“One thing I know for sure is that I feel so confident with whatever role I go into next because my apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to have real working experience.”
Millie, a Digital Marketing apprentice, who earned a distinction in her Level 3 apprenticeship working entirely remote, has been a remarkable asset to the Baltic team. Throughout the past year, she has expertly managed various social media platforms, executed marketing strategies, and accomplished much more.
We recently inquired with Millie about her experience of working and completing an apprenticeship entirely remote.
Did you experience any challenges working remotely?
Originally, I thought I would not feel as included with the team but honestly, I have not once felt left out, I have always felt like a valuable member of the team just like everyone else, I know that when I have questions, or I am struggling I can call for my team for help on Microsoft Teams and they always provide useful guidance. Initially, it was challenging to separate work from home since both environments were the same. However, I eventually overcame this by creating distinct work and relaxation spaces. I feel like my main challenge has been deciding what I have for lunch!
Were there any advantages of completing your apprenticeship remotely? Did it prove any unique opportunities or benefits?
I think that sometimes in an office environment, there can potentially be a few distractions and a lot going on, so I think when it came to my apprenticeship projects, I could just get on with them in peace and quiet.
How did you stay motivated and engaged throughout your apprenticeship?
Having a list of everything you need to do to complete your apprenticeship and all the little tasks you need to do to get there. Also, one thing I did was had a countdown app on my phone stating the days I have left of my apprenticeship and that kept me motivated.
How did your manager and colleagues support you throughout your remote apprenticeship?
My manager and colleagues helped me massively throughout my apprenticeship programme, as they constantly supported me with any projects I had going on. My manager and I had weekly booked-in calls to go over my progress and give me the experience and tools I needed to thrive in my apprenticeship workplace projects.
How did Baltic as a training provider support your personal and professional development while remote?
My apprenticeship coach at Baltic was called Rachael, and I am so grateful for all the help she has given me. I knew I could message or call her at any time with any questions or concerns and she would be there to support me through whatever problem I faced. Also, the safeguarding team at Baltic were amazing, when I had an issue, they were quick and effective at solving it and making me feel at ease.
What advice would you give to others considering a remote apprenticeship, based on your own experience?
Make sure you have daily calls booked in with members of your team to stay in the loop and also have set dates booked in place where you will travel to the office for a day or meet up with the team so that you don’t feel like an outsider! My advice would be to put in the effort, and hard work really does equal great rewards, so give it your all, it goes so quick!
What were some of the key skills, knowledge, and behaviours you gained during your remote apprenticeship? How do you plan to apply them in your career?
Going into my apprenticeship I had very little marketing experience, and little working experience in general so carrying out my apprenticeship has given me the confidence to speak to all different types of people. In terms of my skills, I now have knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, HubSpot, Canva, Mailchimp and many more marketing tools. This knowledge will massively help me with the next role that I go into, and I am so thankful for that.
Can you share any tips or best practices for successfully completing a remote apprenticeship, based on what you learnt during your own experience?
The main piece of advice I would give to people working remotely is to have a proper work set up, which may be in a separate office room in your home, a desk in your room or sitting at the kitchen table. Make sure the space is minimalistic and clear, only with the things you need to work on and stay focused, write a daily to-do list every day to stay motivated and have your phone on do not disturb! One thing I always did on my lunch was take a quick walk, just to have a change of environment and refresh myself for the afternoon.
What are your plans after completing your apprenticeship?
Firstly, I am going to have a little break from working! I am going away with my family and also want to make the right, thought-out decision in regards to what my next job role will be but one thing I know for sure is that I feel so confident with whatever role I go into next because my apprenticeship has given me the opportunity to have real working experience, seeing how a successful business operates and how teams work together to get tasks completed. I have been looking at Junior Marketing Assistant roles and also higher-level apprenticeships as I want to always continue my development, even though I have learned more than I could have imagined, in the constantly changing world of digital marketing there is always more to learn.
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