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Sophie Heath

What made you choose this apprenticeship programme?

I’m doing an apprenticeship in Digital Marketing. I’ve been working in communications and content-based roles for around six years now, but I wanted to learn more specifically about marketing. Communication roles increasingly require candidates to have experience in evaluating content using web analytics, and I have also seen jobs advertised listing search engine optimisation (SEO) and coding knowledge in the essential requirements, which I know very little about! This apprenticeship covers all the areas I’d like to learn more about, such as SEO, marketing, Google Analytics, and coding.

Start by summarising why you opted to complete an apprenticeship instead of other educational career paths?

I was keen to gain more practical transferable skills in new areas. It’s a win-win situation. The apprenticeship is funded by the University and what I’m doing in the workplace informs the work I produce on the apprenticeship, which is a useful evaluation technique. I’m also able to take one day out of the working week to complete the course rather than trying to squeeze it into my personal time like I would have to do with other types of education.  

What have you learned so far from your apprenticeship?

So far, it’s been useful as an exercise to track what I’m working on and content templates I’ve designed, and to try and find ways to evaluate its success. I’ve started to use Google Analytics more in my work too. I’ve very recently started learning about search engine optimisation, UTMs, and HTML, CSS and JavaScript, which is interesting.

How do you balance your work and study commitments?

The trickiest part of it for me is trying to fit the study time around other work commitments, especially when it’s an apprenticeship exam period. It is do-able though – it just requires some flexibility, time management and lots of planning ahead!  

What support have you had during your apprenticeship?

All my Change Comms colleagues are very supportive and allow me the flexibility I need to carry out the apprenticeship, and my line-manager in particular has been great at helping me to set targets and to review my progress. All the staff at Creative Process Digital, the apprenticeship supplier, are also brilliant – especially our tutor, who is always ready to encourage and motivate the class.

What can you reveal about yourself that few people know?

I’d like to dive with humpback and blue whales, and maybe sharks too. I’d have to summon the courage to do that though. So far, the closest I’ve got is tracking an orca pod off the coast of Vancouver (luckily this was before they started flipping boats over).

A Multi-Channel Marketer apprentice will learn how to effectively manage and execute marketing strategies across various channels. It suits those who want to develop skills in areas like content creation, campaign management, and data analysis. The programme is well-suited for marketing and comms assistants, marketing administrators, social media assistants and those looking to enhance their marketing expertise.

Richard from Creative Process Digital will be on campus at our Staff Development Drop-in session on 16 May at The Meeting House, 11:00 - 14:00, email staffapprenticeships@sussex.ac.uk for more information.