Building Brands and Futures: Oliver’s Digital Marketing Journey
From Apprentice to Digital Marketing Executive, Oliver’s journey shows just how powerful an apprenticeship can be in shaping both careers and businesses. His story with The Livewell Syndicate is one of growth, opportunity, and impact.
When Oliver completed his A-levels, he knew he wanted to start his career in a hands-on role where he could gain real-world experience while developing new skills. He came across HBTC while exploring apprenticeship opportunities and quickly began the application process. Within just a couple of weeks, we arranged a series of interviews for him, and that is when Oliver knew The Livewell Syndicate was the right place to begin his journey.
That choice marked the beginning of a journey that would take Oliver from a Digital Marketing Apprentice to a Digital Marketing Executive in just a few years.
Getting started
Oliver joined The Livewell Syndicate as a Digital Marketing Apprentice, eager to get stuck in from day one. His first weeks were a whirlwind of learning, getting to know the business, experiencing their health and wellbeing services, and even attending a marketing event in his very first week. “My first few weeks of the apprenticeship were exciting! I was given the opportunity to get to know more about the business I was working for.” “I was lucky enough in my first week to attend a Marketing Event that gave me the chance to see three great speakers, giving digital marketing insights. Since then, I have attended at least a dozen other Marketing Events that have helped to broaden my knowledge and often inspire new creative ideas for my marketing efforts”, Oliver shared.
Developing skills and experience
Over the course of his apprenticeship, Oliver built an impressive skillset spanning content creation, campaign management, analytics, videography, photography, SEO, and more. He gained experience rebranding The Livewell Syndicate’s social media platforms, helping to redevelop the website, and designing both online and offline promotional materials. One highlight was leading a group of Hull University marketing interns, where Oliver was given the chance to manage their projects and mentor them in daily tasks, effectively stepping into a leadership role himself.
Reflecting on his journey, Oliver said: “From a professional perspective, the apprenticeship has helped boost my knowledge and set up key processes on a daily basis, allowing me to implement specific strategies. I have been able to take what I have learned on the webinars and tasks completed, and refine the processes in place to improve my skills and help to promote the business even further.”
Achievements to be proud of
By the time Oliver completed his Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship, his hard work had already paid off. He was promoted to Digital Marketing Executive at just 20 years old, such a huge achievement that we are all so proud of here at HBTC! “Upon completing the apprenticeship, I was promoted to Digital Marketing Executive, and being given this opportunity at the age of 20 is something that I am extremely proud of but also very grateful for,” he explained.
In his current role, Oliver manages multichannel campaigns, develops content strategies, and produces creative assets across social media, email, and web platforms. He also monitors performance using tools like Google Analytics, Meta Suite, and Mailchimp to ensure campaigns deliver measurable results.
He continues to take pride in the positive changes he has brought to the organisation and looks forward to further developing his skills in areas like videography and photography.
An employer’s perspective
For The Livewell Syndicate, bringing Oliver on board made a real difference to the business. Managing Director Daniel explained: “In the earlier stages of our business, we, like many others, faced many unknowns. Finances were tight, and we had so many tasks to undertake that we could have hired in many different areas. We identified that many of our problems could be remedied by increasing brand awareness and sales, and as such, our financial stability. That led us to recognise that a digital marketing apprentice was necessary for us, and with our financial limitations at the time, it was a cost-effective option.”
Daniel described Oliver’s impact as transformational, stating, “Oliver has taken our digital identity and helped us develop a brand voice. This has helped us with sales.” He also highlighted the positive influence Oliver had on the wider team, “As a small team, bringing in Oliver actually helped us become a team. We all work in the same room, making us quite close-knit. We are all confident to ask each other for help if we need it.”
As Oliver grew into the role, he became increasingly confident in shaping strategy and putting forward new ideas. Daniel praised this initiative: “Oliver is very willing to suggest new ideas – this could be new topic ideas based on research or even changes to our operational components, which he has developed good knowledge of since joining us.”
Daniel also expressed how, at The Livewell Syndicate, they now have a structured way of managing their marketing activities, showing just how much of an impact Oliver has had on the business.
To others considering an apprenticeship
When asked what he would say to others thinking about an apprenticeship, Oliver shared: “I would say if you aren’t planning on University, and want to earn whilst you learn, this is the perfect fit for you. Read about the different options out there, research businesses you would perhaps like to work for, and get yourself out there (Top Tip: Create a LinkedIn as soon as you can; your network is your net worth).” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!
A shared success
Oliver’s story is proof of how powerful apprenticeships can be. For him, it has been a launchpad into a rewarding career. For Daniel and The Livewell Syndicate, it has been a way to bring in fresh ideas, strengthen their marketing, and grow as a business.
Whether you are an aspiring apprentice like Oliver, looking to gain industry experience, or an employer like Daniel, considering how to grow your team, we have a range of apprenticeships that offer the opportunity to build futures and strengthen organisations.
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Emily Simpson
Emily is our Learner Engagement Apprentice and is involved with all things social media and content development. She is also responsible for attending career events and maintaining relationships with local schools and colleges.