In 2021, as part of Anthem’s diversity initiative to open up opportunities in the publishing world to more people, Anthem decided to engage in apprenticeship schemes for the first time in our history.
Our first apprentice, Ella, joined in March 2021 as an Advertising Apprentice, and Molly, our Digital Apprentice joined a month later.
To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, we catch up with Molly Pickering to find out more about her apprenticeship experience…
“Since starting my Digital Marketing apprenticeship with Anthem in April 2021, I have been positively overwhelmed by the support from the organisation and its sense of teamwork.
“Before I began my apprentice role, I found myself stuck in my career. Following the pandemic, I wanted a fresh start and a new challenge that would elevate my career.
“I had studied at college and completed my degree, so an apprenticeship was something that I had never considered at this stage of my career.
“From the first day at Anthem, I truly felt a part of the team. I felt supported and included even though we were all remotely working. My anxieties of being the apprentice and believing I would be ‘bottom of the barrel’ were instantly dismissed thanks to the efforts and inclusion from everyone at Anthem.
“Ella, who is the Sales Apprentice at Anthem, joined at a similar time to me. It has been great working with someone who is at a similar level to me and I know we have both felt supported and motivated in our roles.
“Balancing work with completing my apprenticeship assignments was something that I had previously worried about, but my manager and my team ensured I had dedicated time to focus on my course.
“My digital marketing apprenticeship has been so valuable to me, having the ability to learn new skills both on-the-job and in an educational environment has been hugely beneficial to my progress at Anthem. As individuals, we are encouraged to create new ideas for the company and to own it. In the relatively short time I have been at Anthem I have gained new responsibilities in my role and have worked closely with different departments to create a cohesive working team.
“Anthem’s aim to help people lead happier and healthier lives not only applies to its customers but also to its team. Anthem prioritizes the wellbeing of its staff and actively engages with the team with regular catch-up meetings, yoga sessions, meditation classes and team get-togethers.
“I am so thankful for the opportunities given to me during my apprenticeship and look forward to my future with Anthem.
Read more about Ella and Molly’s experiences as being an apprentice at Anthem, and discover why this might be the right next move for your business.