Having always enjoyed working with numbers, Amy was drawn toward the Payroll industry. After doing some digging, Amy found that through completing a Payroll qualification she would be able to branch out further into the finance sector, or change routes and step into HR. This is where her journey began…

Starting in a bureau as an apprentice, Amy was enrolled onto EMA’s Payroll Administrator apprenticeship course, in 2020. This role was Amy’s introduction to the finance industry, which led her to working with different CIS and PAYE schemes, broadening her exposure to variances in payroll.

Reflecting on her apprentice experience, Amy shared, “I gained so many technical payroll and professional skills, which are transferrable to any working and social environment. I was trained in different payroll software, pension schemes, and legislations such as GDPR which are absolutely critical to the role. Being able to learn practical skills and then learn the theory alongside it made it so much easier to remember and apply in exams. As an apprentice you are introduced to an office based working environment and the etiquette that comes with that becomes second nature, preparing you for your whole working life ahead of you. You develop an understanding for how businesses are run and your progression within that company. The bigger picture becomes clear and you feel valued as part of a team.”

After a career change, and trying a role in the IT industry, Amy stepped back into Payroll, as a Manager working within a small business. Whilst this role reminded Amy of everything she enjoyed about Payroll, she still found herself looking for more…

Where is Amy now?

In February 2023, Amy joined the EMA Training team as a Payroll Mentor and Trainer! Amy was excited to take this next step in her career, and to use her experience and skillset to impact other people’s careers.

Having now been in the role for 3 months, Amy is loving the variation of her role! Having been a Payroll apprentice, Amy explained that she can empathise with learners and better support them in their development, adding that working in the apprenticeship industry is, “busy, but exciting! I love working with people and feeling like you have made a difference to someone’s life – it’s very rewarding.”

Loving her own apprentice experience, Amy enjoys doing what she can to replicate a great experience for her own Learners. She shared, “I would advise anyone who is interested in gaining experience alongside a qualification, to do an apprenticeship! The misconception that you can’t get as far is crazy, as the progression is there in the same way that A-Levels lead on to university. Regardless of the sector, apprenticeships are so interesting and the combined work and study offer a great step into a career start.”

If you would like to become a Payroll Apprentice, like Amy, make sure to get in touch with the EMA team:
Contact Us – contact EMA Training | EMA Training

For more information, click below:

• Payroll Administrator – Level 3 
• Assistant Accountant – Level 3
• Professional Accounting Technician – Level 4

Georgia AAT Apprenticeship Learner

Since the age of 14, Georgia knew that she wanted to develop her interest in numbers into a career in accountancy, but a lack of confidence caused her to doubt herself. Following secondary education, Georgia went on to do photography at college.

Whilst this was a fun course, it didn’t feed Georgia’s passion – solving a numerical challenge! After looking into her options, she found apprenticeships and decided this would be the best way to develop her skills and get into the accounting industry.

Georgia strongly believes that her apprenticeship studies have supported her progression within the workplace. What she learns on her course has allowed her to understand what impact her role has on the wider team and business.

Georgia’s driven nature and hardworking personality not only supported her through the apprenticeship but allowed her to achieve incredible exam results (90% in three!). Not only has an apprenticeship been fantastic for Georgia’s career, but also for her personal development. Georgia’s Apprenticeship Mentor shared that she is a “joy to mentor” and noted that he has seen an incredible difference in her confidence since starting.

When asking her what she thinks attributed to her confidence boost and grade achievements, Georgia shared, “Hollie (Georgia’s Trainer) is an amazing Trainer, who I find explains things very well, and if I don’t understand she always has another way to try and explain the information in a way I can understand. I find that the layout of the course is very well put together and this has helped me to do well in my exams. The support from all EMA staff has been exceptional if help has been needed, Rob (Georgia’s Mentor) also always takes time in my reviews to ask if there is anything content related that I don’t understand, and he tries to help me out on these things when needed.”

Reflecting on her journey so far, Georgia explained that on one hand she does sometimes wonder what life could have been like as a Uni student, but upon looking around her, Georgia has made close friends on her apprenticeship course and despite working a 9-5 job, still has a great social life.

Georgia has recently progressed onto EMA Training’s Level 4 Professional Accounting Technician course, and the EMA team are excited to track her progression and support her in the next steps of her Accounting career!

If you would like to become an Accounting Apprentice, like Georgia, make sure to get in touch with the EMA team:
Contact Us – contact EMA Training | EMA Training

For more information, click below:

• Assistant Accountant – Level 3
• Professional Accounting Technician – Level 4
• Register your interest for CIMA/ACCA

Click the video above to hear about Ruby’s Digital Support Technician apprenticeship experience.

What interested you in becoming a Digital Apprentice?

“The Digital Support Technician apprenticeship initially appealed to me as it provides such a wide range of experience. Since starting, I have gained experience in marketing, IT, customer support and client communication. All of these areas are applicable to most office environments. Based on this, I decided that the DST apprenticeship was the right one for me as it would allow me to have experience in different areas of the working world and find out what works best for me.”

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Since starting your apprenticeship with Purpose Media, how have your role responsibilities progressed?

