As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2022, the Local Council Road Innovation Group (LCRIG)’s Marketing Co-ordinator, Emily, reflects on her experience working as an apprentice for LCRIG.
Why did you choose an apprenticeship with the Local Council Road Innovations Group (LCRIG)?
After finishing my university course, I did not know what I wanted to do next and was offered an apprenticeship opportunity at LCRIG. I wasn’t sure at first what to expect, as the highways sector wasn’t something I had ever considered being a part of, however following a chat with Susanne, I quickly realised that it was too good of an opportunity to miss. Then after coming into the office and having a chat with Shelley, I made the decision to enrol on the Digital Marketing apprenticeship course at Blackburn College. During my first day in the office, I knew instantly that I had made the right decision and I haven’t looked back since!
What does a typical day in the office look like for you?
When I come into the office, one of the first things I do is put the heaters on, as I’m sure everyone would agree, I’m far nicer to work with when I’m warm! I then read through my emails (drinking a lovely coffee made by Adam) and sort out my to-do list for the day- which gets added to as the day goes on. I will then work through my daily tasks which include: publishing and sharing job vacancies and press releases, along with collecting news to share on LinkedIn and feature within the LCRIG Insight. I will also attend any scheduled meetings for the day, and assist with building and sharing the weekly Insight when needed. Any tasks that I haven’t completed, I will then add to a list to work through the next day.
What does a typical day at college look like for you?
Every Tuesday, I attend college from 9:30. In the morning, we will work through the PowerPoint for the units that we are working on. During this part of the lesson, we are encouraged to discuss the theories that we are learning about, and to provide examples that relate back to our workplace. In the afternoon, I will work on any set tasks, followed by filling in my ‘Learning Journal’, in which I make notes of what I have learned that day, and what I have been working on at LCRIG. The class will usually finish around 3:30, so in the time left, I will work on my assignments (which I will continue at home, if I run out of time at college).
What have you learnt so far from your apprenticeship?
I’ve learnt so much that it’s hard to summarise it all! During my time at college, I have learnt all about business and marketing, such as the Marketing Mix, content marketing, social media, web analytics, digital etiquette, GDPR and so much more. Along with learning about the principles of coding and understanding web technologies. At LCRIG, I have already learnt so much in the nine months that I have worked here and I’m keen to carrying on learning as much as I can. I have developed my skills in marketing and continued learning about business development, in addition to learning all sorts about the highways sector, from reflective markings to traffic signals! I’ve learned so many acronyms and all about different frameworks, that I didn’t know existed before! In addition to digital skills such as using content management and customer relationship management systems. I would need to dedicate a full page to list everything that I have learnt during my time at LCRIG so far, but I can confidentially say that everything that I have learnt has been interesting and valuable. I have also learned so much about myself along the way!
What’s your favourite part about working for LCRIG?
It’s so hard to pick one, as I joined LCRIG at such a pivotal time, and it’s so exciting to be a part of it all! But, one of my favourite parts about working for LCRIG is being able to work with such an amazing, down-to-earth team. I was made to feel so welcome, right from the start, and as soon as I sat down at my desk it felt so natural, and I knew that it was right for me! I also really enjoy being able to liaise with such a diverse group of people within the highways community, and for that reason, Highways UK really stood out to me, as it was great to finally meet so many people in person, and I can’t wait for more events in the future!
What advice would you give to those looking to apply for an apprenticeship?
I would encourage anyone wanting to do an apprenticeship to go ahead and do it. It’s the perfect way to gain work-experience, whilst also continuously gaining educational skills. It is also a good opportunity to explore different career paths, that you might not have otherwise considered. It’s important to remember that education doesn’t have to be linear and you can start an apprenticeship course at any point whether it’s straight after high school, after university, or even later down the line when you want to have a change in career. As long as you’re prepared to put in the work, an apprenticeship is something that I would strongly recommend.
What are your plans for the next stage of your career?
Obviously, I would love to progress my job role further at LCRIG. But no matter what, I want to continue developing my marketing and business skills. I would also love to stay within the highways sector, as I think that it’s such an interesting and important industry. It’s not always clear what the future holds, but after finishing university, not knowing what to do next, I feel so fortunate that I was able to find myself on a career path that I genuinely feel so passionate about, and I’m so excited about where this path is going to take me!