In celebration of National Apprenticeship Week (10-16 February), we sat down with our Multi-Channel Marketing apprentice, Sam Ward, to discuss his journey so far with Fantastic.
Sam joined us after completing his English Language degree and master’s degree in Marketing. We chatted through what it’s been like to do an apprenticeship with Fantastic and how it’s helped to develop his personal and professional skillset.
- Hi Sam! Can you tell us about your apprenticeship role?
I’m currently working towards a Multi-Channel Marketer qualification via Estio which I began just over a year ago when I joined Fantastic in January 2024.
- Why did you choose the apprenticeship with Fantastic?
Fantastic seemed like a great fit, and the right company for me to really develop my skills. The fact that the management team were willing to support my development every step of the way was really important to me and ultimately what sold me on working here.
- What’s it like to work at Fantastic?
It’s been great, I’ve been given a good amount of responsibility from the outset, and it’s allowed me to work in loads of different areas of the business and try my hand at various aspects of marketing. I’ve especially enjoyed being so hands-on with the INSIGHT process!
- Which qualities make you best suited to your role?
I’d say I’m adaptable and always ready to learn new things. This helps a lot in my role with both the variety of clients we work with, and the amount of information we take on in the INSIGHT workshop. INSIGHT is effectively our first piece work for a client so it’s a vital step in showcasing our work and starting out on the right foot.
- What do you enjoy best about your apprenticeship?
I enjoy being able to take a couple of days a month to just focus on my education and development. Having that balance between hands-on working and learning is how I think I’ve been able to achieve so much since I started at Fantastic.
- What’s your proudest personal achievement?
I’ve recently bought my first house, which is a surreal feeling and is probably the thing I’m most proud of.
- What’s your proudest professional achievement?
Managing my first web project, for Hire Association Europe & Event Hire Association (HAE EHA), was a really rewarding process. Presenting sections of the last two INSIGHTS with new clients was also a proud moment for me and showed off how far I’ve progressed in the last year.
- If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Definitely not cheese sandwiches, so I’d say pepperoni pizza!
- Do you have any hobbies or interesting facts about yourself?
I love running and I’m aiming to do a marathon later this year. I’ve also been on First Dates on Channel 4, but only as an extra! It was a cool experience, especially seeing myself in the background when it was on TV.
- What’s one piece of advice for someone interested in doing an apprenticeship?
To definitely do it, it’s a great way to educate yourself while developing your professional skills.
- How would you describe your overall apprenticeship experience?
It’s been fantastic! I’ve developed a lot, both personally and professionally, over the course of the last year and enjoyed myself a lot.
Sam is about to complete his apprenticeship in the coming months. We’re all proud of the effort and dedication he has put in to not only achieve his qualification but produce some excellent work for our clients.
Speaking on Sam’s time so far at Fantastic our Director of Strategy & Insight, Gary Pattison, said “It’s been refreshing to have Sam work with us over the last year whilst also tackling his apprenticeship. We’re strong believers in having a solid understanding of best practice and then being able to translate this into real world applications. We’re confident that having gone through this formal period of training that Sam now has the tools to genuinely help our clients in a whole host of ways.”
As a full-service integrated marketing agency, Fantastic is constantly striving to help develop the personal and professional skills of our team. If you think you would be a Fantastic fit, contact us today!
