Bella, recently completed her Digital Apprenticeship Programme with the University of Sussex. We caught up with her to find out how she found her experience.
Why did you decide to apply for a digital apprenticeship?
I chose this apprenticeship program because I’ve always enjoyed the creative elements of my job. The digital content creator program really caught my eye since it lets me explore and develop my creative side through different mediums including photography, videography, and graphic design. These were all skills I wanted to dive deeper into at work, but I struggled to find the time to really learn those skills in the depth I wanted.
I was also keen to gain some practical, hands-on experience rather than just theoretical knowledge from a book or course. The apprenticeship gave me the chance to apply what I’m learning to real challenges in my role. Ultimately, I saw the program as an opportunity to not only level up the work I was already doing in my role, but also boost my overall job satisfaction by picking up new skills that would push and challenge me.
Could you share how the apprenticeship has helped deepen your understanding and skills?
This apprenticeship has been great for really cementing both my understanding and technical skills related to my job. Getting to learn by actually doing the work, instead of just sitting in a classroom, has made everything click so much better. Plus, having experienced pros as teachers who can share their real-world knowledge and tips has been invaluable.
Could you share specific skills or knowledge you’ve acquired that you didn’t have prior to the apprenticeship?
Specific skills I’ve acquired include professional photography and videography techniques, video editing abilities, graphic design skills for marketing materials, experience with social media management and content creation strategies. I’ve also gained critical thinking abilities to analyse data/metrics and develop integrated digital marketing campaigns. Prior to the apprenticeship, I had rudimentary understanding of these areas but lacked the comprehensive, practical knowledge I now possess. I have seen a big jump in what I can achieve and approach these areas with much more confidence than I did before.
Do you find the targets set by you, your employer, and your tutor valuable?
Yes, I found the targets and goals set collaboratively by myself, my employer, and tutors to be extremely valuable. Having that structured framework with clear expectations helped keep me focused and motivated throughout the course. The targets weren’t just for career skills, but also enabled personal development by pushing me to step out of my comfort zone and build confidence in creative areas! Regularly reviewing progress against those targets provided a meaningful feedback loop.
How do you apply the skills and knowledge you have gained from your apprenticeship to your work tasks?
I actively apply the skills and knowledge from my apprenticeship to numerous work tasks and responsibilities. For instance, I’ve created comprehensive social media campaigns including content calendars, designed marketing assets like graphics/videos, developed digital promotional strategies informed by data analysis, and much more. The hands-on apprenticeship experience made me proficient in industry tools and processes that I now utilise daily. My deepened abilities have empowered me to take on bigger creative projects and challenges.
What can you reveal about yourself that few people know?
I regularly go sea swimming on Brighton seafront!