“When I began at Purpose Media I carried out jobs like website population and browser testing. Whilst I do still complete these tasks occasionally, I now also work on redirects, paid advertising, blog writing and website building, among other tasks. I have now also progressed into working in project management alongside my existing web-support responsibilities.”

Approximately only 21% of IT Technician roles in the UK are held by women. As a woman in the digital sector, why do you think this is and what do you think could be done to increase the number of women in this industry?  

“Initially, when I was applying for apprenticeships, I spoke to my friends about what career roles I was looking into. When I spoke to some of my male friends about my interest in the IT industry, they were surprised and tried to discourage me from going down the IT route. They based this on the assumption that no one would take me seriously in the IT world as a young woman.

However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised in my time at Purpose Media: I have never felt at a disadvantage based on my gender. While we do have a predominantly male IT department, everyone has been very supportive in helping me develop in my career.

I do believe we need more representation of younger women working in the IT industry and more information on how to get into the IT industry. When I was at school there were no girls who took IT at GCSE and no one really considered it as a career path as we didn’t have the information on how to get into the industry.”

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What advice would you give to young women who may be interested in the digital industry but are unsure if they want to move forward with their interests due to the above?

“I would say go for it. Doing an apprenticeship in IT has been the best decision I’ve made for my career and I’ve faced far fewer difficulties than I thought I would. While there are many who think less of women in the IT sector, there are also many people who will support you in your career growth and help you prove those who don’t believe in you wrong.”

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Did you have any preconceptions of what the IT industry would be like? If yes, how has your view changed as you have progressed in your apprenticeship?

“I had assumed that the industry would be very male-dominated. While this assumption has been correct, I have also found much more support from those in the IT industry than I thought I would. Many of my colleagues have helped me develop my IT skills and progress in my career. I’ve also found Purpose Media very encouraging of me developing my interests in IT and I’ve been provided with courses in coding to do to help me develop my skills.”

What does your future look like with Purpose Media?

“Once I complete my Level 3 DST apprenticeship at Purpose Media I’ll be looking into Project Management specific qualifications. I’ll be continuing to develop my IT skills and work within the Project Management team.”

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Interested to know more?

Sometimes it’s hard to picture what a day as an apprentice could be like – no need to struggle! Watch Ruby’s Day In The Life video:

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Further Information

If you would like any further information regarding our apprenticeship courses, please explore our website www.ematraining/courses.co.uk

Or contact the team today at info@ematraining.co.uk

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If you would like to read some more Apprentice Case Studies, please see the below…

‍Digital Support Technician Level 3 – Michael
Digital Marketer Level 3 – Jordan‍
More.

The current state of lockdown has caused many businesses around the world to revise strategies, including sales, service delivery and recruitment, and EMA Training are no different.

Prior to lockdown, EMA put out an advert for a Finance Apprentice to support with internal accounting processes such as raising invoices, bank reconciliations, managing petty cash etc, so when the news regarding lockdown hit, we had to consider whether now would be a suitable time to onboard an apprentice.

I’m delighted to say that today marks Rosie’s 1-month anniversary in her employment at EMA Training as a Finance Apprentice! We are confident that we made the right decision recruiting when we did, and we believe that Rosie’s robust induction and support plan have been key to the success.

Virtual inductions, collaborative technology and working from home have become commonplace in many organisations, and we were keen to catch up with Rosie to see how she has settled in to her first professional job role in these unusual circumstances.

Good morning Rosie, and welcome to Team EMA! Today marks your 1-month anniversary of joining EMA. Is this how you pictured being onboarded into your Accountancy Apprenticeship?

“Not once in my whole life did I ever think I would be a part of a global pandemic; as I imagine many other people may also feel too – it’s just not something you ever expect to happen “these days”.

Since leaving school, I had never been sure of what I planned to do, but after a year out I decided I wanted to challenge myself. After securing my job with EMA around the beginning of March, my planned start date was April 1st, by which time the UK had gone into full lockdown. Scary times! Even scarier to be starting a new job, where you have absolutely no idea what you are doing, all the way from home. Meeting my new work colleagues via Microsoft Teams video chat isn’t exactly how I would ever imagine beginning a new job – but the level of kindness and support I have received since starting with EMA has been overwhelming, and I have felt extremely lucky to be a part of such a great company since the day I started.”

How have you found being inducted virtually into a new business? Do you think there are any benefits to being inducted in this manner?

“Despite the daunting start, I have found a whole range of benefits to beginning a new job through virtual learning. Firstly, I can stay in my pyjamas for as long as I like!! But most importantly, I have been given the opportunity to develop individual working relationships with my colleagues and I have access to pretty much all of the tutoring and mentoring I could need within a business. For example, I have had unlimited access to Tracey’s support, EMA’s CEO, who has helped and guided my training on a daily basis – something we never would have had time for if we were still working in the office, along with everyone else at EMA offering with 1-to-1 support as and when I need it. As well as this, I have found that I am able to exercise more regularly now I have that little extra time in the morning by saving my 45 minute commute to EMA, which has really benefitted my mental health, as well as my physical health. As a whole, this positively affects my performance while working.

