Back in 2018, we helped Mindshare hire apprentices through the Mindshare Academy. This programme saw 100 students apply to be part of the Academy, where they had access to mentoring and a four-week placement.
Luke, who was one of the 14 apprentices hired, reflects on his time as an Accounts Executive Apprentice and how Visionpath helped him find a successful career path. From overcoming the challenges of balancing work and study, to the exciting new Accounts Manager role he’s since landed at Mindshare, Luke shares his journey and offers valuable advice for young people in the same position he was during his A-Levels.
Luke, what are you up to these days?
I’m an Account Manager in the Media Buying Department at Mindshare, which is a global advertising agency part of WPP, the largest advertising firm in the world.
"The Visionpath programme definitely gave me a lot of self-confidence as well as the initiative to kickstart my career... I was able to take ownership of my own outcomes, as the programme put me in places I’d previously felt uncomfortable in – like doing team presentations and job interviews."
What made you want to do an apprenticeship?
I definitely found myself in limbo at the end of my A-Levels. I wasn’t really set on going to university and hadn’t visited any, as I didn’t feel that path was going to benefit me in any way. I always knew I wanted to work in media, so when Visionpath came to my school and spoke about an opportunity at a media agency, I quickly decided that was what I was going to do, completely threw myself into it, and haven’t looked back since!
How did you find being a part of a Visionpath programme?
The Visionpath programme definitely gave me a lot of self-confidence as well as the initiative to kickstart my career. There was a very strenuous selection process at the beginning of the programme, and to be picked as part of a cohort of apprentices from the amount of students that signed up was a massive confidence boost, as it can sometimes be quite easy to get bogged down with imposter syndrome and not feeling like you deserve a place. I was able to take ownership of my own outcomes, as the programme put me in places I’d previously felt uncomfortable in – like doing team presentations and job interviews. These gave me a great grasp of where I was at and where I could improve, which was massive for me at the time.
"My apprenticeship was really beneficial because I was able to ease myself into a nine-to-five, but it didn’t feel too work-oriented as I was learning and going though my course at the same time, so there was a lot of variety."
What did you enjoy most about being an apprentice?
I think for me it was having the balance of starting a career, as well as being given the flexibility to study on the side. My apprenticeship was really beneficial because I was able to ease myself into a nine-to-five, but it didn’t feel too work-oriented as I was learning and going though my course at the same time, so there was a lot of variety. It also really helped having a cohort of apprentices going through the same thing, as – although there wasn’t an apprentice within my department – we could always speak to each other if there was something we didn’t understand or we just wanted to chat. Going through that entire experience with people you know really helps!
What did you find toughest and how did you get the support you needed?
This definitely follows on from the last point in that it was really easy to let your work get in the way of your study – after a couple of months I was quite behind on my apprenticeship coursework, as my job took over quite a bit, so I think it’s a case of sitting down with your line managers and learning providers and giving yourself the space to be able to do both roles. I used to lock out Friday as a day where I’d write my coursework, and once this was sorted I was able to catch up pretty quickly!
"If you assign apprenticeships a similar level of value to what you would with university, there could be a wealth of options you might be missing out on. From a personal growth aspect, they definitely help you grow up into the professional world a lot quicker"
So many young people are in the same position you were during your A-levels. What advice would you give them?
Make apprenticeships a bigger priority when it comes to assessing your options in your final year at school – when I was in school, the general consensus around apprenticeships was that they were only really for manual occupations, which couldn’t be further from the truth. If you assign apprenticeships a similar level of value to what you would with university, there could be a wealth of options you might be missing out on. From a personal growth aspect, they definitely help you grow up into the professional world a lot quicker and provide you with a ton of hands-on experience you wouldn’t otherwise gain from university, which helps you stand out against a lot of applicants. You’re also earning while doing something you like, which goes without saying!
So, what have you been doing since you completed your apprenticeship?
I continued with my role and ended up being promoted into a managerial position at 21, which has been really fulfilling, but also really weird as I’ve had to manage people older than me… But you get used to it! I can see myself doing this job for a long time, and I’m honestly really happy with what I’m doing and where I’ve managed to put myself.
Coming up to your A-Levels and wondering what to do next? Luke’s story is a great example of one of the paths you can take. If you’re feeling uncertain about your next steps, find out how we can help.
Or perhaps you’re a careers leader, looking for opportunities to introduce to your students? Get in touch to find out how we can bring our programmes to your school.
Want to hire apprentices into your business but don’t know where to start? Get in touch and our team can help you take the first steps to bring in socially-diverse talent.
