Social media apprenticeships

North of England Training is offer 16 to 18-year-olds the opportunity to earn social media apprenticeships.

There are already several local businesses ranging from photographers to schools to event management companies who are keen to recruit an apprentice to develop the social media strategy for their company.

One particular Preston based IT business, NetDec is already on board.

Craig Townley, managing director, said: “We’ve seen how powerful social media is when it is utilised properly. We’ve been trying to manage it ourselves but just haven’t had the resources, so when we discovered this fantastic opportunity from North of England Training we jumped at the chance.

"We’ve been incredibly impressed with how easily they’ve managed the whole process of establishing exactly what we require and then helping us identify a suitable candidate. We can’t wait for our new apprentice to start in July, and genuinely believe they will make a significant impact on our business success.”

The team at North of England Training has also been collaborating with local schools and colleges to source appropriate candidates who are keen to develop a career in social media. The apprenticeship will provide them with a Level 3 Diploma in Social Media for Business.

Sarah Hanson, business development manager at North of England Training, said: “We’ve had a fantastic response to this opportunity from both employers and young candidates. It’s a great way for someone who is interested in this particular area of expertise to gain some practical business experience whilst gaining a valuable qualification. We also believe social media adds real value to a company by raising its profile through a proven marketing channel.”

To complement the hands on experience that each apprentice will receive through their employer, social media experts Lucky 6 Marketing will deliver the classroom element each month. Having provided social media services to many local companies in the region, they understand exactly what businesses require through this highly effective marketing platform.