NEWS
Opportunity - Tees Business apprentice Millie Smith ( second left ) with Middlesbrough College ’ s Matthew Chan and Matthew Telling , and Tees Business office manager Vicky Thomas .
PICTURES : CHRIS BOOTH
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
Apprentice Millie gets to grips with media at Tees Business
The benefits of bringing in an apprentice have been brought home right here at Tees Business . For the latest addition to the team at Tees Business publishers Resolution Media and Publishing has already been making her mark less than three months into her apprenticeship at the business .
Millie Smith started as an apprentice at Resolution at the beginning of 2024 via Middlesbrough College Group .
The 17-year-old from Hemlington in Middlesbrough was initially unsure of what she wanted to do after completing her GCSEs at Outwood Academy Acklam before deciding on the apprenticeship route .
Millie explained : “ I wanted to be somewhere that was hands-on , where I could learn in a proper working environment .
“ When I came for an interview at Resolution , I knew it was somewhere I wanted to be and that it would be a good opportunity for me .”
Millie has certainly wasted no time in making her presence felt at Tees Business – in fact , many of you have already benefited from her handiwork without knowing it !
The apprentice uploads the majority of written articles and photographs onto the Tees Business website and compiles the Tees Business e-news that goes to more than 3,000 local business email addresses three times a week .
She has also been developing her skills using design software package Canva to design graphics for the website , for social media and for the recent VelociTees celebration of the region ’ s fastest-growing businesses .
And if all that wasn ’ t enough , Millie has been setting up interviews with all the finalists for the second annual Tees Business Awards for short film clips and has processed the judges ’ shortlists and scoring for the awards .
Millie ’ s supervisor Vicky Thomas , office manager at Resolution Media & Publishing , said : “ Millie is so quick to learn – she picks up tasks so quickly , it ’ s as if she ’ s been doing it for years .
“ We are quite a small team but we ’ re very busy so there ’ s definitely going to be lots more for Millie to learn from things like our events as well as the magazine , website and social media .”
Millie is the first apprentice Resolution has taken on and director Dave Allan is full of praise for her and for the work of Middlesbrough College Group in putting in place and supervising the apprenticeship .
Dave said : “ Middlesbrough College staff , especially skills development manager Matthew Chan and training recruitment consultant Bethany Carter , have been brilliant to work with and they ’ ve helped us unearth a real gem in Millie .
“ Millie ’ s fitted straight in at the Tees Business office . She gets on with everyone , she ’ s a super-fast learner , works really hard and I hope she develops to be part of our team for many years to come .”
From March , Millie will be reinforcing her workforce learning with one day a week studying at Middlesbrough College as her 18-month Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship continues .
In college , Millie will be learning about employer organisations and honing key skills such as minute taking , presentations and managing budgets .
Millie said : “ I have really enjoyed my time at Tees Business so far and I ’ m getting more confident in what I ’ m doing .
“ From my experience , an apprenticeship is a really good opportunity . I ’ m learning things here which I wouldn ’ t do in a sixth form environment and I ’ ve already got experience which other people my age who aren ’ t doing an apprenticeship don ’ t have .”
Matt Telling , group director : business engagement and partnerships at Middlesbrough College Group , said : “ We ’ re delighted to hear how well Millie is doing already and at the learning and skills opportunities she is getting at Tees Business .
“ We pride ourselves on working closely with employers in all kinds of businesses so when Dave and the team at Resolution came to us , we were only too pleased to be able to help .
“ This is a great example of what apprenticeships can bring to employers and potential future employees , providing major benefits and learning experiences for both .”
Through its Northern Skills division , Middlesbrough College Group delivers more than 100 types of apprenticeships to more than 2,500 apprentices across the North-East .
For more information and advice on how your businesses could benefit from an apprentice , visit northernskills . co . uk / employers
Quick learner - Millie is already making her mark at Tees Business .
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