Apprenticeship helped to get Megan’s international marketing career off to a flying start

Megan Johnson works as a Marketing Executive for Marketing Manchester. She has just completed a Level 3 Business Admin apprenticeship, prior to which she did a Level 3 NVQ in Marketing to help her gain the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the role.

After finishing her A-Levels, Megan didn’t want to go to university and spend three years of her life studying something which didn’t fully interest her. Speaking of her decision to do an apprenticeship, Megan said: “When I finished college, I didn’t really know what I wanted to study. I chose an apprenticeship in marketing because I’ve always enjoyed creative subjects and it was the field which seemed to interest me the most. After I completed my marketing apprenticeship, I enrolled onto a business admin apprenticeship to enhance my skills and improve my CV.”

Megan is glad that she chose the apprenticeship route rather than opting for university. Being able to learn on the job, earn a salary and gain a qualification was a huge bonus for her, and the experience she’s acquired along the way has allowed her to kick-start her career in international marketing.

As a Marketing Executive, Megan’s role is exciting and varied – even providing her with opportunities for international travel. “In my job, there is no such thing as a typical day, because every day is different”, said Megan. “I have been involved in everything, from the day-to-day running of the business, right through to travelling and speaking directly to the agents and operators who promote and book Manchester for their clients. My team have been very supportive, and they helped me to get the most out of my apprenticeship by giving me the opportunity to be involved in lots of campaigns and events across all markets and sectors. This helped me to put together a strong portfolio of evidence for my assessment.”

Megan recently went on her first international trip, representing Manchester to a global audience in Madrid – and it’s safe to say it’s an experience she won’t forget. She said: “I was really proud of the fact that I was asked to go to Madrid – it was really exciting too because I was able to experience another culture whilst working there. My duties involved manning the stand at a tourism fair and answering questions about Manchester and the organisation from a wide variety of delegates from across the travel industry.”

As someone who has benefitted hugely from apprenticeships, Megan is happy to see that people’s views of apprenticeships are changing. She said: “I think potentially there are still a few misconceptions around apprentices only making tea or not being fully involved in the organisation’s activity. However, I believe that perceptions are changing, and the misconceptions are definitely not true. Apprenticeships are a great way to gain on-the-job experience while completing a qualification. They also put you ahead of other candidates who only have a degree but no experience, especially in competitive fields like marketing.”

Megan’s passion for destination marketing has been ignited, and she wants to develop a career for herself in the sector – including completing some higher-level qualifications. Her manager, Tim Manley, Marketing Manager at Marketing Manchester, also predicts a bright future for Megan. He said: “Megan is undoubtedly a rising star in the Growth Company. Her apprenticeships have given her the skills and confidence to reach new heights in her work and take on more and more complex activities.”

He added: “Megan brings huge enthusiasm to the team along with a strong dose of sanity. Megan’s great skill has been to get the team organised and well-prepared for the activities we deliver promoting Manchester all over the world.”

So, what would Megan’s advice be to anyone who is considering doing an apprenticeship? “I would say go for it, as there are so many options whatever your interests, skillset or level of education. And, you often learn more, particularly industry-specific information, that you may not gain when completing more traditional qualifications such as degrees”, Megan said.

We have no doubts that Megan has a high-flying marketing career ahead of her. If you’d like to follow in Megan’s footsteps, we can help you find the right apprenticeship for you. Simply fill out this form and one of our dedicated team will be in touch.