How an apprentice can help your business

Apprenticeships can play a valuable role in tourism businesses, bringing fresh perspectives, new ideas and enthusiasm while helping to develop the next generation of industry talent. They offer businesses an opportunity to nurture skills, support career development and build a skilled workforce that can help our visitor economy thrive.

For our latest Knowledge Hub article, we caught up with Anna Crome, Marketing Officer at Exeter City Council, who supports Visit Exeter as part of her role.

Anna recently completed her Level 3 Multi-Channel Marketing apprenticeship through Exeter College, an 18-month programme that gave her the opportunity to gain practical workplace experience while continuing to learn, develop new skills and build her career in marketing.

What motivated you to choose an apprenticeship?

After college, I was excited to start working and earning my own money, so an apprenticeship felt like the perfect option for me. I liked the idea of being able to learn everything I needed for my role while earning a wage at the same time. I also wanted to gain practical experience rather than just learning the theory, and being able to learn on the job and experience different working environments really appealed to me.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Every day is a little different, which is one of the things I enjoy about my role. We usually start with a morning catch up with the team to discuss any campaigns that are currently live or ones we're planning to launch. From there, it could be anything from creating content and graphic design to editing videos using Adobe Creative Cloud and Premiere Pro. As we're the central marketing team for the Council, we also work with lots of different departments and discuss their ideas to help bring their campaigns to life. It's always busy, but there's always something interesting to get involved in.

What achievement are you most proud of since starting your apprenticeship?

One campaign I'm particularly proud of is the Exeter Community Lottery campaign, which I published across our marketing channels. I really enjoyed working on it because the creative was bright, colourful and engaging, and it received some really positive feedback. It's rewarding to see something you've worked on go out across different channels and know that people have responded well to it.

How has the apprenticeship changed your confidence or outlook?

It's definitely had a really positive impact on my confidence. Before, I wouldn't have had the same experience of taking a campaign from the very beginning right through to the end. During my apprenticeship, I learnt how to manage that process and communicate with both internal and external stakeholders. Having that experience has made me much more confident in my day-to-day work and in taking on new tasks.

What new skills have you developed through your apprenticeship?

I've developed lots of new skills, particularly in graphic design, content creation, video editing and copywriting. I've also improved my communication and other softer skills through working with different people and departments. There's been so much to learn, and I think a big part of the experience has been being able to put those skills into practice rather than just learning about them.

How do you feel your apprenticeship benefits the organisation?

I think investing in employees and helping them develop their skills benefits the organisation as a whole. My apprenticeship has helped me understand the Council's ways of working, the tools we use and why we use them. I've also gained more specialist knowledge, which I can bring into my role and use to produce more professional work. I think when employers invest in their staff and give them opportunities to develop, that knowledge and experience can really benefit the wider team.

What advice would you give to employers thinking about hiring apprentices?

I'd definitely encourage employers to consider it. Apprenticeships are a great way to bring new people into an organisation who are keen to learn and get practical experience. Not everyone wants to go down the university route, and some people learn much better by actually doing the job. An apprenticeship gives them the chance to develop their skills in a real working environment while also bringing fresh ideas and enthusiasm into the organisation. I think it's a really positive opportunity for both the apprentice and the employer.

In three words, how would you describe your apprenticeship experience?

Insightful, encouraging and opportunity filled.

How can businesses fund an apprenticeship?

Employers with an annual pay bill above £3 million can use their apprenticeship levy funds through the online apprenticeship service to pay for eligible training and assessment in England - not wages. Businesses may also receive transferred levy funds from another employer.

For smaller employers that do not pay the levy, where co-investment applies, they pay just 5% of eligible training and assessment costs, and the Government pays 95%, up to the funding limit. Employers still cover wages and costs above that limit; eligibility and the apprenticeship’s start date determine the funding available.

For details, visit GOV.UK’s employer funding guide.

Explore local apprenticeship opportunities

The University of Exeter’s degree apprenticeships combine university study with workplace experience, helping new recruits and existing employees develop higher-level skills.

Explore apprenticeships at Exeter College or University of Exeter degree apprenticeships.