Blackburn College and +24 launch digital marketing apprenticeship

Blackburn College has teamed up with tech business +24 to launch a new digital marketing apprenticeship programme.

The Burnley-based firm has designed the Level 3 course to help bridge the digital skills gap. It is available to colleges, training providers and employers around the UK.

The course material is flexible and can be updated to reflect changes within the industry,

Dave Walker, founder and managing director of +24, said: "If Meta (Facebook) change their marketing algorithm, we can have a classroom-ready video on our portal the next day, so students can learn the latest possible techniques and the businesses benefit from that knowledge immediately.

"This new initiative is the first of its kind – we have a dedicated team of professionals working round-the-clock to analyse the digital marketing sphere in order to produce the most up-to-date learning materials ever seen."

He added: "Digital industry heads have been crying out for better education for years, and we are proud to be able to provide a specialist, up-to-date platform for the business leaders of tomorrow to get their springboard.

"There is a huge digital skills gap in the UK. A shortage in those suitably skilled for digital jobs is a major risk to business growth, innovation and development. Ultimately, a risk to the economy too.”

Blackburn College becomes the first in the UK to invest in the +24 Academy programme. Nicola Clayton, director of business development at Blackburn College, said: "The new digital marketing apprenticeship in partnership with +24 Academy is a fantastic industry designed offering unlike anything else currently available.

"It marks a step change in our approach to delivering the apprenticeship, with a fully blended model of delivery, providing our apprentices with access to monthly master classes delivered by a range of industry experts."