I genuinely don’t believe that businesses continuing with their recruitment/employment processes could be negatively affected by remote learning! Beginning an apprenticeship has not only been a big step in my career path, but it has also enabled me to prove a lot to myself. I have already developed some of the vital skills and experience I would require in any financial role, as well as taking on responsibilities which increase my contribution to the success of business at EMA.”

Since joining EMA, what projects have you been given and how are you finding the work?

“Having never worked or studied in any area of finance or accountancy, everything I have done or participated in since starting with EMA has been new for me – literally ranging from sitting at a desk all day, to learning the processes of accounting software’s, or even creating excel spreadsheets. This is just a snippet of examples of the kinds of things I have learned already, as well as becoming Centre Manger for our IT institute (BCS), a Super User for OneFile, or creating a simple step-by-step PowerPoint guides to internal processes. Within learning the processes of accountancy software’s, I have been implementing learning from my AAT studies, such as bank reconciliation and double-entry bookkeeping. As I work to become AAT Qualified in the future, every task I complete contributes towards experience and understanding of AAT exam content.

While not every project I am set is the most complex, it is all new and exciting to me, and all contributes to my development and progress as an apprentice. I am really enjoying the level of responsibility I am being given, as well as the independence I have as both an employee and an apprentice. I am thoroughly enjoying my new role with EMA, and I look forward to each day closer to meeting everyone in real life!!”

As well as being an employee of EMA, you are also one of our apprentices. How have you found balancing your apprenticeship work with your daily task list? Do you feel as though you have the necessary support in place?

“Personally, I would say I am at a great advantage to being both employed by EMA as well as studying through the hub. Everything I learn within my apprenticeship can be thoroughly explained from an on-the-job perspective too, which has really helped me in several situations where I might be struggling to understand one topic. Putting a concept into a situation which I deal with every day is extremely helpful when learning something new.

As previously mentioned, I find working with the same group of people as I study with extremely beneficial as AAT studies can be implemented and explained within examples of day to day tasks. For example, learning an area of my AAT studies and then being able to apply it to a task within my job role.

The support I receive as a colleague of everyone at EMA and as a learner has clear differences, but equal levels of encouragement and support. I also think being an employee of EMA supports my understanding of the business too, and I get to see EMA from a different point of view which other learners might not necessarily have the benefit of. I know a lot more about EMA Training as a company than I think I would do if I was only a learner there, and I think it’s really important to have this understanding for me to be able to develop the required relationships with tutors and mentors, as well as colleagues.”

What are you missing most about life prior to lockdown and how have you gone about adjusting your usual routines?

“Similarly to the rest of the UK, I am missing friends and family the most (mostly the gin I would usually consume on a Saturday night with my friends), but I know it will be worth the long wait when this is all over. I don’t know about anyone else, but I am mostly getting through lockdown by fantasising about all the fun I plan to have after! As someone who has never really lived by a routine, I am adjusting to different emotions and feelings by trying to live by a flexible routine.  Having only ever worked in retail throughout school and my gap year, I have never participated in regular exercise – I have been for 3 runs this week; I am a new woman!”

What would your advice be to a young person who is considering completing an apprenticeship with EMA?

“Literally just go for it!! I don’t have much experience at all in terms of apprenticeships so far, and before beginning my apprenticeship I didn’t know a lot at all about the process… But I do not believe you will find a more supportive training provider with such a personal and holistic service. EMA is a great company and already have made such a difference to my future and in fact my self-confidence!”

If you’re interested in an Accountancy apprenticeship or finding out more about apprenticeships in general, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Email info@ematraining.co.uk
Call 01332 371666

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For more information, click below:

• Assistant Accountant – Level 3
• Professional Accounting Technician – Level 4
• Register your interest for CIMA/ACCA

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Click the video above to hear about Lucy’s digital marketing apprenticeship experience.

Please introduce yourself and your job role.

“My name is Lucy, I work at Cosy Direct and I’m a Marketing Executive, Cosy Direct is a resource, and provider, for early years and primary.”

Why were you interested in a Digital Marketer apprenticeship?

“I’ve always been interested in marketing! My my auntie has done marketing and I’ve learnt a lot from her, but I just felt like Uni wasn’t for me in terms of pursuing it further. I wanted to develop new skills whilst earning and gain a qualification whilst learning on the job.”

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How did your soft skills progress during your apprenticeship?

“I developed a lot of time management skills and I found that, you’re given a lot of responsibilities, so you’ve just got to make sure you do it all on time, prioritize things. My confidence, that’s definitely developed a lot by pushing forward ideas.

Taking responsibility – you’ll be given a lot of responsibilities during an apprenticeship. For me, I took over the social media so Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, running them on a daily basis as well as developing an App Store Optimization (ASO) strategy as well, which was really interesting to do.”

How did your technical skills progress?

“In terms of technical skills, I’ve learned a lot of different software and how to use them, for example, creative ones like Canva.

With there being so many, I also looked at different scheduling tools, deciding which one best suited the company’s needs.

I’ve developed my analytical skills as well. I did this by looking at which of our social posts receive the most engagement. I would also keep track of how our app would be doing on the app store, looking where we rank, how many people have looked at our page, as well as other things.”

Talk me through a day in your shoes as an apprentice when in the EMA Training Hub.

