Your Career. Our Priority.
“After graduating in the height of the pandemic, it became apparent very early on in my job seeking journey that the requirements for even entry level roles had increased dramatically. As such, it was near impossible to find roles that I could apply for, even with my degree.
It was during this time that I came across an apprenticeship role advertised on Indeed with EMA Training. An apprenticeship hadn’t even crossed my mind as an option before but after just reading the job description I was interested to know more from the get-go.
It was from my research into how the apprenticeship programme works that really solidified my desire to pursue an apprenticeship. My degree armed me with great theoretical knowledge of the media industry but I realised that an apprenticeship would give me invaluable experience that a degree or masters could never replicate.”
“Since I started at CCM Group, my responsibilities have continued to increase in both quantity and size.
At the start of my apprenticeship, I had little sole responsibility for tasks and generally worked in a supportive role. I’m now responsible for all CCM and My Smart Desk socials, write blogs, run email campaigns, calculate and record KPI’s, conduct market research, support the graphic design team, and even joined the events planning team! I never expected to get so much out of my apprenticeship but it really has been an invaluable experience.”
“I’m always being exposed to new software; whether that’s for editing, CMS systems, or shadowing the systems team while they code. I’ve definitely noticed my confidence and understanding improve since the start of my apprenticeship and it’s been incredibly useful to develop these kinds of skills.”
“I still find it shocking when I look back to where I was when I first started my apprenticeship compared to now. It’s like I’m a whole new person! In just 6 months I’ve become the most confident I’ve ever been and feel so secure in what I do. I love the work I do and get such great job satisfaction which is a massive thing for me.
Before I began my apprenticeship, I thought there was no way I’d be able to live on an apprentice wage as a 22/23 year old after graduating from university. But I could not have been more wrong. I am more financially independent than ever and am able to save each month to support myself and my future. I may work more hours than previous jobs but I love the work. And it’s true what they say, ‘it’s not really work when you enjoy what you do!’
I’ve also been incredibly lucky to have found a place at CCM. The care and attention they give to every single employee is something I have never seen before in any previous role. The culture is incredible, with a strong focus on supporting the wellbeing of the team. We have a wellbeing session each week which involves both internal and external speakers helping us focus on our health and wellbeing. As someone who has struggled with mental health issues for many years, this is the most amazing resource to have at my disposal. Not only this, the company has taken the time to train multiple employees to be mental health first aiders, meaning that there is always someone to turn to when I am struggling.
Without my apprenticeship, I doubt I ever would have been able to get the place I am today. Both career wise and personally. I have been given such support from EMA employees (specifically Louisa and James); especially at the very start of my apprenticeship when I wasn’t happy at my first workplace. The support and encouragement I received really helped me realise that my happiness is much more important than anything else and that has really stuck with me. I couldn’t be more thankful.”
“I’ve been incredibly lucky to land a place at CCM. The entire team has been so supportive and welcoming from day one. I’ve always been encouraged to voice my opinions, ask questions and jump into any project that interests me. The freedom, responsibility and support I’ve received has been incredible.
Once a month, I have a 1-2-1 with my line manager to ensure I’m where I want to be with both my professional and personal life, we set goals during these meetings and it really helps as a reflective tool to see just how far I’ve progressed at CCM in such a short space of time.
CCM is also a great advocate for personal development. I have two hours every fortnight dedicated to this. It’s a time that we can take out of the word day to develop skills, take some time out and focus on ourselves. It’s one the most important aspects to our work culture.
The CCM goal is to ‘enable greatness’ and they certainly live by that everyday in their dedication to the team.”
“The support I received from day one of searching for an apprenticeship placement was incredible. James did a wonderful job sending out my CV and arranging meetings with employers and really took a lot of the stress out of the job searching process; especially since I had a retail job at the time, it was such a relief to not worry about losing time looking for potential employment.
A month into my apprenticeship, I realised I wasn’t happy with my original placement at another company. I was so anxious about contacting EMA about the issue I was facing and was worried that I would be kicked off the course. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I received separate calls from both James and Louisa who both reassured me that my being happy at the place I worked should be the number one priority and completely supported my decision to leave and look for employment elsewhere.
This happened on Monday afternoon, by Tuesday morning James was already sending my updated CV to potential employers and by Wednesday morning I had an interview with the directors at CCM and was offered the job that evening!
The meetings with Louisa and my manager are great and are really helpful in my manager’s understanding of where I’m at with my apprenticeship progress and what she and CCM can do to help my progress.
I can’t speak highly enough of the staff at EMA. You can see how much they care about their students and put in so much effort in ensuring they feel comfortable and happy in their positions.”
“I would say my greatest achievement so far would be the freedom and trust that I’ve been given to manage one of our subsidiary brands’ marketing from it’s launch. In that time we’ve achieved great TikTok success with one short video gaining over 120K views within the first month.
There have been so many moments at CCM where I have felt I’ve achieved something. The job satisfaction I get is something I’ve never experienced before and it’s the biggest motivator. I can’t wait to experience more!”
“100%! The experience and exposure you get as an apprentice is incredible. I have learnt so much in the past 6 months from just being a member of the team. The balance between work and attending college is so easy to manage and you’re always supported and have someone to turn to with any issue you may have.
There seems to be a lot of negativity around apprenticeships, with schools and colleges really pushing the university path on students. But I would argue that I’m gaining a lot more valuable skills and real world experience from my apprenticeship than I ever did at university. When it comes to creative roles like marketing, hands-on experience really isn’t something you can emulate in the classroom.
In case I haven’t said it enough; the experience really is the golden ticket!”
“I feel like the possibilities are endless at CCM! I definitely see myself in a full time role at CCM, gaining more and more experience and really establishing myself as a marketer.
I’m also looking at starting the Level 4 Marketing Executive apprenticeship at EMA following my completion of level 3. I’m very lucky to be working at a company that values personal development and would allow me to pursue my interest in the industry while working alongside the team.
There are so many different things to learn and look forward to and I’m certainly not closing any doors!”
If you’re interested in growing your marketing team and hiring an apprentice, EMA are here to help that happen – please click here.
If you’re interested in becoming an apprentice, like Jordan, EMA would love to hear from you! Click here.
In just 6 months I’ve become the most confident I’ve ever been and feel so secure in what I do. I love the work I do and get such great job satisfaction which is a massive thing for me.
Digital Marketing Apprentice, Jordan
