Baltic Apprenticeships has welcomed back past Sales & Marketing apprentice, Laura Brown, as the business’s new Chief Commercial Officer. After a decade of significant achievements in the tech industry, Laura has returned to where her career began – with a wealth of experience in sales, marketing, and business development under her belt.
When Laura began her marketing career as a Sales & Marketing apprentice in May 2011, she had no idea that 13 years later she would return to Baltic and become the training provider’s CCO. As Chief Commercial Officer, Laura will be responsible for leading and scaling Baltic’s sales division’s output while crafting and executing commercial strategies that align with long-term business goals.
Laura Brown, Chief Operating Officer of Baltic Apprenticeships, expressed her enthusiasm about her new role:
“Baltic’s consistent growth and success over the last decade has been nothing short of incredible, and I’m joining at such a pivotal time.
There are some groundbreaking plans already in motion that are sure to be the catalyst for the company’s next stage of growth. I’m looking forward to providing the critical commercial support that underpins this next chapter of the Baltic journey.
I am eager to contribute to our future achievements and support our mission to foster career growth through high-quality education.”
Sales & Marketing Apprentice
In May 2011, Laura was unsure whether to take the traditional University route after completing her A-Levels. Despite having little understanding of Marketing, or the overall commercial operations of a business, she decided to apply for a Sales and Marketing apprenticeship.
After a successful interview, Laura started her professional journey with Baltic in May 2011 as a Sales & Marketing apprentice. Alongside her cohort of 7 apprentices, Laura learnt everything from cold calling to advertising campaigns and events. At the end of her 6-month apprenticeship, a progression opportunity arose in the company’s Marketing team, where Laura was appointed as Marketing Assistant and enrolled on a Level 3 Marketing apprenticeship.
In this role, Laura supported the business with the design and delivery of all marketing materials, managing email marketing and telemarketing campaigns as well as co-ordinating and attending nationwide events. Both of her apprenticeship programmes were instrumental in shaping her understanding of marketing and business operations.
Start-Ups to Scale-Ups
Laura’s time at Baltic cemented her career in sales and marketing. Since then, she has continued in the industry, and over the last ten years, she has focused on supporting and scaling B2B start-ups and fast-growing businesses across the UK, predominately within the tech space.
Laura’s career trajectory has been remarkable, marked most notably by her career progression at Intelligence Fusion, a Durham-based SaaS organisation. Before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Intelligence Fusion, Laura began as a Digital Marketing Manager. She quickly became responsible for the wider commercial functions, developing and implementing the sales, customer success and marketing strategies for the business.
Tony Hobbs, Chief Executive Officer of Baltic Apprenticeships, said:
“Laura’s extensive career success and return to Baltic Apprenticeships as Chief Commercial Officer is a testament to the lasting impact apprenticeship programmes can have.
Her impressive track record and vision align perfectly with our strategic goals, and we are excited to see her lead our commercial endeavours to new heights.”
During her tenure at Intelligence Fusion, she played a pivotal role in scaling the company. Laura supported Intelligence Fusion through its acquisition by a US-based risk management advisor, Sigma7, where she was appointed Director of Marketing for the five brands operating under the global group. Her approach helped to globalise the business and secure some of the world’s biggest companies as clients, significantly increasing revenue and the overall value of the business.
Vision for the Future
Returning to Baltic, Laura will drive the company’s commercial strategies, focusing on customer acquisition and enterprise growth. As CCO, she will leverage her deep understanding of both technology and market dynamics to introduce innovative, scalable solutions that will meet the evolving needs of learners, employers, and stakeholders.
Laura is passionate about harnessing the power of data analytics to redefine marketing strategies and sales techniques. By integrating advanced technological tools, Baltic will be able to offer more personalised and effective learning pathways, thereby enhancing learner engagement and success rates.
Laura’s experience and leadership are expected to greatly enhance Baltic’s market position and accelerate expansion; the future of Baltic looks extremely positive, with clear roadmaps in place to continue company growth and innovation.
About Baltic Apprenticeships
Baltic Apprenticeships is an Ofsted Outstanding independent training provider, dedicated to delivering high-quality education and training to aspiring professionals. The company is committed to preparing career starters, career changers, and career advancers for a successful future. Baltic Apprenticeships was the first training provider to offer a completely tech-focused and tech-driven learning solution and offers a wealth of experience and support to both learners and employers.
For more information about Baltic Apprenticeships, please contact:
Lydia Chilton
Content Marketing Lead
Baltic Apprenticeships