“On a normal day in the Hub at EMA, we would come in, and have some social time, giving us the chance to catch up with the other apprentices on your course. Louisa would then present some slides to the class, introducing the particular knowledge module that we’d be learning that day.

Following a learning session, we would also take part in some quizzes to make sure everything sank in, and we had consolidated everything.”

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How would you describe the support you received during your apprenticeship?

“Louisa was really helpful during my apprenticeship; whenever I had a question, she’d be there to answer it.

She was really supportive with the exams as well. They can be quite stressful at times, and Louisa would offer further support to us during the exam periods, making sure we knew everything and were managing any stress.”

 

What advice would you give to anyone considering an apprenticeship?

“My advice to someone considering starting an apprenticeship would be to just push yourself – there are so many out there, make sure to explore them all!

In any of your interviews, just go for it. They can be quite scary at times, but push yourself, have confidence and believe in yourself.”

If you’re interested in a Marketing apprenticeship or finding out more about apprenticeships in general, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Email info@ematraining.co.uk
Call 01332 371666

If you would like to read some more Apprentice Case Studies, please see the below…

‍Digital Support Technician Level 3 – Ruby‍
Digital Marketer Level 3 – Jordan‍
Digital Support Technician Level 3 – Michael
Assistant Accountant Level 3 – Rosie

EMA IT Apprentice

Q1 What first interested you in an ICT Apprenticeship?

“I was given the opportunity to during my full-time employment, as I hadn’t had much of an opportunity to learn as much as we would have liked during my time working with my IT director on the job. While I did learn about certain applications of the job, having the chance to learn about the specific applications on this apprenticeship is a massive help.”

Q2 How did you find out about EMA Training?

“My company was doing social networking with EMA (Invictus Communications) and I was given the opportunity to enrol with the apprenticeship through that communication between the two companies.”

Q3 What led you to choose the Level 3 Information Communications Technician course over EMA’s other Digital courses?

“I have had a chance to learn about a few things during work in an IT company, but I’m still missing a few things when it comes to basic IT roles. This course I feel gives the most in relation to my job that I hadn’t had the opportunity to look at.”

Q4 How has/did your role responsibilities progress during your apprenticeship?

“My responsibility during the apprenticeship hasn’t really increased that much now, due to the still being in the early stages of the course. We have gone over Computer basics and the like, and this has helped during work that I have already been doing. When I am further along in the course though I feel I can use what I learn to further increase the responsibility during the apprenticeship.”

Q5 How did your technical skills develop over the course of your apprenticeship?

“At the start of my job, I had a very basic knowledge of computers but my technical knowledge of computers was very limited (I had been on a University course but it was more geared to the art side of computers then technical). I now know the more specific details about computer including hardware technical knowledge and how to properly set up a new computer from scratch.”

Q6 What was your experience like starting an apprenticeship during full-time employment?

“Working around my employment can be a little difficult, having to arrange with clients that I work with that I won’t be available during the times that I am at EMA. I do on the rare occasion have to respond to a client whilst at EMA due to lack of staff and urgency of the matter at hand. This may be due to the fact that we have a limited amount of staff for IT at my place of work though more then arranging this during full-time employment.”

Q7 What advice would you give to someone finishing their university degree or still studying, considering an apprenticeship?

“I personally didn’t feel that my time at university was well spent, this mainly may be since I partially regretted my course choice during my time there. If someone who is finishing University feels the same way I would recommend looking for something along the lines of the course, I have taken here, as it offers a much broader area of IT knowledge rather then a specific knowledge set that I learnt in university.”

Q8 How has your apprenticeship impacted you on a personal level?

“I feel more confident than I did before when working at the company. Before I felt uncomfortable when having to go on jobs by myself worrying if the job had been done right. Now I feel more confident in my knowledge and understanding so feel a lot more comfortable having to go a job for clients by myself.”

Q9 What has been your greatest achievement so far?

“I have been left in charge of the IT Infrastructure for a week at my company, due to timing with annual leave of other employees. During this time I felt that every issue was dealt with appropriately while reducing contact with the staff on annual leave as small as possible and leaving few issues outstanding during the coming week.”

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If you’re interested in a Digital apprenticeship, hiring a Digital apprentice, or finding out more about apprenticeships in general, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Email info@ematraining.co.uk
Call 01332 371666

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For more information, click below:

• Information Communications Technician – Level 3
• Software Development Technician – Level 3
• Digital Support Technician – Level 3
• Network Engineer – Level 4 

If you would like to read some more Apprentice Case Studies, please see the below…

Digital Support Technician Level 3 – Ruby
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Digital Marketer Level 3 – Jordan
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Digital Support Technician Level 3 – Michael

Digital Marketer Level 3 – Liberty

Click the video above to hear about Liberty’s digital marketing apprenticeship experience.

Please introduce yourself and your job role.

“Hi, I’m Liberty and I’m a Digital Marketer at Bam Boom Cloud. Bam Boom Cloud are a technology consultancy and Microsoft partner. We focus on selling the Microsoft cloud, making it easy and accessible to small medium-sized businesses.

So, I’m part of the marketing team. My main role is to run and manage the social media platforms, but I’m also involved in other aspects as well, such as email marketing and reporting.”

Tell me a bit about the apprenticeship course you chose and why.

