From Learner to Leader: Beca’s Journey to Become a Social Media Manager

When Beca finished college, she wasn’t sure what came next.

Like many others, she considered university because it felt like the ‘right’ thing to do – but it quickly became clear that it wasn’t the right fit for her learning style or ambitions. She didn’t have a defined career path in mind, only a growing interest in social media and digital content.

What she did have was curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to learn. Eventually, choosing an apprenticeship through Baltic Apprenticeships gave her the structure, support, and real-world experience she needed to turn that interest into a thriving career.

Today, Beca is Social Media Manager at Beech Web Services Limited, having progressed through two Marketing apprenticeships, led high-impact campaigns, and played a key role in shaping the company’s digital offering – all before the age of 21!

University VS Apprenticeships

When Beca finished college, she was curious but uncertain about her next step. She had always enjoyed creative digital work and had developed a particular interest in social media through a unit on Social Media in Business during her IT BTEC.

Outside of the classroom, she began running a successful book blog on Instagram, where she instinctively explored branding, audience engagement, and content trends. Beca knew she wanted to turn her passion into a career, but traditional routes didn’t feel right.

“I was in college during COVID-19, and coming back to college after the pandemic made me realise I wasn’t as engaged in lecture-like settings.

I felt an apprenticeship was a more flexible and more suitable option for my learning style, where I got to learn and work at the same time.”

University didn’t offer the structure or the practical application she was looking for. Instead, she chose an apprenticeship: a route that would let her grow her skills in a real working environment, supported by industry experts.

Gaining Confidence & Building Skills

Beca joined Beech as a Digital Marketing apprentice – her first office-based role after working in retail. Transitioning from the fast-paced world of customer service to a professional office setting came with challenges, but it also marked the beginning of a rewarding learning curve.

“Adapting to a new environment was tough at first. I’d only ever worked in retail before my role at Beech, so getting used to an office environment and the responsibilities of a team like this was very different from what I was used to.”

Beca embraced every opportunity to grow, actively seeking out development tools to boost her confidence and expand her skillset. She completed CPD certifications through platforms like Google Digital Garage and HubSpot Academy, which helped her sharpen her knowledge of digital marketing tools, techniques, and terminology.

“I used opportunities from additional CPD, such as HubSpot and Google courses, to improve my digital marketing-specific skills.

Attending networking events has also helped me with my confidence in business professional environments, which has helped my communication skills.”

Throughout this period, the support from her manager and apprenticeship coach offered her the structure and encouragement she needed to grow.

The blend of on-the-job learning and guided coursework gave Beca a clear, practical pathway to turn her passion for digital content into real professional capability. What began as an interest in social media quickly evolved into a growing portfolio of skills – and a strong sense of direction for her career ahead.

From Learner to Leader

Beca’s progression was transformational for both her and the business. Beca launched and managed Beech’s first Instagram account, taking full responsibility for content creation, scheduling, and brand consistency. This work didn’t just build her technical, creative, and organisational skills – it laid the foundation for a new, revenue-generating service that the business had never offered before.

As her confidence and capability grew, so did her responsibilities. Beca began managing client-facing campaigns, applying her expanding knowledge of content strategy, email marketing, platform optimisation, and analytics. Her work became central to Beech’s evolving digital offer – bringing measurable impact, structure, and consistency to both internal and client-facing work.

One of Beca’s standout achievements was leading the TEDxWarrington 2023 social media campaign. From pre-event planning to capturing and publishing live content on the day, she delivered a full promotional strategy in line with strict TED brand guidelines – a challenge she took on with professionalism and creativity.

“I was solely responsible for capturing live footage and photography during the event, which I achieved to a high standard, in line with the tight brand guidelines outlined by the US-based TED organisation.”

Recognising her achievements, once Beca had completed her apprenticeship, Beech offered Beca a place on the Content Creator Apprenticeship and promoted her to Social Media Manager. This marked a significant milestone – not just in her career journey, but in Beech’s growth as a business. She moved from learner to leader, and in doing so, helped redefine what the company could offer.

Becoming a Mentor and Role Model

As Beech welcomed a new Digital Marketing Apprentice, Beca stepped confidently into a mentoring role.

Supporting Niamh, who joined the business in a similar position to where Beca had started just a short time earlier, became a meaningful chapter in her professional development.

“Niamh was close to my age when she started, so I saw myself in her. It felt good to help her through those early months – being able to pass on methods I’ve refined over time felt really rewarding. It showed me just how far I’ve come.”

Mentoring didn’t just benefit Niamh – it also helped Beca grow in new ways. The experience encouraged her to reassess and improve her own workflows, approach content creation with a fresh perspective, and reflect on her journey from apprentice to Social Media Manager.

“It helped me refine my processes, and sometimes step back to see things from another point of view – especially when asking for Niamh’s feedback on my content. It’s helped me grow in confidence and made me appreciate how much I’ve developed since I started.”

In a small, fast-paced team like Beech’s, having supportive colleagues is essential to maintaining efficiency and enabling growth.

Beca’s willingness to mentor and guide others has played a key role in this, helping to create a collaborative environment where knowledge is shared, challenges are tackled together, and apprentices are encouraged to develop into confident, capable professionals.

Advice for Aspiring Apprentices

For anyone unsure about whether university is the right path, or looking for a more practical, hands-on way to launch a career in digital, Beca’s a strong advocate for the apprenticeship route.

“Go for it! If you’re passionate about anything digital, there’s a space in this apprenticeship to learn about it and hone those skills into something you’ll take forward in your career for years to come.”

Her experience has helped her not only develop technical expertise but also build essential soft skills – like communication, professionalism, and leadership – that are vital in the workplace.

Final Thoughts

From uncertainty after college to a thriving career in social media marketing, Beca’s journey is a powerful reminder of how apprenticeships can unlock potential and shape futures.

Beca is a clear example of how talent, when given the right environment, mentorship, and opportunity, can develop into leadership.

Her growth is proof that the apprenticeship route isn’t just an alternative to university – it’s a powerful path to a meaningful and impactful career