Hey, my name’s Zach and I’m a Level 3 Multi-Channel Marketing Apprentice at Skills and Education Group. At school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a career, other than the fact that I liked drama, so I planned to go down a theatrical route. When I attended sixth form, I couldn’t take drama, so I had to choose something else. I chose quite creative A levels, photography and art, two subjects I had never taken before.

While in sixth form, I started to panic because I had no idea what I wanted to do when I left. My work experience, I chose to go to Slimming World and focused on creative roles. Across the week, I worked with different teams including graphic design, the photography and video, and magazines/publishing. This ensured I gained experience across multiple creative areas and aligned well with my A levels. Through personal research, I found out about marketing, which linked with what I had been doing at Slimming World. Then I came across apprenticeships and I knew immediately that they would suit my way of learning better than university. It was a way to earn and learn, while also gaining real work experience.

The only thing that worried me was the fact that I was under the transgender umbrella and had recently changed my name and pronouns at sixth form. I had previously experienced issues around my gender identity and, because people didn’t understand it, I was sometimes subjected to unkind behaviours. I also feared that if a workplace knew I was non-binary, they wouldn’t hire me for being “different” or “troubled” (a common misconception about trans people). This led me to revert to my birth name and try to present as a girl so I could get an apprenticeship.

Process

I did lots of my own research on apprenticeships and found that many places advertise them, such as gov.uk, UCAS, and job sites like Indeed. I updated my CV and applied for a range of marketing apprenticeships. On UCAS, I found a Level 3 Marketing Apprenticeship with Skills and Education Group. The process was simple: I applied, and within a week, I received a call from Nottingham College, and an interview was set up.

I was nervous, but once I got there, everything was okay, the team was lovely, and we had great conversations. I hadn’t done many interviews before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Then the question came up: “What do you know about our company?” I had no idea. I decided to be honest and say I wasn’t sure. Most people would try to fake an answer, but my biggest advice is: don’t. They respected my honesty, and it showed them I would feel comfortable asking for help and communicating openly. Just be yourself. I was incredibly excited to get a call the following week saying I had got the job!

Day One: Stepping into the Unknown

On my first day, I was nervous because an office environment was unfamiliar and everything felt new. However, the team was incredibly welcoming. The company induction process was great; each team took time to explain their roles, which really helped me understand the business. I immediately felt like this apprenticeship was going to be great.

Finding My Identity and Being Included

Something very important happened early on. Once I felt comfortable and welcomed, I told my team I was non-binary. This was a huge step for me, and I was terrified I wouldn’t be respected. Instead, I received the most support I’ve ever experienced. They immediately asked how they could support me and included HR to help me update my name and pronouns on the system. They also offered me different facilities to use and made me feel genuinely accepted.

For anyone thinking about whether to be open: know that your identity matters. A workplace that acts inclusively changes everything.

Learning the Tools, Learning the Theory

As I settled in, I started getting hands-on: scheduling social media posts via Social Pilot, building email campaigns in Mailchimp, and working on WordPress. When the college side of the apprenticeship kicked in, I began learning about marketing theory, the 7 Ps (product, price, place, promotion, people, process, purpose) and understanding how everything linked back to my job role.

With an apprenticeship, your work and learning go hand in hand. What you do in the office supports your study; what you learn on paper improves your work. I’m so impressed with how much I’ve learned.

Becoming an Ambassador & Making an Impact

One of the most significant shifts for me came when I joined the National Apprenticeship Ambassador Network and started speaking in schools about apprenticeships. It felt meaningful to share options beyond university and show young people what’s possible. The network felt like a family, and it especially helped me connect with people who understand my pathway, as my college sessions were all online.

Growing with Neurodiversity & Team Support

Another big part of my journey was recognising how I work differently. I’m neurodivergent, and my team and I had open conversations about how I process information, meetings, and priorities. We figured out new ways of working together. When your workplace recognises how you think, not just what you do, it makes a huge difference. I’m very grateful to my manager for initiating those conversations. Now my work and study feel much more supportive and tailored to me.

Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards

One of my biggest achievements during my apprenticeship was being a finalist for the Multicultural Apprenticeship Awards. Being a finalist was incredible and reminded me why apprenticeships are so important to me. At school and college, apprenticeships weren’t talked about properly, it was always about university. But university didn’t fit my learning style, so I want to spread awareness that if university isn’t right, there is another path.

On top of this, entering the workplace while figuring out my gender identity was honestly scary. I was worried about being judged or disrespected, I am aware might discourage other transgender individuals, too. That’s why I care so much about speaking up, for apprenticeships and for people who don’t always feel represented.

I’m the first person in my family to take an apprenticeship route, and I’m proud of that. I moved out at eighteen, got engaged, found a career I love, and joined an organisation that supports me as a person, not just an employee. I couldn’t have done all of this without my apprenticeship.

So to sum it all up…

One of the best parts of my apprenticeship was being able to move out at 18. Doing an apprenticeship meant I didn’t have student debt, I was gaining a qualification, and I was earning enough to live independently. It’s important to recognise that an apprenticeship isn’t the “failure option”, it’s a smart move.

I genuinely believe I’ve progressed more during my apprenticeship than I would have at university. I’d only be in my second year now, and instead I am on the way to a fulfilling career. An apprenticeship fits my way of working: I thrive with hands-on learning rather than classroom learning.

My biggest advice?

Say yes to every opportunity. Network as much as you can, it will benefit you. And be yourself. My workplace has been so accepting, and it’s the most accepted I’ve ever felt in my life.

Zach Bennett

Multi-channel Marketing Apprentice at Skills and Education Group⭐East Midlands Apprentice Ambassador⭐Apprentice Highly Commended Appy Snappers 2025⭐MCAppAwards Finalist

You can find out more and connect with Zach on LinkedIn.