Optimum Skills trainee Mia Baldwin has been offered an opportunity to work in the Aycliffe Business Park firm ’ s marketing team .
FUTURE PROOFERS
How Optimum Skills are nurturing the next wave of talent
Optimum Skills trainee Mia Baldwin ( centre ) with digital marketing executive Kayleigh Lowdon and digital skills tutor Jo Elgie .
Having recently launched their digital hub in the heart of Aycliffe Business Park with the vision to optimise the potential of local talent , Optimum Skills are reaping the rewards of their successes by offering one of their own trainees , Mia Baldwin , an exciting opportunity to work within their marketing team .
Mia , 17 , from Darlington , has recently embarked on six weeks of work experience with Kayleigh Lowdon , digital marketing executive for Optimum Skills while on her traineeship , with a view to learning different aspects of the role and will be interviewed for the content creator apprenticeship vacancy .
One of the first tasks for Mia is to utilise her copywriting skills , so we ’ re shining the spotlight on her with an interview for Aycliffe Business to talk about how she came to be on Optimum ’ s traineeship programme that supports 16 – 18-year-olds to gain the skills , knowledge and work experience needed to progress into an apprenticeship .
What were you doing prior to the Digital Skills Traineeship ? Mia : “ I ’ d just left school , Wyvern Academy , in 2023 after completing my GCSEs and was unsure on what to do next . No college courses were sparking a particular interest to me , I started looking into apprenticeships and traineeships and found the digital skills traineeship with Optimum Skills .”
What made you choose the Digital Skills Traineeship ? Mia : “ I was interested in digital marketing and content creation ; it sounded like something I would enjoy . I wanted to learn more , so I applied and was invited to a welcome session with my parents . Everyone was very welcoming and helpful ; the welcome session was informative ; they answered all the questions I had .”
What makes Optimum Skills different to college or sixth form ? Mia : “ It doesn ’ t feel like you ’ re learning in a classroom . You get to experience what it ’ s like in a real workplace . From day one , the tutors made sure we all behaved appropriately as we were learning in a real place of work .”
What skills and knowledge did you gain on the Traineeship ? Mia : “ I gained lots of digital skills , I used Office 365 and was introduced to websites like Canva . The course included digital marketing strategies , social media for business , website creation and online safety . I also learnt how to do basic tasks on the computer I wasn ’ t taught in school .”
How will the digital skills training you ’ ve received support your ambitions ? Mia : “ A lot of jobs use digital technology now , I was specifically interested in digital
marketing and content creation , which I learnt lots about during the traineeship , that will support my ambitions .”
What would you say to other young people looking to get into a digital career ? Mia : “ I would say to go for it , I have enjoyed my time on the traineeship , and I have learnt many useful skills . It has helped me decide what I want to do in my future .”
What are you most hoping to get out of your work experience ? Mia : “ I ’ m hoping to put the skills I have learnt so far into practice and to learn more . I am also hoping to see what it ’ s like day to day in the workplace and hoping to move onto an apprenticeship with Optimum Skills .”
Comment from tutor , Jo “ Mia is a very reserved but determined young lady . She is focused , independent in learning and embraces the process . She has quickly developed her knowledge and skills in the basics of Digital Marketing . She is a blossoming content creator and is eager to explore the landscape of digital creativity . She has potential for success and will flourish with guidance .”
To learn more about the digital skills opportunities provided by Optimum Skills , call 01325 311832 or email Darcy at darcy @ optimumskills . co . uk
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