Achieve your DREAM marketing role with a top company through an apprenticeship!

Do you want to work for Google, Meta or another top company and don’t fancy University? You’ve come to the right place!

What is a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a paid job where the employee learns and gains valuable experiences. Alongside on-the-job training, apprentices spend at least 20% of their working hours completing classroom-based learning with a college, university or training provider which leads to a nationally recognised qualification.

You will complete a Level 3 Digital Marketing course, which consists of a portfolio showcasing all the work and projects you work on. You will also also take exams on the fundamentals of digital marketing and coding, but don’t worry, you will be fully prepared for your exams thanks to the amazing 1:1 training of your personal coach and through group coaching sessions, bootcamps and webinars.

So, you are getting real world marketing experience at some of the best companies in the world, learning new skills and being paid to do it! 

You’ll have no University debt and a great CV at the end of your apprenticeship – sounds great right!

Digital Marketing – What exactly is this?

Digital marketing encompasses all of your marketing activities that take place online. Its influence to engage customers grows every year as more people use the internet to browse, connect and buy.

According to recent studies, the number of people using the internet is 4.95 billion. That’s nearly 63 percent of the world’s population! The increase in mobile use also continues, as 5.31 billion people now use their phones to access the internet.  
That’s a lot of potential customers to reach online and it’s the job of digital marketers to devise and execute digital campaigns that do just that.
This includes not only email, social media, and web-based advertising, but also text and multimedia messages as a marketing channel.

This is what your role could look like:

You could be placed in a variety of marketing roles – from Sales and Data Analysts to a Social Media and Product Marketer.
You will work closely with your guide (mentor) in your team and your line manager. You will work collaboratively on campaigns, strategic planning, content creation and execution – developing skills such as communication, presenting, project management, working with stakeholders and more.

By the end of your apprenticeship you will have all the skills required to excel in any role within the marketing industry!

Why should you do a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship?

1. No debt and no need for student loans

With the cost of university increasing each year many are looking for alternative routes to secure their dream roles. An apprenticeship is the perfect alternative. Your employer and the Government pay for your tuition expenses, so you don’t need to take out a student loan. Some apprenticeship programs even offer a relocation bonus if you have to move for your program – pretty great right!

2. On the job experience and therefore more employable

Unlike University, where you sit in a lecture hall and learn skills from someone standing at the front of a class, doing this apprenticeship you will be in the office at your place of work and you can apply what you learn from the apprenticeship straightaway in the workplace. You can collaborate with your team, network, socialise and get exposure to incredible real world marketing opportunities. 

Because you’ll be learning on-the-job with your employer, you’ll gain lots of experience to enhance your CV whilst studying for your level 3 apprenticeship. This gives you an advantage over University graduates from full-time courses, who wouldn’t have had as many opportunities to use what they learnt in the workplace.

3. 1:1 Coaching and Support

You will have the amazing benefit of a 1:1 personal coach who will be with you every step of the way throughout the entire duration of your apprenticeship, from both the training provider and your employer. You’ll also get access to the apprenticeship provider’s student support services and online community network.

Don’t miss out on securing your dream role and kickstarting your digital marketing career – follow us on social media to stay up to date on all upcoming apprenticeship programs. Join our community, ask questions and take the next step to a new career!

Click Here to learn more about Digital Marketing apprenticeships here.

What is involved in a Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship?

Do you have a strong interest in Digital Marketing? Are you eager to learn about the digital world? Do you have a passion for online marketing including social media, the promotion of helping brands grow online? Then this is the right qualification for you!

Why is Digital Marketing so important?

Digital marketing is a critical part of the survival of a businesses online presence. It allows businesses to connect with their customers online through SEO and PPC via social media on email marketing (which is something you will learn in this apprenticeship)! Here a few things that you should know about this Level 3 Qualification in Digital Marketing:

Duration

This is an 18 months Level 3 Apprenticeship in Digital Marketing.

