would you give to someone starting an apprenticeship?
My biggest advice for someone starting an apprenticeship is to be open to learning and ask lots of questions! There is so much to take in, but the more you engage, the more you’ll get out of it. Don’t be afraid to step out your comfort zone, whether it’s taking on new projects or sharing your ideas. Also, I have learnt to make the most of the people around you. Your mentors and colleagues have so much experience and are there to help. Finally, enjoy the process! It’s a great opportunity to gain real-world experience while building your skills and confidence in your day-to-day work.
Jessica Taylor – Multi-Channel Marketing Apprentice
Multi-Channel Marketing Apprenticeship with LDN Apprenticeships
Why did you decide to choose the apprenticeship route?
I chose the apprenticeship route as I wanted to change the field that I was working in previously and explore a new role in marketing! This route helps me to learn hands-on experience and provides me with a useful qualification at the end, to help with my career progression.
What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from your apprenticeship so far?
I'm about 6 months into my apprenticeship program now and I think the most valuable lesson has been keeping a good list of everything I need to do and prioritising my workload! Making sure I stay organised has really helped me to manage my time at work and stay on top of my tasks. Always having a clear plan and prioritised list helps me to focus and communicate my progress.
How do you feel your apprenticeship has supported you with your current role?
I've never worked in marketing before, so it's helpful to learn about marketing theory in my apprenticeship and relate this to my work tasks. The online learning modules are helping me to build a solid foundation in key marketing principles, such as market research and consumer behaviour. It's interesting to see how the theory supports the real-world application, and helps me to feel confident in myself as a marketer.
How would you describe the support and guidance provided by your mentors?
My skills coach for my apprenticeship program has been very communicative and understanding with balancing my workload, and my mentor at work has been very helpful with any questions or help I might need!
What advice would you give to someone starting an apprenticeship?
I think an apprenticeship is such a good opportunity if you would like to learn something new or build upon your skills whilst still working and earning money! I definitely think this was the right choice for me, as it gives me a chance to explore a new field and still be in a supportive full-time role.
Stacy Black – Assistant Framework Manager
Procurement and Supply Chain Practitioner Apprenticeship with SR Supply Chain Consultants
Why did you decide to choose the apprenticeship route?
I chose the apprenticeship route as I have no further education qualifications, I also want to further my knowledge for my current and future roles.
What was the most valuable lesson you learnt from your apprenticeship?
I’m still at the beginning of my apprenticeship.
How do you feel your apprenticeship has supported you with your current role?
I’m still starting my learning journey, however, have seen some links so far to my current role.
How would you describe the support and guidance provided by your mentors?
My mentors are very supportive; they are on hand to answer any questions you have.
What advice would you give to someone starting an apprenticeship?
Make sure you have the time to complete the apprenticeship. It is partially like being in school again, so you need to revise, participate in lessons, produce a portfolio of work and complete exams. Some costs are required up front so make sure for any apprenticeship you find these out.
James Finch – Digital Manager
Digital Marketing Apprenticeship with Baltic Apprenticeships
Why did you decide to choose the apprenticeship route?
I chose the apprenticeship route to start my career in digital marketing because of the valuable on job experience you gain along with learning the best practises of digital marketing. It’s a great way to be able to gain the vital experience and skills to thrive in the professional business world.
What was the most valuable lesson you learnt from your apprenticeship?
The most valuable lesson I personally learnt from my apprenticeship is managing your time and relationships professionally. Along with the weekly learning of completing a qualification also came along with a day-to-day full-time employment, learning to balance those 2 crucial parts of my apprenticeship only enhanced my understanding of meeting deadlines which is vital to succeeding.
How do you feel your apprenticeship has supported you with your current role?
The support that my apprenticeship gave me within my current role has helped me lay the foundation of understanding not only my current role but a professional career. Helping me to understand firsthand how to present myself in a workplace and thrive to push me to my goals.
How would you describe the support and guidance provided by your mentors?
10/10 support was given to me by my mentors, helping me to adjust to a new work setting and guiding me within my professional development. The understanding of how to manage myself in a professional setting, whether that is presenting a meeting or leading a project to support my apprenticeship, guidance was always there to help me develop.
What advice would you give to someone starting an apprenticeship?
My advice would be to listen. For most starting an apprenticeship, it will mostly be learning whether from a lesson or in a work scenario and the best thing you can do is listen to get the most out of your time. Don’t be afraid to ask questions as along with doing the work the only way to fully understand what you are doing is by leaning on the support that is being given to you.