Life as an apprentice at Horizon Works – a Q and A with Jack Weir

From supporting email campaigns to delving into Google Analytics, Jack Weir, our digital marketing apprentice, has worked across our business since starting his apprenticeship in 2022.

Here, he gives an insight into his experiences…

Why did you decide to take up a digital marketing apprenticeship?

I chose a digital marketing apprenticeship as I knew I didn’t want to go to university. I have always been a hands-on learner and felt the learning style of an apprenticeship would help me progress my career. I developed an interest in digital marketing after finding out about it during my A Levels, as I was intrigued about this fast-paced and ever-evolving role.

What are the top 5 things you’ve learned during your apprenticeship?

1.SEO and social media have been the most interesting things to learn about. There is so much to discover when looking at how clients can benefit from these tactics. For instance, SEO and social media can help a company to enter a new industry or put itself at the forefront of a sector.

2.Learning about our clients and the industries they work in has been useful, and it has been helpful when creating content for these companies too.

3.Google Analytics: it’s a tool I can use effectively and to a high standard when completing website reports.

4.WordPress: I hadn’t used this before my apprenticeship but now it’s a tool I’m confident in using!

5.Working with Mailchimp has been very interesting. It has helped me to understand the platform and statistics alongside the content, and it has also helped me to understand brand styles and messaging too.

What tips would you give anyone looking to embark on an apprenticeship?

Do your research and find out about the company you’ll be working for and the sector they operate in. It’s important that you don’t rush into an apprenticeship. If you’re not interested in the company or the sector it works in, that might demotivate you, which will have a negative effect on your development.

How do you think you have benefited from your apprenticeship?

Although it is quite daunting at first, the mixture of working in a company while learning has helped me enormously. The hands-on learning style has made it easier for me to apply what I have learned into a working situation and that has further cemented what I have learned in my memory.

I can confidently say that all the content I have learned from my course has helped me develop further and I can voice my opinion and provide suggestions, thanks to help from my colleagues.

What has been the highlight of your time at Horizon Works?

Working on the Horizon Works website was a special moment for me and it was a very significant project for the business. I felt it was a great example of my progression.

What is your ambition?

To keep striving to educate myself in this role through on the job learning and through other courses. I want to broaden my knowledge and keep developing!

What do you get up to outside of work?

I’m quite an active person. It’s a great way for me to de-stress but also maintain my health, whether that’s at the gym, playing for my rugby team or playing football for a six a side team. I also like to watch Netflix and play Xbox games.

Jack’s Digital Marketing Apprenticeship delivered through Darlington-based Baltic Apprenticeships, which specialises in digital marketing and IT apprenticeships.