Get clicked on with a Digital Apprentice

The digital industry is now thriving and is set to be a leading source of employment in the years to come.

Manchester has already set out its vision to be one of the top 10 digital cities in the world, so watch this space. Due to rapid growth within this industry there is a distinct skills shortage of skilled people to fill the gaps and take up positions in a number of areas. University courses often fail to equip young people with the skills they need for digital roles, meaning they enter the workplace unprepared. This is where apprenticeships in Social Media & Digital Marketing can help. The Apprentice Academy is one of a number of training providers and Colleges offering these courses at level 3. A five day Career Ready Boot Camp during the first week of employment provides some of the skills and knowledge values by employers to ensure apprentices enter the workplace feeling confident and ready to make a positive impact.

 

Manchester Digital has recently partnered with the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) to create an apprenticeship scheme which intends to bridge the skills gap. Research has found that more than 50% of businesses in the North West were finding it difficult recruiting staff for digital roles and it is hoped that the partnership will create up to 450 apprenticeships in the region over the next two years.

Tony Foggett, chair of Manchester Digital, said: “Many employers in the sector are struggling to recruit staff with the necessary skills and competencies, and are now choosing to employ apprentices and train young people on the job instead, building skills needed through high quality apprenticeship offerings.”

Social media is an ever growing industry with a range of new and interactive platforms being developed all of the time. Businesses and organisations should be encouraged to get to take measures to ensure they stay ahead of the competition. Many companies have a social media strategy and staff dedicated to social media activity in their business. A lot of companies have benefited from hiring digital marketing apprentices who tend to be young and clued up on social media. With the guidance provided by a line manager, these apprentices can provide a return on investment and help with progression planning.

On Monday 2^nd and Tuesday 3^rd September, nearly 100 social media experts and researchers from 25 countries attended a conference organised by the University of Westminster’s Centre for Social Media Research (CSMR). Conferences and networking events provide an excellent way of keeping up to date with new developments in this industry as well as the plethora of on-line videos and courses available.