Portfolio

During your 18 months completing this course, you will need to document your work and this should be done through creating a portfolio which shows evidence of the things that you have worked on and completed throughout the apprenticeship. Your portfolio will be assessed towards the end of the apprenticeship by an end point assessor to see if you have met all your competencies. A competency is a skill and you should be able to show that you have demonstrated this through your work. The overall aim of this is to showcase what you have learnt and how you have applied it in an everyday scenario.

Trainings

Eventually you will undergo training with your training provider in order to ensure you are learning the relevant skills as a part of your apprenticeship. Then you will go over content that is relevant for your exams and the world of digital marketing.

What is OTJ?

OTJ (Off the Job Training) is something that you must complete in order to gain your qualification at the end of the apprenticeship. As an apprentice, you will work for your employer 80% of the time and the other 20% of the time will go towards training, exams, completing your portfolio and essentially any learning and development. Off the job training must be directly relevant to your qualification. These can include:

  • Attending events relating to your industry
  • Getting inspired by stories & articles
  • Signing yourself up for programs that will develop you personally and professionally
  • Work shadowing
  • Online resources e.g. ted talks, YouTube videos or podcasts 
  • Spending time working on your coursework/portfolio 
  • Coach or line manager meetings (this shows personal growth and development)
  • Networking (virtually or in-person)
  • Workplace training

Exams

You will need to complete three exams in order to receive your qualification at the end. These include: 

  1. Level 3 Digital Marketer in Marketing Principles
  2. Level 3 Digital Marketer in Principles of Coding
  3. Google Analytics Individual Qualification

End Point Assessment

Your end point assessment will consist of a few things:

  1. Gateway
  2. A completed portfolio 
  3. Passing all 3 exams
  4. Synoptic Project
  5. EPA (End Point Assessment) Interview

What is Gateway?

Gateway is a meeting where you hand in all the relevant documents that are required for completing the apprenticeship. You will have your line manager and digital marketing coach in the meeting where you will sign the employer reference, upload your exam certificates and portfolio.

What is a Synoptic Project?

The synoptic project plays an important role in your end point assessment. This project is designed for you to show evidence of completing competencies in the apprenticeship standard. You will begin this project a minimum of 5 days after your gateway meeting. You have four working days to complete this which should be completed in a controlled environment, usually away from work and during this time you shouldn’t complete any work-related tasks.

Once you have completed Gateway and Synoptic Project, you have to submit your synoptic project and you will have your EPA Interview 10 days within submission of your project.

What is the EPA Interview?

The EPA interview consists of a 1.5-2 hour professional discussion about your portfolio and synoptic project.

Conclusion

As someone who is personally coming towards the end of their apprenticeship, If you are interested in all the things that I mentioned, then I believe that this would be a great opportunity to build the foundations of your career in Digital Marketing. Feel free to refer to the Digital Marketer Standard where you will learn more in-depth about the skills and knowledge this course has to offer.

If you have any questions or queries regarding this apprenticeship or any others, feel free to reach out to us via our LinkedIn, Twitter or Website!

Digital Marketing, is it for you?

Digital Marketing. Technology meets advertising. Does that sound like you? If so, read on to find out what to expect from Digital Marketing. You can also find out how to boost your career with an apprenticeship, ready?

What you can expect

Digital marketing is often defined as the promotion of brands to connect with potential customers, this can be by using the internet or other forms of digital communication. The main focus of Digital Marketing is on designing, building and implementing digital campaigns. This takes place across a variety of online and social media platforms. The Digital Marketing apprenticeship typically requires working as part of a team, in which you will have responsibility for some of the straightforward elements of the overall marketing plan or campaign. 

marketing reporting tools on a computer

Digital Marketing knowledge and understanding

Throughout the apprenticeship, you will learn a multitude of skills. These skills include:

  • The Principles of coding
  • How to apply basic marketing principles
  • How to apply the customer lifecycle
  • The role of customer relationship marketing
  • How teams work effectively to deliver digital marketing campaigns and can deliver accordingly
  • The main components of Digital and Social Media Strategies
  • The principles of all of the following specialist areas: search marketing, search engine optimisation, e-mail marketing, web analytics and metrics, mobile apps and Pay-Per-Click and understands how these can work together
  • The similarities and differences, including positives and negatives, of all the major digital and social media platforms
  • How to respond to the business environment and business issues related to digital marketing and customer needs
  • How to follow digital etiquette

The duration of this apprenticeship is typically 18 months. Don’t worry at all, although these are a lot of skills to learn around a year, you will be supported by a training provider throughout.

Marketing report on key metrics

Entry Criteria and Competencies

The entry criteria depend on the training provider but are likely to include GCSEs, A levels, a level 2 apprenticeship or other relevant qualifications. Relevant experience and/or an aptitude test with a focus on functional maths is also of use. Employers are also likely to be looking for a proven passion for digital and social media.

The technical competencies required for this apprenticeship are:

  • Written communication
  • Research
  • Technologies
  • Data
  • Customer service
  • Problem-solving
  • Analysis
  • Implementation
  • The application of at least two of the following specialist areas: search marketing, search engine optimisation, email marketing, web analytics and metrics, mobile apps and Pay-Per-Click
  • Effective use of digital tools
  • Digital Analytics
  • Interprets and follows

A brief summary of these competencies is that you will need to have a good level of written communication skills for a range of audiences and digital platforms. As far as research, you’ll need to analyse and contribute information on the digital environment to inform short and long-term digital communications strategies and campaigns. You will also be expected to use a wide variety of digital technologies and tools over a range of platforms and user interfaces to achieve marketing objectives.

Colleagues working together positively

Conclusion

In summary, a digital marketing apprenticeship is an excellent starting point for anyone looking to pursue a career in the digital field. A digital marketing apprenticeship is likely to help you gain experience for new job opportunities. You will be earning while learning which is a great way to gain experience while learning from past mistakes. If Marketing interests you as a career, this is a great opportunity to build connections in the industry. The type of job roles that will open up over the coming years could be endless for anyone that commits their future to a career in Digital Marketing.

If an apprenticeship interests you, have a look at our website. Why not follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn too?

How is the Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship assessed?

Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship

Thinking of doing an Digital Marketing Apprenticeship and build a successful career? It is an excellent way to kickstart your career and a great opportunity filled with experiences and learnings which will develop your skills and expertise. In this era, businesses cannot be successful without marketing so this can be a perfect chance to help a business grow! Within a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship, you will learn industry skills, apply them, and earn all at the same time. Does this sound good to you? If yes, keep reading this blog to find out more about how the apprenticeship is structured and how you will be assessed.

On-Programme Breakdown of Assessments in the Digital Marketing Apprenticeship

Throughout the apprenticeship you will take 3 core exams that will equip you with all the knowledge and skills you need to become a well rounded Digital Marketer.

The 3 key assessments within the Digital Marketing Apprenticeship programme
Level 3 Digital Marketing assessments

Level 3 Principles of Coding:

  • Appreciation of logic
  • HTML/Java languages
  • Compatibility of code on different platforms
  • Components involved to make the web work

Level 3 Marketing Principles:

  • Basic marketing principles
  • The role of customer relationship marketing 
  • How teams work effectively to deliver digital marketing campaigns and can deliver accordingly 
  • Customer lifecycle 
  • Main components of digital and social media strategies 

Google Analytics Individual Qualification

  • What is Google Analytics and the importance 
  • Understanding the Google Analytics interface 
  • Creating and analysing three different type of reports (Audience, Acquisition, and Behaviour)
  • Basic campaign and conversion tracking 

What is the End Point Assessment in the Digital Marketing Apprenticeship?

