Digital Content Specialist Review

I provide digital support to different specialised subject teams who work on projects for the UK schools market; usually I work with teams creating projects for KS3, GCSE or A Level students. Most of our content is online, and parts of my role involve creating or editing this content, providing support to suppliers doing this work, and keeping on top of any issues we might have.

I have developed massively in terms of my digital and technical skills; I have learnt basic coding and HTML and use complex internal systems on a day-to-day basis. I've also developed my skills in working as part of a team, and communication skills too.

The apprenticeship programme allows me to learn more about the wider industry and apply this knowledge to my own role. Doing an apprenticeship while working for Pearson is particularly great as they support all their apprentices throughout their apprenticeship journey.

The programme is well-structured; we had an induction where we had the chance to meet all the other apprentices and ask any questions we had about the programme. The training is divided into modules, each with a clear focus. We have regular catch ups with line managers, apprenticeship providers and mentors to ensure that everything is going smoothly.

My employer is so supportive of the apprenticeship; the apprenticeship managers regularly check in with us and we have catch ups with line managers frequently too. They make sure we have the right balance of work and study, and have always responded appropriately if we have any issues with the apprenticeship.

The training provider is very clear on what is expected of us and makes sure we have lots of guidance on projects and assessments. We have monthly catch ups with our skills coach to ensure that there are no issues and we also discuss any problems we might have.

The qualification provides me with a better understanding of the publishing industry as a whole, and this is useful when working on projects that involve lots of different teams - it's easier for me to understand who does what, and which role is responsible for each stage of the project. It also gives me a chance to learn about areas that I wouldn't necessarily cover in my day-to-day role, which may be useful if I want to move roles within the industry in future.

We have lots of different employee groups that you can be a part of, and this is a great way to expand your network within the company. Within the company, I am part of the newsletter team; so once a fortnight, for an afternoon, I spend time researching, writing and editing for the divisional newsletter instead of doing my regular role. There are also yoga, pilates and tai-chi classes run internally which can be a nice break away from your desk.

Yes

The company is really supportive of learning and development, which means that it's great to do an apprenticeship alongside a regular role; I've always felt supported and have really relished the opportunity to expand my knowledge.

The assessment day was the most daunting part of the application process for me, but it's just meant to be a chance for the employers to see your personality. They gave us lots of tasks to do, but I don't think they cared so much about the results as much as the way we approached them and our enthusiasm. Overall, it's a fun day and was a great introduction to what company life might be like.