Beech’s Remarkable Growth Journey with Marketing Apprenticeships

Beech Web Services Limited, a progressive digital agency specialising in web design and development, identified a growing need to expand its service offering to stay competitive.

While websites remained the foundation of the business, the team recognised a widening gap between themselves and competitors, particularly in the area of social media services. Without in-house expertise, they were unable to meet rising demand or confidently position themselves as a full-spectrum digital marketing agency.

Believing firmly in the power of apprenticeships – having experienced their benefits firsthand –past-apprentice, Beech’s Development Manager, Sophy Bostock, turned to Baltic Apprenticeships to find a candidate who could fill this gap and bring fresh momentum to their marketing capabilities.

Their objective was clear: to establish social media as a standalone service and to alleviate pressure and reduce the workload on senior team members.

A Lack of Social Media Expertise

Beech had long established itself as a successful website development agency. But as the digital marketing space rapidly evolved, the company began to feel the absence of a crucial element – social media expertise.

“We were a website-focused company. We’d only dabbled in social media and were starting to see a gap in our local network between ourselves and competitors.”

The team had a vision to position themselves as a full-service digital marketing agency, but without a dedicated social media function, that title felt out of reach. Internally, operational demands were also stretching the team thin, and there was a clear need for additional support.

“I needed someone who could lighten my workload and take ownership of social media as a service.”

How Apprenticeships Helped Beech Expand

Already firm believers in the power of apprenticeships, Beech turned to Baltic Apprenticeships to introduce fresh talent to the team.

Beca stood out from the start. Although she didn’t have formal marketing qualifications, her passion, creativity, and hands-on experience made her a strong contender. Combined with her professionalism and eagerness to learn, she proved to be a natural fit for the role.

“She was a stand-out candidate. We loved her passion for social, she was very polite, well-spoken and had professionalism from the start.”

Beca first took on internal operations, streamlining WordPress maintenance and introducing a spreadsheet tracking system that immediately improved efficiency and client visibility. Her quick wins demonstrated initiative and a real eye for improvement.

Soon after, Beca launched and managed Beech’s Instagram account, transforming the company’s online presence and laying the foundation for offering social media as a client service. With support from Baltic’s training and growing confidence, she expanded into managing full client campaigns.

When Beca completed her Level 3 Digital Marketing apprenticeship, she was offered a place on the Level 3 Content Creator programme to further build on her momentum. She went on to:

• Launch lead-gen tools like a free social media audit and 30-day trial
• Introduce LinkedIn ad campaigns that generated over 210,000 impressions
• Overhaul Beech’s ClickUp CRM for improved collaboration
• Lead the social media delivery for TEDxWarrington, helping secure the agency as lead marketing partner for the next event

Growth, Results, & Return on Investment

Beca’s apprenticeship has had an undeniable impact on Beech’s operations and growth. What began as a solution to address a gap in social media expertise has since developed into a broader contribution across the business, improving internal processes and unlocking new services and revenue streams.

Beca’s apprenticeship journey has delivered measurable results, operational improvements, and cultural value that far exceed initial expectations. Hiring an apprentice is a long-term investment, and although the full benefits are still developing, Beech has experienced a 56% increase in turnover since Beca joined in 2022.

Her work has resulted in impressive, quantifiable marketing performance, including:

• A 32,700% increase in Instagram followers
• 75+ sign-ups for a client’s sustainability campaign through LinkedIn ads
• An average email open rate of 35%, far exceeding industry standards

While the data reflects her contribution – from substantial growth in social engagement to impressive campaign results – her influence goes far beyond the numbers. She has introduced new ways of working, streamlined internal systems, and expanded the services Beech can confidently offer to clients.

Additionally, Beca has taken on a mentorship role to Beech’s newest marketing apprentice, Niamh. Beca has helped create a supportive learning environment that enables the wider team to grow alongside her.

“Beca welcomed Niamh with open arms. She’s a real team player and can always be relied on for support of her colleagues. In a small company, that kind of support is invaluable.”

Through her drive, professionalism, and leadership, Beca has reshaped not only how the business operates but also what it can achieve moving forward. Looking ahead, Beech is already planning for more apprentices as the business grows. The return on investment, both financially and culturally, has been undeniable.