“I chose the level three digital marketer apprenticeship course, and I chose this because I studied TV and Film at College, and then at my previous job, I started to look after their social media pages. I was thinking there must be something I can do to dive deeper into this. When we went into our first lockdown, I was looking for other things to do that are better suited to me. And that’s where I found digital marketing. I then looked into a digital marketing apprenticeship, and saw there were so many areas I was interested in.”

How did your role responsibilities progress during your L3 Digital Marketer apprenticeship?

“I progressed massively throughout my apprenticeship here at Bam Boom Cloud; mainly because I started with very limited knowledge, and I’ve gone on now to being given more responsibilities and being really confident within my role.”

What has been your biggest learning curve?

“My biggest learning curve has got to be remote working. I was waitressing before, and when I started my role, I started it in one of the lockdowns when I was working remotely.
So, not only had I entered a completely new industry, I was also learning how to work remotely I guess like everyone was anyway. But Bam Boom Cloud was set up really efficiently to work from home, so it wasn’t a struggle at all. Once I got settled in, I was able to meet my team and collaborate with people. But now I love coming into the office and working because why not? It’s a great place to come in.”

How do you think your apprenticeship has impacted your career?

“I feel like the apprenticeship influenced my career positively because I no longer feel like you need to know everything to start something new or progress within a career.”

What advice would you give to someone thinking about doing a marketing apprenticeship?

“My advice to someone who wants to do a marketing apprenticeship is just go for it. I think the hardest bit, at least for me and I know probably a lot of people, is just getting started and doubting yourself. The course is great for development and the way its delivered is really enjoyable. So just get your foot in the door and just do it.”

If you would like to watch Liberty’s Q&A, head over to our YouTube channel.

If you’re interested in a Marketing apprenticeship or finding out more about apprenticeships in general, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Email info@ematraining.co.uk
Call 01332 371666

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For more information, click below:

• Multi-channel Marketer – Level 3
• Content Creator – Level 3
• Marketing Executive – Level 4

 

If you would like to read some more Apprentice Case Studies, please see the below…

Digital Marketer Level 3, now progressed to Level 4 – Lucy 

Digital Marketer Level 3 – Jordan

Day in the life of a DST Apprentice – Ruby
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Q1 What first interested you in a level 3 apprenticeship in the digital industry?

“Right from being at school, I was always interested in technology and the digital world. After taking IT at school, I became very interested in the subject, finding a passion for developing my skillset and stepping into the digital industry. With apprenticeships also standing out compared to the traditional route, I found a digital apprenticeship was perfect for me.”

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Q2 What led you to choose the Digital Support Technician course over EMA’s other digital courses?

“I chose the Digital Support Technician course, as I liked the idea of gaining a wide variety of skills and knowledge that covered the Digital sector. The Digital Support Technician course showcased a lot of topics from Digital Marketing to IT elements. The Digital Support Technician course appealed to me as it allowed me to focus on technology whilst also covering topics in IT and Digital Marketing. Coming straight from Secondary School I was looking forward to learning any new knowledge that I could build on from IT classes at school.”

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Q3 How did your role responsibilities progress during your Level 3 Digital Support Technician apprenticeship?

“My role responsibilities progressed during my apprenticeship from researching and getting to know the company, to working alongside the IT Technician and supporting with some Marketing tasks.

These roles could be setting up PCs for students, and fixing issues with Wi-Fi, software or systems. From a Marketing side, this could be supporting with social media posting, video editing or software solutions.

My biggest job role responsibility was managing a move to another building. I project managed the move and organised building work and technology like access control, CCTV and interactive displays.”

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Q4 How did your technical skills develop over the course of your apprenticeship?

“My technician skills developed over my apprenticeship, and I developed new skills like researching, presenting, communication and project management.

By the end of my apprenticeship, I had the relevant skills to project manage a business move into a new building, organising building work, technology and general day-to-day maintenance.”

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Q5 How did you find out about apprenticeships?

“I found out about my apprenticeship through the Gov apprenticeship website. I saw the Apprenticeship there and liked the look of the job role, so I decided to apply for it. I first heard about the Gov apprenticeship website through research online. I first heard about apprenticeships through careers classes at school, however, my own research allowed me to gain a full understanding.”

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Q6 What was your experience like starting an apprenticeship straight after secondary school?

“I found that starting my apprenticeship straight from Secondary School was the right option for me. I was ready to get out of a School classroom environment and start my working career.

An apprenticeship was the perfect solution for this, I could start working and gain the relevant knowledge (like I would at college) but in a better environment and also earn a wage.”

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Q7 What advice would you give to school leavers considering the apprenticeship route?

“If you are ready for a new challenge and a change of environment from School, then an apprenticeship is a great option. You can develop your skills and knowledge whilst earning a wage, gaining a qualification and getting your foot in the door at a business. It is a perfect way to kickstart your career, so go for it!”

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Q8 How has your apprenticeship impacted you on a personal level?

“My apprenticeship has impacted me on a personal level in a positive way. I feel I have developed skills inside my apprenticeship that have helped me outside of my apprenticeship.

I feel I developed my confidence and communication skills which have all come in handy in my personal life. Also, the knowledge I have gained has allowed me to improve on systems and use various software in my personal time which has allowed me to save time and money.”

