Digital Marketing Apprenticeships
Gone are the days of the leaflet. Digital marketing brings our favourite products and brands right to our fingertips. It’s a huge buzzing industry, so you can find yourself working across various industries such as fashion, business, or medicine.
Digital marketing is also super creative, where you’ll get to work on inspiring projects and meet some of the most interesting people.
Imagine being able to work for one of your favourite brands. As a digital marketing apprentice, there is so much to get involved in. You’ll do everything from managing social media channels to creating BAFTA-worthy Insta reels and TikToks and crafting email newsletters.
How do you get in? We hear you ask, don’t worry - we have you covered. Read on to get the full scope on digital marketing apprenticeships.
What is digital marketing?
Sometimes called online marketing, digital marketing is all about promoting brands and products to us via the internet (or digital means).
They’re basically behind-the-scenes influencers. If you’ve ever been scrolling Instagram and seen an advert for the latest Dorito flavour - that’s an example of digital marketing.
There are loads of ways marketing can reach us. Around 83% of people around the world use smartphones, so digital marketing makes use of social media, email, text and multimedia messages.
Types of digital marketing
There are several ways to use digital marketing. This can include…
Social media
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Mobile marketing
Content marketing
Email marketing
Analytics
Graphics and design.
Can you get an apprenticeship in digital marketing?
Yes, you can! You can do an apprenticeship in pretty much anything (they offer everything from brewing to greenkeeping and gardening).
When it comes to digital marketing, there are two levels of apprenticeship.
Level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship
Level 6 (Degree) apprenticeship
An apprenticeship gives you the practical skills to embark on a successful career. So an apprenticeship in digital marketing is a great way to gain the skills and experience needed.
What does a digital marketing apprentice do?
So now you know what’s available, what does a digital marketing apprentice do?
During your Level 3 apprenticeship, you’ll get to grips with the basics of probably one of the most central aspects of business worldwide. No pressure.
Overall, you’ll work to develop and help to create and carry out digital campaigns online and on social media.
Your time will be split between working for a business and studying. How it’s split depends on your training provider.
Some apprenticeships give you four days on-the-job and one day in classroom/online learning, while others will give you eight week-long blocks of learning split over the year while you work.
What you do during a digital marketing apprenticeship will vary from day to day, and you’ll be given an array of tasks. These include… Your day-to-day will include tasks such as…
Respond to online queries from customers/businesses
Planning and budgeting marketing campaigns
Assist in creating engaging content across social media channels
Writing blog content and social media posts
Supporting other aspects of the marketing team, including Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Working with digital advertising agencies
Keeping up with the latest digital trends.
Once you’ve finished your apprenticeship, you’ll be ready for work immediately; however, if you can continue your training by doing a degree apprenticeship.
A degree apprenticeship ups the ante on what you’re already doing, so you’ll be spinning many plates. During your apprenticeship, you’ll develop everything you already know while learning some pretty cool theory. Topics include…
Finance and the economy. You’ll learn how markets and competitors influence business decisions and use that information to create strategies
Creative advertising and media planning. You’ll explore how advertising and media planners deliver advertising campaigns. You might even get to create an advert yourself
Media relations. Here you’ll learn the importance of journalists and ‘non-traditional’ media folk like bloggers, vloggers and influencers and how they influence the reputation of brands
Managing products and brands. Probably the most crucial aspect of marketing, you’ll learn the ins and outs of management and develop your ability to make decisions about brands and even brand creation
Issues in digital marketing. The world of marketing is constantly changing. So you’ll learn how to use traditional and modern methods to help solve problems that might arise during your career.
With a staggering 4.62 billion people (and counting) active on social media, it’s no surprise that it’s a huge aspect of digital marketing.
Did you know that you can do a social media apprenticeship? Although most, if not all, digital marketing apprenticeships include a module on social media, here you’ll get to dedicate 100% of your time to creating the best content for a brand.
As a social media apprentice, you’ll concentrate on content creation across all social media channels. Some tasks you’ll get involved with include…
Planning and creating content strategies
Creating short-form videos like TikToks and Instagram Reels
Podcasting
Photography and graphic creation
Web content creation
Managing social media accounts (moderating comments and DMs, posting etc.)
Spotting trends and creating current and relevant content.
