Celebrating National Apprenticeship Week with Customer Experience Specialist, Georgina

Throughout National Apprenticeship Week we’ve been speaking to colleagues who are working towards apprenticeships alongside their roles at Fulcrum. We caught up with Georgina Whitham, 32, our Customer Experience specialist about her marketing apprenticeship and the passion she’s gained for the subject.

Why did you choose to take on an apprenticeship?

I’m working towards a Level 6 Marketing Manager apprenticeship alongside my role in Customer Experience. I’ve never considered marketing as an option previously, but the chance came up  and I always like to take on new opportunities, especially when there is training involved.

I really took to the marketing activities we get involved with and, alongside the customer experience role, for which there are some synergies, I am really enjoying being involved in marketing.

My line manager suggested formalising my experience through an apprenticeship. So, I’m now studying at Level 6 having already gone through Higher Education, gaining a degree in Classical Musical Performance at the London College of Music. This of course, is very different!

Tell us about your apprenticeship.

It covers the broad principles of marketing, including campaign management, PR, and brand management, as well as some managerial aspects.

How will this apprenticeship influence your career?

I’ve no doubt this apprenticeship will enhance my career. Although I’d never considered marketing before, now I love it and want to use the skills and expertise I’m gaining from it throughout the rest of my working life.

Would you recommend an apprenticeship, whatever stage you are in your career?

Absolutely, age and position shouldn’t be a barrier to using a model of training that allows you to gain new qualifications at the same time as completing practical tasks. Be mindful, you have to put in the work and manage your time well!

It’s been easier to start later too, because of the support I get from the business. I’m trusted to complete my customer experience work as well as my apprenticeship.

I also have a skills coach through my apprenticeship provider, who provide pastoral and wellbeing support during the training, which is really helpful.

You mention the support from the business and your colleagues, is that important?

I have the best line manager I could ask for. He’s completed similar courses before, so his insight and experience are really helpful as I make my way through my apprenticeship. There is a positive environment at Fulcrum that encourages professional development so we all work hard to support each other as we take on new qualifications or training programmes.