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Q9 What has been your greatest achievement so far?

“I would say my greatest achievement so far is passing my level 3 apprenticeship with a Distinction as well as passing both of my exams within my apprenticeship first time. I was nervous about my exams as it was the first time I had sat them in my course. When I found out I passed the both I was pleased. When I found out I passed my apprenticeship with a distinction I was also very pleased, as it meant I had succeeded during my course.”

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Q10 Having completed your Level 3 course, what is next for you?

“Next for me is the progression into a full-time job. After I completed level 3 I was pleased to accept a job offer and start my full-time career with EMA Training.

Once the Network Engineer Level 4 is up and running I may look into that to develop my knowledge further. The current job role that I am doing is Digital Support and Facilities Co-Ordinator, where my main roles are to provide digital support and also manage and maintain all 3 of the company’s buildings.

The Network Engineer Level 4 is a carry on from the Digital Support Technician Level 3 where I can build on the knowledge learnt and focus on applications and support users with them.

In a year’s time, I see myself progressing through my job role with the knowledge and skills learnt from my apprenticeship that will help me to progress in my career.”

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Further Information

If you would like any further information regarding our apprenticeship courses, please explore our website www.ematraining/courses.co.uk

Or contact the team today at info@ematraining.co.uk

If you’re interested in becoming an apprentice make sure to check out the apprenticeship vacancies we currently have!

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If you would like to read some more Apprentice Case Studies, please see the below…

Day in the life of  Digital Support Apprentice – Ruby. 

What is it like to be an EMA Apprentice? – Lucy 

Q&A with ICT Apprentice – Louis

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Click the video above to hear about Evie’s content creator apprenticeship experience.

Q1 What first interested you in a Content Creator apprenticeship?

“Since I began working at 14, I’ve always enjoyed photography / videography and using social media. My passion really began when I started taking photos of the animals in my previous job roles. I strongly believe that a majority of the world is being transferred online and it’s crucial businesses stay up to date with that in order to stay relevant and not be ‘left behind’. The creative role interest has always been apparent to me, so when I found an apprenticeship I thought I’d really enjoy – I went for it!

Q2 What led you to choose the Level 3 Content Creator course with EMA Training?

“Someone I know had mentioned that this certain training provider promotes learning and respect in their lessons and they are two things I never really had in school. Also, my mum recommended EMA Training as she works in apprenticeships and knew that it would benefit me the most.

Q3 How have your role responsibilities progressed during your apprenticeship? 

“At the beginning, I only had access to an Instagram page which I had made myself but soon after I’ve developed Jonny’s trust to have ALL of the social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, and soon to be Twitter. Also, I now have access to most of the emailing and blog posts, so I can send emails to people whenever I need them without asking for Jonny’s assistance. Also, at the start of my apprenticeship I got the opportunity to be thrown straight into Networking and now I feel a lot more comfortable when attending events.”

Q4 How have your technical skills developed over the course of your apprenticeship?

“I now understand how to use storyboards correctly and what applications to use when editing and for what platform. This is crucial as you need to understand your audience so you can tailor  your posts to their engagement. Also, I’ve spoken to a few marketing specialists such as John Liley and Daniel Nikolla, who I met at networking events, who I have at my assistance whenever I need them!

Q5 How did you find out about apprenticeships?

“My mum always encouraged me to take one! I also think it is the best way of learning, as I can learn new skills whilst working toward a qualification.”

Q6 What was your experience like starting an apprenticeship straight after secondary school?

“Best idea I ever had! I couldn’t imagine sitting in further education for another two years and being unhappy”

Q7 What advice would you give to school leavers considering the apprenticeship route?

“If you go to a careers fair and there are apprenticeship companies wanting to talk to you – do it. Apprenticeships definitely open a whole new world of learning and new experiences. Plus, you get paid on the job! If you’re a hands-on learning and can genuinely benefit from teamwork and improving communication, go for an apprenticeship because the bonds and trust you will make with the team will be amazing! I’d 100% recommend EMA as they’ve helped me whenever I’ve needed it & my mentor schedules sessions to review progress and help me where necessary.”

Q8 How has your apprenticeship impacted you on a personal level?

“My apprenticeship has helped me to be able to speak to people I don’t know, for example when my manager and I went down to London for meetings, I did a presentation which was unprepared until that morning in front of a few millionaires and the marketing lead. I didn’t feel any nerves because if they see confidence they’ll want to get to know you! I’d confidently say that my apprenticeship has made me a more independent and strong person, who is comfortable talking to anyone. EMA have also helped me to be able to speak to new people as I’ve made lots of friends in college without having to feel the pressure.

Q9 What has been your greatest achievement so far?

“My greatest achievement so far would be gaining control of all the social media accounts and networking with many different ‘big companies’ whom I can use to my advantage whenever I need it. I think without my confidence and the skills that EMA have taught me, I wouldn’t have the ability to initiate these conversations and ask my manger for these accounts. So, I think that my character development which has led to my achievements is the greatest one.”