The process of the End Point Assessment
The 3 core aspects of the End Point Assessment

Summative Portfolio:

You will produce a portfolio which evidences your real-work projects that includes everything in the apprenticeship standard. The portfolio will be assessed as part of the end point assessment so it’s crucial to make sure you hit all the competencies! The aim of the portfolio is to showcase your very best work that you have done at work and show that you are a brilliant digital marketer in all aspects of marketing. Below are some examples of evidence you can include in your portfolio:

Employer Reference:

The employer reference forms a key part of the End Point Assessment. The intent of the employer reference is for your employer to support apprentices by validating the evidence that they have submitted. Employers will be asked to provide an overall evaluation for each area of the competencies whilst giving detail of how you meet the requirements for the apprenticeship standard.

Synoptic Project:

The synoptic project is a crucial part of the End Point Assessment, it is designed to assess apprentices of all the competencies in the apprenticeship standard which is irrespective of the workplace. The project will take four working days to complete in which you will be away from your day to day work and must be in a ‘controlled’ environment. This typically means doing the project in a quiet room or a dedicated workstation where you are away from the normal place of work.

Professional Interview:

The interview is the last thing to complete in your End Point Assessment. It is a structured professional discussion between you and the independent assessor and a last chance to show them your specialities within Digital Marketing. The interview will be focused on your portfolio, the synoptic project, as well as referencing the employer reference too. During the discussion, the assessor will ask you various questions about everything you have submitted, explore aspects of your work in further detail, and validate your quality of work you have produced.

Results:

The grading process takes place at the end of your End Point Assessment after everything is completed. The output is a single grade; Pass, Merit, or Distinction. The grading decision is made after the interview and is typically made on the basis of the totality of the evidence presented.

Conclusion

Digital Marketing is an incredibly varied field to work in as there are so many aspects to explore. You will have an excellent opportunity to really find out what sparks your interest and develop this into a speciality. The number of different areas you can work in is immense. Be sure to do your research on the company as the apprenticeship will be based on what the company does. For more details on how the apprenticeship works, take a look at the other blogs!

Top 3 Tips To Kickstart Your Career In Digital Marketing

Do you have no experience and want to learn what digital marketing is and how you can get a job role in this industry? After reading these three tips you will be on your way to landing your dream job in digital marketing.

Tip #1 Gain experience and certificates from free online courses

Google Garage offers many free online courses that can help you understand what digital marketing is and gain experience using digital marketing platforms and tools. Some courses reward you with a certificate upon completion which you can add to your CV, this can get you ahead of the competition as your potential employer can see you are a self-starter and keen to learn more about digital marketing. These courses among many others can give you a great advantage when it comes to securing a job in digital marketing:

LinkedIn, jobs

Tip #2 Updating your online presence

Landing a job in digital marketing isn’t easy as it is a highly competitive job market. Updating your online presence on LinkedIn is by far the best way to secure more interviews. Making sure you have a professional profile picture and up to date profile with all previous work experience will give recruiters a much easier time to pick you when they are looking for employees. Make sure to add your certificates from the online courses above.

Tip #3 Work experience

A good way to start gaining real work experience is to start an internship or an apprenticeship in digital marketing. It will teach you the roles and responsibilities that digital marketers have and it could lead to a full time job offer after completion. Another way to gain experience is to start your own projects. Creating and managing social media platforms is a great way to gain experience in social media marketing and it will show your potential employer how create and passionate you are about marketing.

Conclusion

The opportunities of securing a digital marketing role are increasing as there are more remote jobs due to the pandemic, lots of employers are looking for new candidates to help them grow their business online, it’s a perfect time to start your career in tech. If you are looking to start your career in digital marketing, make sure you follow these three steps to help you understand what different roles and responsibilities you can have in a digital marketing role and land your dream job. If you want to learn more about digital marketing make sure to sign up to receive more insights on digital marketing.

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