Why I chose my apprenticeship in the green sector

16 June 2023

Saskia joined the MCS team in April as a digital communications apprentice after leaving school with science and photography experience. From content creation to event promotion, and social media management, our new apprentice has hit the ground running as she studies alongside gaining valuable experience in the workplace and the industry we operate in. 

We caught up with Saskia to ask her about her first month with the company, and all about the green sector. Here is what she had to say: 

Tell us about your role for MCS? 

I joined the MCS team in April 2023 as a digital communications apprentice. My interest in digital marketing began when I left school with a love for content creation. I always knew I wanted to travel before beginning my career, and I lived in New Zealand and Australia, and backpacked South East Asia for two months, and now can happily begin this new opportunity, knowing I’ve done it. The pandemic delayed my travel plans, but it seems to have all worked out in my favour, as I am loving my apprenticeship I ‘ve started with MCS.

My role within the communications team is to support digital content from concept to publication. From events to announcements and everything in between, I create artwork and write copy for captions, to post across all social media platforms.

Why should people choose a career in the green sector?

While I was traveling, I witnessed the effects of climate change first-hand. Seeing the current state of the Great Barrier Reef in comparison to what I had imagined it to look like due to the environmental disaster, made me feel a deeper connection to the issue. When the opportunity came to work within the green sector, it just felt like it was the right step for me to take. Working in this industry allows me to combine two interests of mine, content creation and environmentalism, to create content that is not only fun to create, but also brings awareness to an ever-growing industry that is working towards combatting the ongoing environmental disaster.

As well as feeling proud to work in an industry championing positive change, I also take pride in being a female working in a male-dominant sector. The need for more people in this industry is only growing, as I have already seen in my first few weeks, it would be promising to see even more women coming into the sector. As this is a problem affecting every kind of person, it is important to see lots of diversity in the types of people working in the industry.

What are you looking forward to in your career?

As an apprentice, I am studying while gaining work experience. I am looking forward to seeing my standard of work improve and increasing my knowledge of MCS and the green sector itself. Choosing to pursue a career in digital communications, my knowledge of the green sector is currently limited but I am looking forward to learning as I go and seeing the growth and impact of MCS; the way my colleagues have.

Soon, MCS will be exhibiting at InstallerSHOW 2023, which will be my first company event, which is very exciting to me! This will be a great opportunity, as someone new to the company, to learn more about the industry, and be surrounded by people and businesses dedicated to the same cause as we are. It is going to be very big digitally, and we have already begun content creation and have lots planned for before, during and after the event.

What is the benefit of an apprenticeship over other training routes?

My original plan was to attend university to do a digital marketing degree, however, throughout my gap year, I realised that I personally prefer to learn in a hands-on, working environment. My apprenticeship enables me to do this while I’m in the office working for MCS; I am constantly learning through practice and observing my colleagues. At the same time, I am being provided with the fundamental skills from my time at college to provide understanding of my role within the digital sector and to give me the opportunity to demonstrate the skills I have learnt within the workplace.

Apprenticeships are beneficial to both apprentices and their employers. I am able to earn an income and qualification (Level 3 Content Creator) simultaneously. Apprentices are advantageous to employers because they are training someone for a specific role within the company, not by the criteria of another qualification such as a degree.

What advice would you give to others considering an apprenticeship?

I was always aware you could complete an apprenticeship in digital marketing, but was always under the impression apprenticeships were only available in technical or very specific roles, but have since learnt this is far from the truth. Apprenticeships are for a wide range of jobs and skills, from management to heat pump engineering, apprenticeships are an amazing way to enter a new field or develop skills to implement in your current profession. Although it certainly isn’t the right path for everyone, it is an opportunity anyone can consider at any stage of their career.

It is also a common misconception that apprenticeships are designed for teenagers and young adults only. Many people at my college are much older than me and study alongside having a family, and that is completely normal! There isn’t an age limit in choosing to study for an apprenticeship.

How can we bridge the skills gap in the green sector?

The variety of apprenticeships available was never something I was well acquainted with, as won’t many other young people. There needs to be a massive push in the advertisement of the apprenticeships/opportunities available, to help get more people into the renewables sector. Young people are much more attentive to the need for reducing carbon footprints, so if they knew the routes available into the sector, they are more likely to be interested in working in it.

Anything else you want to add that you haven’t covered?

As this is my first non-customer facing role, I didn’t know what atmosphere to expect, but I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised. Everyone has been so welcoming to me and I have never felt afraid to ask a question. As I am an apprentice, in addition to my days in the office I attend college and complete a day of home learning; my line manager and everyone at MCS is very supportive of my college work and I never feel like the two are clashing or one is affecting the other.