A YOUNG apprentice is hoping to inspire students from across the north west to follow in her footsteps and start an apprenticeship degree.

Hollie Marsh is in the second year of a four-year apprenticeship with Runcorn-based Aqueous Digital and the University of Central Lancashire and Manchester Metropolitan University.

National Apprenticeship Week runs until Sunday, February 11 and is an opportunity for the education and skills sector to celebrate the achievements of apprentices around the country and the positive impact they make to communities, businesses and the wider economy.

The theme this year is skills for life, something which Hollie believes she has learnt and developed in abundance over the past 18 months.

Hollie, who is 21, said: “As an SEO and outreach assistant, I have had real life experience in the digital marketing industry.

“I have been given a full training plan and have developed my own skills significantly since starting with the company.

“I’ve been given the opportunity to share my university findings with the team and have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of my work and university life.

“We now have some new apprentices that I have had the honour of training and providing support.

“I feel like a proper team member and have been welcomed with open arms to the company.”

Hollie did a full year of full-time university before deciding to leave it all behind to do a degree apprenticeship.

She believes many young people are pushed in the direction of university without considering other options.

Hollie said: “I felt so disheartened with my experience.

“Now, I feel as if I’m being challenged more than ever and have so much more experience than I could have ever gained with being in the classroom full-time.

“As well as a salary and a free university degree, I have skills that will set me up for a lifetime in the industry – in addition to the work experience I will have at the end of my studies.

“I get a 20 per cent time allowance to go to university in Manchester, as well as to complete my assignments, which is really beneficial.

“I go to university in blocks and then have time allocated for my studies.

“There are so many advantages of doing a degree apprenticeship - I genuinely love my job and have gained so much experience in the marketing industry through my role.

“I always feel like I’m learning something new and I’m so supported with my training.

“The team at Aqueous have been so helpful in training me and have been supportive with any new ideas or concepts I bring from university.

“As well as all of the benefits of working alongside the team, I also have no debt from my degree and get a salary on top.”

Hollie does say that some degree apprenticeship students may feel like they miss out on the traditional university social life but meeting like-minded and driven individuals on her course and at Aqueous means that she wouldn’t change her experience.

Hollie said: “Being on a degree apprenticeship programme has set me up for a lifelong career in digital marketing.

“Not only do I leave university with no debt, a degree and vital work experience - I also get to leave with the confidence that I'm capable of taking on anything that comes my way.

“There are so many benefits over a traditional university degree and I still feel as if it isn't talked about enough.

“Young people need to be aware of the significant developments apprenticeships have undergone in recent years.”

Aqueous Digital, which is based at Sutton Quays Business Park, wants to use National Apprenticeship Week to encourage more young people locally to consider a degree apprenticeship in place of university.

Kristian Bentham, marketing director at Aqueous Digital believes there are endless benefits of hiring a degree apprentice.

She said: “Embracing degree apprentices within our team has massively impacted every element of our business.

“Since 2021, our apprentices have inspired a new thirst for development within our team and have created a culture of learning that only young people can provide.

“Young people are the future and it has been a great experience being able to influence and shape these capable young people into well-developed, passionate individuals with a thirst for development.

“At Aqueous, we recommend local businesses take every opportunity to invest in young people especially in an industry so susceptible to change like digital marketing, ensuring the right people with the right ideas are given a chance to prove themselves in a working environment is a value that has really shaped our company.

“We wouldn't be where we are without this vital development in people and degree apprentices have given us a new outlook on our business practices.

“As well as these young people directly impacting our business with their work ethic and passion, there are many financial benefits of being an apprentice provider that too many businesses do not know.

“The government will cover up to 95 per cent of the degree for small businesses, and the businesses only have to pay the apprentice’s salary.

“No matter what it costs though, our apprentices are invaluable to our team and our development.

“They have such a unique perspective and offer us so much.”

More than 85 per cent of apprentices stay with their company at the end of their degree apprenticeship and Hollie is hoping to continue working with Aqueous Digital at the end of her course.

She said: “I don’t think enough young people know about the degree apprenticeship scheme.

“From my university friends to the other amazing apprentices at Aqueous, I don’t know a single person that has a negative thing to say about their experience.

“I highly recommend a degree apprentice to anyone and I hope to be working at Aqueous for many years after my course has finished.”