Six months ago, I embarked on an exciting journey as multi-channel Marketing Apprentice at IMPOWER Consulting. Looking back, it’s great to see how much I’ve learned and grown in such a short time. From playing a key role in planning and organising events to collecting data for monthly board reports, my time at IMPOWER has been both rewarding and insightful. 

Learning the ropes 

Starting as an apprentice can be daunting, but IMPOWER has provided a supportive and engaging environment that has allowed me to thrive. From my first day at IMPOWER I was welcomed into a team that values wellbeing, creativity, innovation, and continuous learning. My role has involved a mix of social media management, event planning and data analysis all of which have given me a well-rounded understanding of digital marketing. 

Gaining practical experience 

Attending and assisting at events like the National Children and Adult Services Conference and the ICS Network Conference has been a real highlight of my apprenticeship to date. In less than three months, I represented the marketing team at the ICS Network Conference and was responsible for coordinating collateral and merchandise, setting up and managing our stand, and speaking to attendees at the event.  

My manager (Chloe Saunders) and Head of Marketing and Communications (Lucienne Limer) helped me through the preparation process to make sure everything was well organised, which really increased my confidence going into the event. On the day of the conference, the health team (Su Gordon-Graham and Oliver Barnes) were super supportive. They highlighted the importance of those first conversations and shared their tips on how to engage with others, which helped me appreciate the value of building relationships. In addition to the key role I played in setting up the stand and interacting with attendees, I attended an engaging talk titled ‘How Can We Think Differently About the Health of Children and Young People?’ The session offered some great perspectives on the key challenges and potential solutions. 

Overcoming challenges 

No journey is without its challenges. Initially, the busy event season felt overwhelming, and I was anxious about attending my first conference. However, with the support of my team, I gradually gained the assurance I needed. On the day of my first event, I felt welcomed into the collaborative culture at IMPOWER, which made a big difference in my experience. 

We also faced unexpected hurdles, like train cancellations and logistical issues with setting up a new stand and photo backdrop. Despite these setbacks, I adapted quickly, found effective solutions, and learned important lessons for future events. Overall, I walked away from this event with new connections, valuable knowledge from industry professionals, and a stronger skillset that will serve me well in my career. 

Diving into projects 

We are in the process of implementing a new CRM system which has provided valuable learning opportunities. I have been leading on setting up email templates for newsletters and event invitations. Through this process, I've gained experience with tools like Photoshop and Illustrator and created brand profiles and content blocks within the CRM system. various content blocks to streamline future creation.

Key achievements so far: 

Looking ahead 

As I continue my apprenticeship, I'm excited to keep building my skills and taking on more responsibility. I'm looking forward to deepening my understanding of marketing and contributing to IMPOWER’s mission of driving positive change in the public sector. 

For anyone thinking about an apprenticeship, I highly recommend it. The hands-on experience, mentorship, and opportunities for growth have been more than I could have hoped for. I'm truly grateful to be part of IMPOWER Consulting and can’t wait to see what’s ahead!