My name is Xé Barnes-Gordon and I started four weeks ago as the Multi-Channel Marketing Apprentice at Powered by CAN. It has been a great month and I’m excited to share some of the things I have learnt and the people I have met.
If you had asked me when I started if I knew anything about Adobe InDesign, I would have shut the conversation down IMMEDIATELY! It looked way too complicated for me but with the training provided by my team I’ve realised the programme is not as difficult as I first thought, and it’s kind of cool (Premiere Pro is, too). Although there are specific guidelines for the content I’ve created, I like the fact that I get some creative freedom with everything I make. For example, one of the Next Gen projects had a Poetry Collab session where I captured content then had the chance to edit it the way I felt was best. It’s nice to be trusted like this by an organisation that has hired me.
As this is an apprenticeship, I have done some formal things, too, such as meetings, more meetings (and a few more meetings after that!) followed by notes from said meetings – like a real professional! I also have my own email address and laptop so I start my days off by looking at all of my emails to get that executive feel …
There are so many creative types here in the office – from graphic designers to artists and singers, which is beautiful to see. It’s nice being around people who see the world in the same way I see it.
I can confidently say that doing this apprenticeship will help me settle into the marketing world as I have already learnt many strategies that have changed how I approach tasks. For example, I now see how something as ‘small’ as the language used in an Instagram caption can significantly change the way the audience views it. Or how necessary it is to stick with a consistent theme when it comes to content, as it keeps the target audience engaged. Although I originally had less interest in the business side of marketing, I have found myself genuinely intrigued by discussions about how funders contribute to the organisation and why it is crucial for us as marketers to keep them in mind whilst producing content. As someone who is passionate about going into creative marketing, this apprenticeship is more than right for me.
Some of my favourite moments here have been things as simple as talking to staff about what they do and why. It’s been so interesting seeing things from their point of view.
I have really come to appreciate what Powered by CAN is about. Going to sessions and seeing how much effort the staff put in to create a safer space for children and young people in the Black Country has been inspirational. It is so important to work with an organisation who are truly passionate about what they do. I am grateful to Powered by CAN for not only making something like this possible but also for allowing me the opportunity to be the first marketing apprentice to take this journey with them. I am excited for the rest of my time here and I look forward to further developing my marketing skills.
