In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2024, Meon sat down with Dom, their talented Content Marketing Apprentice, to learn about his experiences, challenges, and the exciting journey of growth within Team Meon.
Q. Can you share a bit about your role as a Content Marketing Apprentice at Meon?
A. Sure, so within the Marketing Team at Meon I have been slowly introduced to the responsibility of the management and delivery of marketing content for the company. This content can range from blogs, social media posts, case studies, press releases, email campaigns, website copy and lots more. Essentially, anything that will be utilised as marketing content and reach our target audience to increase brand awareness and market our products and services. As part of a busy Marketing Team my role can vary from day to day. I could be helping out at an industry exhibition one day, then working on webpage SEO the next. This has been extremely valuable for my learning and I have developed a skill set which I can’t wait to keep expanding my knowledge.
Q. What has been the most rewarding aspect of your apprenticeship journey so far?
A. Simply learning a huge amount, not just about marketing and content, but also the corporate world and business as a whole. If I am interested in something, I am like a sponge. I just want to learn as much as possible and really immerse myself in the environment and try and take on as much as I can. Being creative has always been a huge passion of mine, as has learning about business and successful people, so this apprenticeship really ticks all the boxes for me. Meon is quite a complicated machine, with lots of moving parts. I heard someone use the analogy of an ‘Octopus’, lots of arms and one very powerful central brain. I’m very proud to be a part of what makes up that central brain.
Q. As a content creator, what’s your favourite type of content to work on, and why?
A. It is interesting really, as I thought I would have enjoyed working on more illustrative and visual content like videos and graphics the most. But, creating a press release, from the initial draft and research, to sending the final draft off to an editor for a publication and then seeing my work published is a great feeling. Not what I expected.
Q. What role does collaboration play in your day-to-day work, especially being part of the Marketing Team?
A. Collaboration is a huge part of day-to-day work. As my main responsibilities and tasks revolve around content, I often have to work in collaboration with Neil – Head of Marketing, Dave – Design Manager, and Ollie – Digital Marketing Manager, to make sure everything is consistent and expectations are met. Whilst I am learning to manage and deliver each of my tasks or projects on my own, often I may ask one of the team for assistance or collaboration on a specific task, or vice versa. Often projects require involvement of the whole Marketing Team, with each of us working on individual pieces of a puzzle. It is great to share knowledge, ideas and experience. The team are really great at what they do and are brilliant mentors.
Q. On a lighter note, what’s the most interesting or fun project you’ve worked on during your apprenticeship?
A. We recently put PermaFyx L273, Meon’s innovative permanent cold applied asphalt repair material to the test, in a series of extreme strength Top Gear-esque testing vlog. That was really fun and it was great to be able to contribute to the project, putting forward my ideas and seeing the project come to life. Check out the full vlog here!
Q. Are there any industry trends or developments that you find particularly intriguing or exciting right now?
A. Within the highways sector, as with many sectors, there is a huge push for sustainable innovation and we are all in it together to reach net zero carbon. It is great to be part of a company that holds sustainability so highly in its priorities, its good to know I am giving back to society whilst developing my skills and learning. Within the marketing world, well, where can I begin? Last year saw a huge shift in technology, especially artificial intelligence, so learning about the latest tools and developments in the artificial intelligence space for business and marketing has been very important – There is an AI tool for practically any problem. I have had personal development time to research the latest AI technology, to learn how it fits in with my job role and this year’s marketing strategy. This has been extremely valuable for my learning and developed a skill set which I can’t wait to keep expanding my knowledge on.
Q. What advice would you give to someone considering an apprenticeship, especially in the marketing field?
A. It is most definitely worth considering if you are looking for a career in the marketing field. Personally, if you find a great employer who will support not just your learning, but also your well-being, I would say go for it. I found Meon through Baltic Apprenticeships, who are my training providers. I have been a part of Team Meon for a year now, and I look forward to my End Point Assessment in the coming months.
Q. Lastly, in the spirit of National Apprenticeship Week, if you had to describe your apprenticeship journey in three words, what would they be?
A. Creative. Developmental. Transformative.
Image – Meon