Catherine Percival completed her Level 6 Marketing Manager Apprenticeship with Taylor and Francis, through us, Oxford Professional Education Apprenticeships. We caught up with Catherine to hear about how she was finding her apprenticeship…
Why did you decide to sign up to the apprenticeship?
Previously, I had completed the Level 2 and 3 Marketing Apprenticeships and then progressed onto the CIM Level 4 Diploma. This was the perfect path to lead me onto the Level 6 Apprenticeship and provided me with the basics of the marketing theory I would go on to further develop in the Level 6.
How did you find the apprenticeship?
The apprenticeship has been great! My tutor and my apprenticeship mentor have been a fantastic support network, not only with the apprenticeship, but with any personal issues I’ve faced along the way as well. I’ve loved getting to know the other students on the course and they have become good friends. I have gained the confidence and the knowledge to take the next leap in my career thanks to this apprenticeship.
How did the apprenticeship support your daily work?
Sometimes, when you’re doing the same things over and over, you can become quite tunnel visioned, doing things the way people tell you to do them just because they’ve always been done like that. Taking a step back and learning about the theory allows me to challenge my colleagues and consider alternative, more effective ways of doing things.
Tell us about the company and what your job role involves?
T&F are an academic publisher. My role as a Marketing Executive is to plan, implement, optimise and report on launching new journals into the market, as well as delivering campaigns to drive submissions to journals for our B2C audience.
How did Oxford Professional Education support you during your apprenticeship?
They have really gone above and beyond. I have faced some unexpected challenges during the apprenticeship, including being made redundant, which was really difficult as I’m very career driven. But my tutor and my mentor got me through, they put in calls to simply talk to me and make sure I was okay. They believed in me every step of the way and 18 months and 3 jobs later, I achieved the grade I really wanted and deserved.
Would you recommend this apprenticeship to others?
I would recommend this apprenticeship. It has been really beneficial to my organisation and me. I’ve been able to question my team with the knowledge to back up my suggestions and it has helped with my confidence when speaking and presenting.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting an apprenticeship?
Go for it! Apprenticeships got me to where I am today. I had no job at the age of 20 with only GSCEs and experience working in a supermarket. 8 years later, I have my Levels 2, 3, 4, and 6 marketing qualifications, I work for a fantastic company and I’m exactly where I want to be on my career journey. I never thought I’d get this far without going to college and university, which really didn’t suit me – I needed to be in a working environment and I’m so grateful for my apprenticeships.
Oxford Professional Education is a main provider of apprenticeships and help a range of organisations to find suitable apprentices. If you are interested in undertaking an apprenticeship in marketing, project management or procurement, get in touch with our team to find out more about any current opportunities.