Last year, Fresh Egg were excited to take on James Wardleworth as one of their Social Media & Digital Marketing Apprentices. James excelled in all aspects of his role, and one year on, has been offered a  permanent position among their ranks of the digital media eggsperts. Here is James’s apprenticeship experience…

What made you apply for a Social Media & Digital Marketing Apprenticeship?
When I left college, I still wasn’t too sure on what I actually wanted to do, career-wise, which meant university was not really an option. I decided to look into apprenticeships as a way to gain some experience in a work environment. I came across this opportunity online. Digital marketing looked like an exciting industry to work in and Fresh Egg looked like a cool place to work, so I thought why not apply and see what happens?

Can you remember how your very first day went?
I just remember being really nervous/excited, like anyone is on their first day. I was not entirely sure what to expect. I was greeted by warm welcomes from everybody; I think they were just as excited for us to start as we were. I was given my own desk, equipment and laptop etc. I remember thinking how cool it was to have all my own stuff. The first few days were filled with inductions to all the teams which I really enjoyed because it gave me a really thorough knowledge of what goes on here, how the company works and who does what. There was so much to learn within my first few days I still don’t know if I’ve taken it all in!

How were you feeling after the first month of your Apprenticeship with Fresh Egg?
Just really happy that I’d taken up the apprenticeship opportunity!

How did Fresh Egg help develop you and your skills?
I had continuous support, training and my own work pack which was used to keep track of my progress. The members of the team where really helpful in answering any questions I had. They explained any task I was doing in detail, including why I was doing it, which I found really valuable. I also had frequent 1 to 1 meetings with my line manager to review my progress and develop any areas of weakness.

What was a typical week like for you at Fresh Egg?
There is no real ‘typical’ week for me because the work I do is so varied every day is different. My week can range from participating in a client meeting/call to discuss strategies and progress to working on something very technical for a client, to something less technical, such as writing a blog post or performing on-page optimisation. No two days are the same!

What do you do on your lunch break?
It depends what the weather is doing really, but if it’s sunny it’s always nice to sit or wander on the beach, which is only a short walk away from the office. If you’re a fan of the indoors then you can have a game of pool, play FIFA or sit in the kitchen and chill with everyone else. Being right in the middle of town there are lots of places to eat, too!

What’s been the highlight of your Apprenticeship?
It has all been awesome, like really awesome, but I guess actually gaining a real proper adult job from the scheme is a big highlight for me. It still feels a bit unreal, but in a good way! It’s amazing that I have found something I enjoy doing and have developed a passion for!

What has been your favourite Fresh Egg social outing or event so far?
They are all great, but the company’s 15th birthday party was probably my favourite, it was super fun. We ate a three-course meal and there was a live band. Social outings happen pretty often, like going to the pub on a Friday which I also enjoy!

What skills and qualities have you gained from this experience?
Confidence is a big one for me, but I have also relished having to step up and take responsibility in my role. My communication skills have improved too. I’ve become really independent in terms of getting on with tasks by myself, but I’ve also really improved working within a team. Best of all, I’ve developed a real passion for the industry, which in turn makes me really motivated to learn more and keep improving my skills.

Are there any words or sayings you find yourself using that you never would have done previously?
I now use lots of technical jargon and acronyms that I never knew existed before!

Would you recommend a Social Media & Digital Marketing Apprenticeship to someone interested in that area of work?
YES!

What does the future look like for you now?
The future is really bright for me now. My time on the apprenticeship really has opened up a lot of doors/opportunities to progress my skills both personally and in the industry. In the meantime I’ll just keep doing what I am doing, develop my skills further, work hard and see what happens!