New starter portrait - Gabrielle Jones
03 / 09 / 2018

Digital Marketing Apprenticeship: Welcome to Absolute

Author

Gabrielle Jones

Category

Blogs

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If you had asked me a year ago what I thought I would be doing when I finished college, I would have stared at you blankly and remained silent - I didn’t have a clue! That was until I heard about The Juice Academy. They run an apprenticeship scheme that involves an apprentice teaming up with a company to complete their Level 3 Digital Marketing qualification and a CIM Level 4 award. As soon as I heard about it I knew which company I wanted to be with - Absolute. I had done work at Absolute on and off for several years, starting with serving drinks at their corporate events and then moving onto administrative work. Over the years, I was lucky enough to go into the office to do a few weeks work experience which really was the turning point for me, as I knew then that University was a big no go for me, I wanted to be working hands on, in a company that I knew and admired.  I loved the jovial yet professional environment of the office and found their work inspiring, so when I was offered the role as an Apprentice Junior Account Executive with them, I jumped at the chance.

The desk arrangement to welcome me on my first day at Absolute

Fast forward a few months and it was my first day in the office and although I was very nervous, I was extremely excited to get started. In my first week at Absolute, I learnt lots about the company, our clients and the creative and digital marketing sector as a whole, all of which I happily soaked in. I was welcomed with open arms as well with a ‘Welcome’ desk set up that included a chocolate orange; so I knew from that point that I had made the right decision (nothing to do with the chocolate, honest). During the first week, I also attended my first session at The Juice Academy in Manchester. Here, I was given an overview of the 18-month programme, which only intensified my excitement to really get stuck in. In my cohort (cohort 21), there are 22 individuals between 17-25 years old, all with the same interests as me, so I quickly made friends. Since doing so, I have been able to gain more insight into the different companies they are working for, be it digital marketing agencies, creative agencies or PR agencies, which further widens my knowledge of the sector.

I have now been at Absolute for just over a month and I can honestly say that I have loved every minute of it. Working in the office allows me to gain invaluable skills that a text book would fail to teach me, skills that will continue to grow over the duration of my apprenticeship and beyond. A year ago, I hadn’t even considered an apprenticeship, and now, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I am constantly learning about something I have a great interest in, surrounded by the Absolute team who are happy to guide me - what could be better?! 

So far, my apprenticeship journey with Absolute has been incredible, and I have no doubt that it will only get better.

Cohort 21 from The Juice Academy