If you’re interested in an Creative apprenticeship or finding out more about apprenticeships in general, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Email info@ematraining.co.uk
Call 01332 371666

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We are taking full advantage of National Payroll Week and asking some of our Payroll Apprentices about their apprenticeship experience.
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Oliver is a Payroll Apprentice, working at Zellis. He has been in his apprenticeship for two months and is currently really enjoying the ins and outs of learning and working.
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Oliver shares more in the following Q&A…
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Q1 What first interested you in a payroll apprenticeship?

“I have always had an interest in numbers and calculations. I thought finance would be a good field to get into to pursue the skills and interests I had. A payroll apprenticeship came up and it felt like the right job to get stuck into.”

Q2 How did you find out about EMA?

“I found out about EMA when I started my job at Zellis, and beforehand when I had to do interviews which was sent over to EMA, and now I have project calls and project work which goes through EMA training.”

Q3 What led you to choose the Level 3 Payroll course over EMA’s other finance courses?

“I found my apprenticeship on the government website and after reading all about Zellis and all about the course it caught my eye very quickly. I am very glad I have chosen this course with EMA, and I enjoy doing all the projects, calls and payroll at Zellis.”

Q4 How did your role responsibilities progress during your apprenticeship?

“As I have developed through this apprenticeship, I have adapted to learning and working independently. Because I have a lot of work and college work at the same time, independence and resilience to get through all the work have been important. Taking responsibility for my learning and development, alongside receiving support from managers and apprenticeship trainers, has been great, and allowed me to consistently enhance my role.”

Q5 How did your technical skills develop over the course of your apprenticeship?

“My technical skills have enhanced over the 2 months that I have been on this apprenticeship, being able to figure things out a lot quicker and to do it a lot more efficiently, whereas at the start my technical skills towards the payroll job were lacking.”

Q6 How did you find out about apprenticeships?

“After struggling to find work, as I was looking at warehouse jobs and other jobs that were not really suitable to me, I thought apprenticeships was a great way forward. I found my apprenticeship through the government website. The gov.uk website is a very useful website to find apprenticeships. It’s easy to find a role that is suited to your qualities, and it is very easy to apply.”

Q7 What was your experience like starting an apprenticeship?

“After secondary education I attended college, achieving a diploma in business. Covid-19 happened once I finished and I decided to go into full-time work rather than University.

I got a job at Royal Mail which is a completely different field to what I expected to go into, so after leaving that, I didn’t know what to do. Finding an apprenticeship in payroll was a great help, as it is a job I thoroughly enjoy. I love to work and enjoy developing my skills every day; I recommend it highly to anyone, especially if they do not know what to do with themselves work-wise/education-wise.”

Q8 What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship?

“My advice to anyone considering the apprenticeship route at all, whether they are leaving school/leaving college, or even finishing university, is to stick with what you love and what you are good at – you will find a job that is suitable to you. Whether that be like me going into numbers and payroll, or maybe health for someone else – it will make it a lot more enjoyable and will enhance your skills to the fullest.”

Q9 How has your apprenticeship impacted you on a personal level?

“Being on an apprenticeship allows me to be consistently learning, whether I am at home working on my laptop or in the office with my colleagues. The hybrid nature of my apprenticeship has been really beneficial to me.”

Q10 What has been your greatest achievement so far?

“My greatest achievement in my work-life has been getting past all the interviews to get the job at Zellis and apprenticeship with EMA Training. I’m also proud of myself for handling the responsibilities I have been given, e.g. successfully working independently.”

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The team here at EMA Training are really looking forward to witnessing Oliver’s progression as he continues achieving throughout his apprenticeship.

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If you’re interested in a Payroll apprenticeship or finding out more about apprenticeships in general, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Email info@ematraining.co.uk
Call 01332 371666

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If you would like to read some more Apprentice Case Studies, please see the below…

Assistant Accountant Level 3 – Rosie

Digital Marketer Level 3 – Liberty

‍Digital Support Technician Level 3 – Ruby
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Digital Marketer Level 3 – Jordan
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Digital Support Technician Level 3 – Michael

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Q1 What first interested you in an Level 3 AAT Apprenticeship?

“Once I decided I wanted to go into finance, I was already mostly through my degree. I found it very hard to get into a finance role, as even entry level ones that were not apprenticeships wanted experience that I didn’t have. I ended up getting a placement where I showed I was capable of working in finance and was offered a permanent role. While I have been gradually increasing my responsibilities, I wanted to progress faster and with our company being acquired there has been an opportunity for me to learn more and gain experience with senior financial staff.”

Q2 How did you find out about EMA Training?

“Our company has worked with EMA Training, they have a World of Work section on launchyourcareer.com. ”

Q3 What led you to choose the Level 3 Assistant Accountant course?

“It is the highest next qualification in Accounting that makes sense, I would then like to follow on to Level 4 to continue my progression within the finance industry.”

Q4 How have your role responsibilities progress during your apprenticeship? 

“I have only just started my apprenticeship but I plan to take on full-time payroll, cashflow forecasting, assisting with VAT returns amongst other things as well as more independent tasks.”

Q5 How have your technical skills develop over the course of your apprenticeship?

“We currently use Xero and I feel I am quite sufficient in using this software now as it is quite user-friendly. We are, however, switching to Sage in the coming months which I have no real experience of as yet so I will need to get used to that software with the help of other members of staff.”

