National Apprenticeship Week 2020
Matt Bubb, media buyer at Orb, shares her own experience on apprenticeships, and why they can be a great option for young people.
I started my apprenticeship scheme in May 2015 and completed the course in just over a year. Two agencies later with countless laughs and so much learned, and I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I’d always felt that I had an interest in marketing and got the chance to learn more during one of my business modules at college that focused on that topic specifically. It was the most interesting module by far and this helped me make the easy decision that a marketing apprenticeship was the right path for me to go down.
“There’s a perception that if you don’t go to university you won’t be successful and that just isn’t true at all.” – Matt Bubb
A lot of people seem to get caught up in the idea that university is the only step in life after school or college to become successful. They often forget or don’t even consider looking down the apprenticeship path. There seems to be a perception that if you don’t go to university you won’t be successful and that just isn’t true at all. Apprenticeships are just as valuable as a degree and can often give you an edge as you’ll have real working experience over a grade, which many businesses will value more.
For people that are considering if university is the right choice, I would highly recommend considering an apprenticeship as another option. Everyone knows the lifestyle that goes with university and while that sounded like a lot of fun, I knew that wasn’t necessarily the best choice for me personally. So rather than follow the crowd, I looked at an apprenticeship as an alternative path.
Choosing an apprenticeship allowed me to have all the fun of university, traveling the country visiting friends, whilst still working and learning real-life valuable skills. Before I knew it, I was giving presentations to my CEO and MD and creating supplier relationships I still have today. That experience was invaluable to me and something that a university degree couldn’t provide.
I wouldn’t be where I am today or have the confidence and knowledge I have within the industry if it wasn’t for my apprenticeship – I’ve since given talks at events for the Birmingham Publicity Association and the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. More recently I have become an ambassador for Creative Alliance, the company that provided my apprenticeship, and gave a talk to a group of 100 students on the importance of considering apprenticeships rather than just choosing to attend university.
— Matt Bubb, Media Buyer
