National Apprenticeship Week is here!

So I wanted to share with you how this apprenticeship has transformed my life for the better.

During my 9 months as a Podcast Marketing Apprentice at Flamingo Heights, I have already acquired so much valuable knowledge, and a whole host of skills I didn’t have before. As well as helping me to learn so many new things, it has also done wonders for my self confidence.

As someone who has struggled most of her life to figure out what her career should be, and what it should look like, discovering Flamingo Heights and this apprenticeship opportunity has truly been a lifeline in my career journey.

My Career Journey

As a child I LOVED writing and I LOVED talking to and meeting people. I excelled in English at school, thrived in Drama, and was at my happiest during lunch times when I could chat away and laugh with my close friends. I was a social butterfly who loved to learn. But when it came to my future career, I didn’t really have a clue. Like most people at school, I was rushed into choosing between college and sixth form, and then rushed to pick a course and career path to work towards. Consequently, I spent years of my life unhappy and unsatisfied, bouncing between different courses, and even going to university to pursue a career in something I eventually discovered wasn’t for me. This eventually led to me leaving university all together, mid way through my second year.

After this, my life change dramatically. I was deeply unhappy, stuck in hospitality jobs and wasting my life away in a depressed and unhappy state, constantly wondering what it was I was meant to be doing. I spent years trying to find myself, and many years being sad and upset that I’d lost my opportunity to study anything else. Due to my age and circumstances, I could no longer pursue full-time education, and if I did want to, I’d have to pay a lot of money for it.

After several years of being unhappy, I decided I wanted to take back control of my life, and did research into what path I could take into education. I was twenty three, and had reached a point in my life where I really wanted to educate myself further. I needed a new challenge, and I wanted something to work towards.

I reflected on my passion for writing and social interaction, and considered my love for drama and media at school. I eventually realised that deep down I was a creative person at heart, and I knew then that I wanted to work in the media industry, but where to even start? What kind of job could be out there that could offer lots of social interaction, whilst also offering me the opportunity to put my writing skills and passion for English to good use, and on top of that, offer all of this to someone without any relevant qualifications? It seemed impossible, but it wasn’t.

Discovering Flamingo Heights

I discovered Flamingo Heights entirely by chance. I had been scouring the internet for months, looking for the right opportunity. I’d stumbled upon the idea of an apprenticeship, after realising it was an avenue I could take to go back to education, whilst still earning enough money to live comfortably.

The wonderful thing about apprenticeships is that they are open to everyone, no matter your age, background or previous career path. So, as someone who had spent years of her life in and out of the wrong types of education and no longer able to pursue college or university, an apprenticeship seemed like the perfect path to take.

One evening, after arriving home from my hospitality job, I did my usual routine of looking through the apprenticeship opportunities on the government website, and I’d noticed a vacancy: ‘Digital Marketing Apprentice at Flamingo Heights Podcast Studio.’ I was immediately interested. Not only did the name of the studio sound FABULOUS, but I was an avid fan of podcasts, and the vacancy details were everything I could’ve dreamed of in a job role. Creative writing, meeting and greeting guests and clients, editing and graphic design, it was perfect in every way, it was exactly what I’d been searching for… and it was also a closed vacancy.

I’d missed the deadline, and I was devastated.

After so much time spent scouring the internet for the right opportunity, I’d finally stumbled upon it: the perfect job. But it was just out of my reach. Or was it? Something in my head and my heart told me that night that this was MY job, this was something I needed to pursue, I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away, even if the application deadline had passed. This job was meant for me, and I was going to do what I could to get it. So I did the only thing that I could do next, and I reached out to Ashleigh via email. I told her I’d discovered the apprenticeship opportunity, that I admired the ethos of the business and what they stood for, and that I, in essence, would be the perfect candidate for the role.

Ashleigh responded almost instantly, and I was offered the opportunity to interview for the role. I was so excited, and so happy! Yet, I was also nervous. Opportunities like the one at Flamingo Heights don’t come around very often, and I knew this role was meant for me. The day of the interviewed rolled around, and it was so much fun! Meeting the flock for the first time, I felt an instant connection, and fell completely in love with the studio. I left the interview happy and hopeful.

A few hours later, my phone rang. To my delight, it was Baltic Apprenticeships calling to share the exciting news: I’d been offered the apprenticeship role! I was over the moon; the opportunity I had awaited for so long was finally here, and I couldn’t wait to embark on my new journey towards becoming a digital marketer.

This was my chance to prove myself and work towards a career that truly resonated with me.

My Time at Flamingo Heights So Far

If I were to sum up my time so far at Flamingo Heights in three words, they would be, fun, flamboyant and impactful. Flamingo Heights not only do incredible work, but are the most amazing, supportive team of creatives. Their business values also perfectly align with my own.

The opportunities that I have already been given are just incredible. Within the first several months in my role, I was taken to London to attend The Podcast Show and had even been given the opportunity to volunteer at incredible events such as the Thinking Digital Conference and TedX Newcastle.

I’ve also had countless opportunities to work with and meet inspirational businesses and creators, witnessing first hand the impact Flamingo Heights has made to their podcasting goals. It is a truly rewarding and inspirational role, providing me with a new sense of purpose and really unleashing my creativity.

As well as the amazing opportunities I have afforded from this role, I have also developed so much both academically and mentally. Prior to joining Flamingo Heights, I lacked confidence in my computer skills and was overwhelmed by the prospect of sending out an email!

Fast forward nine months and I have developed incredible computer skills, mastered several software operations, and I am now a whizz when it comes to sending out emails!

Furthermore, I’ve successfully passed exams in marketing and coding, acquired skills in creating transcripts, crafting podcast show notes, and can now confidently create, draft and post social content on behalf of the studio! I’ve also done a bit of photography here and there, too!

My Apprenticeship Changed My Life!

Before joining the flock, I found myself at a crossroads, having experienced set backs in various educational pursuits that left confidence in my future shattered.. I feared I’d be stuck in a job I hated for the rest of my life, with no clear vision for my future. However, everything has changed since then, and I am so thankful to the Flamingo Heights flock for recognising the potential in me, and providing me with the environment to truly thrive.

Apprenticeships serve as a lifeline for countless individuals just like myself. Many of us find ourselves stuck, pursuing things we think we have an interest in, only to later realise they aren’t right for us. This happens so often to so many, and apprenticeships offer people like me the opportunity to develop new skills and gain hands-on practical experience, empowering people towards a more fulfilling future in a career they love.

We're eager to hear about your apprenticeship experiences, whether you've been an apprentice or employer! Share your story with us in the comments!