The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 47: Feb/March 2020 | Page 11

SWLEP
@SWLEP
Visit the SWLEP online at:
www.swlep.co.uk
Celebrating National
Apprenticeship Week
Now in its 13th year, National Apprenticeship Week (3rd-
9th February 2020) raises awareness of the benefits of
apprenticeships for young people and for companies looking to
nurture home-grown talent.
The Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership is
proud to be an apprentice employer. Joe Palmer is the team’s
Digital Marketing Apprentice. He is earning as he learns
a wide variety of skills to promote the SWLEP to its online
audience. Here we put the spotlight on Joe and find out how
he’s finding his apprenticeship journey so far.
Where do you live?
I live in Bowerhill, Melksham, and commute to
Corsham daily.
Where did you go to school prior to starting
your apprenticeship?
I studied for five years at Sheldon School, going on to
complete year 12 (AS level) there too before leaving to go
to Bath College for a year to study a level 3 in International
Business.
What made you decide to go down the
apprenticeship route?
I’d taken some time out from education and had got a full-
time job due to issues I’d had in my personal life. Because
of this I had moved out and still needed to continue earning,
even though I wanted to go back into education to gain more
qualifications. An apprenticeship enabled me to learn and get
paid at the same time.
Which apprenticeship provider are you using
to complete your course?
I am completing the course through QA apprenticeships,
a leading provider of learning services to both public and
private sectors.
When did you start the apprenticeship?
How long is it? And what level are you completing?
I began my apprenticeship in September 2019 and my course
usually takes around 15 months, although this can be flexible
due to different variables. I am currently doing a level 3 in
Digital Marketing.
How are you finding it so far?
I’m really enjoying it. The workload is manageable and I’m
enjoying meeting other apprentices at college and around
the workplace. It’s great learning about only topics I actually
care about too, compared to when I was at AS level and was
studying some subjects just for the sake of it.
What would you say to any other students thinking
about going down the apprenticeship route?
I would highly recommend it. Apprenticeships allow you
to work in real world business environments, giving you
the option to gain essential experience that employers are
constantly asking for, as well as a possible foot in the door
opportunity.
What’s been your biggest learning so far?
Adapting to office culture and life has been very challenging
for me. Any jobs I had before this apprenticeship, part-time
or full-time, were all physically active or manual labour
jobs, so converting to an office was a big change for me. The
changes ranged from organising myself and my belongings
on a day to day basis to not being micro-managed and being
in charge of my own work.
What’s been the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge was getting back into strict working
habits. I’d had some part-time jobs for example that I didn’t
care too much for so, it was a big change and challenge for
me to get back into a hardworking routine so I can be reliable
as an employee. Time management, organisation and my
mental attitude had to adapt accordingly.
What are your future aspirations?
My dream outcome would be to continue working for SWLEP
as a marketing assistant. I would like to continue growing
my knowledge of the subject for a few years before maybe
diversifying into either the private sector or a new yet similar
role, still within in the business world.
To find about more about the Swindon and Wiltshire Local
Enterprise Partnership and to see Joe’s work in action,
visit: www.swlep.co.uk and follow @SWLEP on Twitter.
Follow the National Apprenticeship Week conversation on
social media by using the hashtag #NAW2020.
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2020
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