I’m Joanna and I am currently in my second year of studying Business Management through the Applegate Workplace Degree scheme. I first came in to contact with Applegate when I enrolled on the Applegate academy, this is one day a week of work experience for 16 weeks. This involved rotating around different departments, including marketing, content, finance etc. to try and grasp which you enjoyed the most and to help give you an insight in to how a business functions. I am now a full-time employee and am situated within the Marketing department.
I didn’t necessarily know what career path I wanted to choose, so the Applegate academy was a good starting point in developing my business knowledge, which soon led in to being offered the Degree apprenticeship in Business & Management. Not being overly keen on going to University but still wanting to study, I accepted a place on the programme and the first year has flown by!
During my first year of the Workplace Degree Programme I worked in the Marketing department, helping clients with their social media and promoting our relatively new Applegate PRO system, assisting buyers in sourcing the products and services they require. I am still in the Marketing department, however my role has changed significantly and my skill set is always expanding, I now line manage the new apprentices; training and implementing new processes, as well as updating the Applegate blog and I will be getting involved with an interviewing process later in the year.
I thoroughly enjoy the Workplace Degree programme and it has provided me with so many opportunities I would never think to be involved in. Throughout the first year, I was lucky enough to go to a tradeshow, visit London for the annual CIPS wine tasting event to network and discuss procurement, and finally to meet Prince Charles on his recent visit to Devon. I’ve been very successful in my first year of the Business Management degree achieving a high grade and using knowledge learnt at University in the working environment and vice versa. Not only have I been blessed with many opportunities, Applegate have implemented the ‘First Rung’ Housing scheme, which gives me the opportunity to save up to £10,000, which the company will match at the end of the 5 years to put a deposit down on a house in North Devon.
I am really looking forward to being able to say I am 23 years old with a Business management degree, 2 management qualifications, 5 years work experience and a deposit on a house. I can honestly say this will be one of my biggest achievements in life and it’s all thanks to Applegate.