Meet Courtney Jacob, a Social Media Apprentice at Havering College.
Where can I do a digital marketing apprenticeship?
Digital marketing is a global industry; every business has a marketing department, meaning you can work anywhere and across various sectors and industries.
The best thing about that is you’re in the unique position to mix your profession with your passion. For example, are you a music fan? An animal lover? Big on travel and lifestyle? You can be a digital marketer in any of these fields and more.
There are loads of great businesses, big and small, offering world-class apprenticeships. We’ve included a couple of them below.
Amazon
When you think of Amazon, you’ll probably think of its super convenient Prime option, where you can buy a new hair dryer that will arrive the same or the next day.
It’s also the world’s largest e-commerce business, worth over £760 billion ($870 billion).
Amazon also offers apprenticeships! In digital marketing, you can complete a…
Level 3 Digital Marketing apprenticeship
FUN FACT: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It’s a drone! The UK should be seeing Amazon’s drone delivery service by the end of 2024. MINDBLOWN.
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a massive part of our daily lives. It’s hard to believe that the TV giant has only been around since 1982!
It offers so many apprenticeship opportunities in various sectors of the media industry. You can do anything from Digital producers to Benefits and HR Systems. Channel 4 also offer a variety of digital marketing apprenticeships.
Currently, it offers Level 3 apprenticeships in…
Digital Marketing for Channel 4 and All4
Social Media for 4Studio.
It can be overwhelming trying to find a company to work for, so we’ve done the hard work for you! Check out our Best 100 Apprenticeship Employers table. They’re based on thousands of real-life apprenticeship reviews from students just like you.
View best employers tableShould I do a digital marketing apprenticeship?
Without sounding like we’re glitching, an apprenticeship is a fantastic way to launch your career. So, an apprenticeship in digital marketing is always a good idea.
An apprenticeship is your opportunity to…
Develop all the soft and hard skills you need
Gain valuable work experience
Work towards a professional qualification.
If you’re stuck wondering what your next steps are after school or even sixth form/college - it’s probably worth looking into an apprenticeship. Let’s break it down.
A Level 3 apprenticeship equals two A Levels; a degree apprenticeship is exactly what it says on the noodle packet: a degree.
The great thing about doing a degree apprenticeship is that you can get the same qualifications as a regular university student, minus the £40,000 debt.
Plus, you get paid! We’ll get into how much a little later.
"“I am constantly having the opportunity to upskill and grow in various areas. I had training in graphic design and video editing so that I could take my knowledge to the next level. I now use it to create fresh marketing materials for the business.” " Digital Marketing degree apprentice at Aspire Development
What are the entry requirements for a digital marketing apprenticeship?
This depends entirely on the employer. However, there are standard entry requirements depending on the level of apprenticeship you apply for.
If you’re applying for a Level 3 apprenticeship, you’ll need…
A minimum of two GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including english and maths
And if you’re applying for a degree apprenticeship, you’ll need…
Three A-Levels at CCC to AAA or the equivalent (BTEC National Diploma, a Level 3 apprenticeship etc.)
If you don’t quite have the qualifications for the above, that’s okay! Level 2 apprenticeships in marketing (equivalent to five GCSEs, plus english and maths) are available, which will be a great step up.
Think you don’t have the relevant experience? Think again. You’ve probably had loads. Here are some examples you can include in your application:
Managing social media accounts
Running a blog
Created posters or designed graphics
Photography.
Transferable soft skills are always a good idea. And you have plenty of those! You can include:
Excellent verbal and written communication
Attention to detail
Creative skills
IT skills
Well organised.
Meet Ross, a digital marketing apprentice. Hear all about his day-to-day.
How much does a digital marketing apprentice get paid?
As an apprentice, you'll earn while studying from the first day of your career. Currently, the average apprentice earns a minimum wage of £5.28 per hour.
However, many employers pay a lot more.
On average, a digital marketing apprentice can earn anywhere between £15,000 to £23,000 per year.
Once qualified, you could earn between £22,000 and £25,000 per year as a starting salary and move up to above £40,000 per year once you become a senior.
All-in-all, digital marketing apprenticeships are a fantastic idea. It’s a guaranteed way to launch and secure your budding marketing career. Why not have a look at all the roles currently on offer..? There are loads for the taking - so go for it.