Apprenticeships are often talked about in terms of opportunity, but their real value is seen in what happens day to day. The learning curve, the confidence that builds over time, and the way practical experience shapes how people work, think and grow within a team.
At Hush Digital, apprenticeships have never been about filling a gap or ticking a box. They’re about investing in people and giving them the space, support and trust to develop real skills in a real working environment.
To mark National Apprenticeship Week, we spoke to two people at very different stages of that journey. Elle, who joined us as a Content Creator Apprentice in August 2025 and is currently completing her apprenticeship, and Scott, who started at Hush nine years ago as a Digital Marketing Apprentice and is now a fully-fledged Digital Designer.
Their experiences show how apprenticeships can work when they’re treated as the start of a career, not a temporary role.
Elle, Content Creator Apprentice
Elle joined Hush Digital in August 2025 as our Content Creator Apprentice. She works across social media, written content and campaign support while completing her apprenticeship alongside the team.
What made you choose an apprenticeship over a more traditional route?
“I chose an apprenticeship because I wanted to gain hands-on experience while learning, rather than full time education.”
What were your first few weeks at Hush Digital like?
“My first few weeks at Hush were exciting and I learned a lot in such a short space of time. I got to film content straight away and get a feel for what my role would look like.”
How has your role developed since you started?
“Since I started, my role has developed by giving me more responsibility. This has helped me to steadily learn and grow my confidence.”
What skills have you learned that you didn’t expect to develop so quickly?
“I didn’t expect for my written content skills to develop so quickly, considering this type of content is all new to me. I quickly learned tone of voice and more recently how to write blog posts.”
How do you balance learning on the job with your apprenticeship studies?
“The best way for me is by staying organised and making sure I set time aside to work on my apprenticeship studies.”
What’s surprised you most about working in a digital marketing agency?
“What surprised me the most is how fast-paced it is. No two days are the same, meaning I’m constantly learning new things.”
What kind of support have you received from the team?
“I’ve received a lot of support from the team, guiding and helping me to learn. Everyone has been approachable for any questions I’ve had, which has made settling into a new environment much easier.”
What would you say to someone considering an apprenticeship in digital marketing?
“If you’re passionate about it, do it! You’ll learn so much from working in a professional environment.”
Scott, Digital Designer
Scott joined Hush Digital In January 2017 as an Apprentice and has grown with our agency ever since. He now works across all areas of design, including marketing, branding, web design and other creative projects.
What do you remember most about starting as an apprentice at Hush?
“When I joined Geonet Solutions (before we were Hush Digital) as an Apprentice at 18 years old I remember not knowing what to expect with it being my first actual job, and there always being something new to learn.”
How did your apprenticeship shape your career path?
“From the first meeting when I interviewed for my Digital Marketing Apprenticeship I expressed an interest in design. As a result I was able to bring design to a marketing department which, at the time, was using what they could from Google images to get the job done. Since then my work continued to lend itself more and more into a variety of design projects big and small until in August 2021 when I was able to leave Digital Marketing behind and was made a full-time Designer.”
What were the biggest challenges early on?
“Learning so many new things at once and trying to take everything in.”
How has your role changed over the years?
“I joined in January 2017 as a Digital Marketing Apprentice, completing my apprenticeship with 3aaa. After finishing that, I was fortunate enough to be kept on as a full-time Digital Marketing Executive. In August 2020, my role evolved into Digital Marketing & Designer as I began taking on more design-focused responsibilities. By August 2021, I transitioned into a full-time Designer role, and more recently my title was updated to Digital Designer to better reflect the scope and variety of the work I do now. Mental really to reflect on. Very thankful and grateful for the opportunities and the continued trust and support I’ve been given over the years.”
What skills developed through your apprenticeship that you still use today?
“I suppose transitioning from Marketing to Design, it’s helped me better understand how content is used across things like websites and social media. It’s helped me be more aware of audience and the purpose of the things I’m designing, and how I can make something more engaging for the audience it’s intended for.”
Why do you think apprenticeships work well in creative industries?
“Because you’re actually on the job doing things first-hand. Rather than just going to uni and learning how to do stuff, you’re actually actively doing it on an apprenticeship as you’re in the role.”
What’s kept you at Hush Digital for 9 years?
“That question makes me feel old! I guess it’s helped doing work I enjoy, working with great people every day. Also someone has to continue to beat Chris Thompson at pool year after year.”
What advice would you give to apprentices starting out now?
“If it’s something or can lead to something you think you’ll love doing and are passionate about.”
Why Apprenticeships Matter
Elle and Scott’s experiences show two sides of the same story. Apprenticeships create space for people to learn, grow and build confidence over time. They allow skills to develop in context, supported by real teams and real work.
At Hush Digital, apprenticeships have helped build long-term careers, not just short-term roles. National Apprenticeship Week is a reminder that investing in people early, and supporting them consistently, pays off well beyond the apprenticeship itself.
If you’re thinking about starting an apprenticeship or want to understand how they work in practice, conversations like these matter more than any statistic. They show what’s possible when learning and opportunity go hand in hand.