Q6 How did you find out about apprenticeships?

“I have known of apprenticeships since I was at school but they weren’t seen as favourably as they are now. I went down the university route and while I don’t regret that because I am proud of having my degree and it is something I will have forever, I think if I were to be leaving school again I would have gone down the apprenticeship route.”

Q7 What was your experience like starting an apprenticeship during full-time employment?

I have only just started my apprenticeship but I like having both, I get to earn a salary whilst upskilling myself. Having already worked at the company for a year and a half it means I am very comfortable here particularly with the staff so feel happy to ask them for help and advice.

Q8 What advice would you give to someone finishing their university degree or still studying, considering an apprenticeship?

“I think it is a great option, whilst you learn lots doing a university degree, most of that is knowledge rather than experience. Both of these are needed in a job and both are what employers are usually looking for. Also, quite often people will do a degree but may have not known at the time what field they wanted to go into. They may then know what field they want to explore after university and their degree may not directly apply so an apprenticeship can help them get into other fields.”

Q9 How has your apprenticeship impacted you on a personal level?

“I feel more comfortable having specific time carved out in the week to do my studies. Trying to do full time work, have a life and study in your own time is hard and draining. I also feel happier as I feel I have a clear route for the next year.”

Q10 What has been your greatest achievement so far?

“As I have only recently started my apprenticeship, I don’t have one related to this yet, so outside of this would be my degree. I think studying and gaining qualifications is always a good thing and you can always know more and improve yourself. Once you have worked hard and gained a qualification, no one can take that away from you.”

If you’re interested in an Accountancy apprenticeship or finding out more about apprenticeships in general, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Email info@ematraining.co.uk
Call 01332 371666

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EMA Training have stepped into the digital space this year, welcoming new digital apprenticeship courses and witnessing fantastic results from our digital apprentices! We are excited to continue diving into all things digital and we look forward to sharing more digital content with you.

EMA Training have incredible apprentices who consistently impress the team, surpass goals and truly show us what EMAzing really is!
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Today, we are sharing a case study of a recently completed Digital Support Apprentice, Nicole. Nicole worked incredibly hard throughout her apprenticeship, working with her Trainer and Mentor, Sukhi, to make the most out of her experience.
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To find out more about Nicole and her apprentice experience, keep reading…

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Q1 What first interested you in a digital apprenticeship?

“I have always had a passion for IT and after attending college and university to study creative arts I decided to combine my skills and look for further training. I was also interested in gaining industry experience to have the best chances of securing a permanent job in the field. An apprenticeship is the perfect way to learn and enhance skills while also gaining industry experience and earning money.”

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Q2 What led you to choose the Level 3 Digital Support Technician course over EMA’s other Digital & IT courses?

“The Level 3 Digital Support Technician course was the most suitable course available at the time for what I was looking for.”

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Q3 How did your role responsibilities progress during your apprenticeship?

“At the start of my apprenticeship, I had a small amount of responsibility handling internal IT enquiries, maintaining and developing the organisations communications. As my apprenticeship progressed and I proved my capabilities, the senior management of the organisation gave me more responsibility which led to my permanent employment with them, I am now in full control of the organisation’s communications (including social media, website maintenance/development, and marketing) working alongside senior management and stakeholders on large projects such as our organisations re-branding. I also support the admin team with their day-to-day tasks.”

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Q4 How did your technical skills develop over the course of your apprenticeship?

“Before starting my apprenticeship, I had little knowledge of the Digital Support job role. Throughout the apprenticeship I have gained valuable insight into the role, how the role can support the whole organisation. I learnt how to use new digital technologies to support my team and create an intranet. I am now confident in my knowledge of digital technologies and legalisation/policies.”

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Q5 What was your experience like starting an apprenticeship after going to University?

“At first I felt bad about having to go back into training after completing 2/3 years at college and then uni but I soon realised that the skills and workplace experience I will gain from doing an apprenticeship will be far more valuable to me when finding employment.”

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Q6 What advice would you give to someone finishing their university degree or still studying, considering an apprenticeship?

“I would say to do it! You can use everything you have learnt in university to progress and become successful in your apprenticeship. Most jobs require experience alongside the knowledge and doing an apprenticeship can help you get both.”

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Q7 How has your apprenticeship impacted you on a personal level?

“Doing an apprenticeship has helped me to develop myself, gain more confidence, enhance my communication skills and has also given me some great friends/colleagues.”

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Q8 What has been your greatest achievement so far?

“I would say the fact I had an offer of permanent employment before I had even completed my apprenticeship with a Distinction!”

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The team here at EMA Training are incredibly proud of Nicole’s achievements, it was a pleasure to support her throughout her apprenticeship and we wish Nicole all the best having progressed to full time employment.

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If you’re interested in a Digital apprenticeship, hiring a Digital apprentice, or finding out more about apprenticeships in general, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Email info@ematraining.co.uk
Call 01332 371666

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If you would like to read some more Apprentice Case Studies, please see the below…

Digital Support Technician Level 3 – Ruby
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Digital Marketer Level 3 – Jordan
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Digital Support Technician Level 3 – Michael

Digital Marketer Level 3 – Liberty

Assistant Accountant Level 3 – Rosie

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