National Apprenticeship Week 2025 – employee spotlight
National Apprenticeship Week (10th – 16th February) is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of apprentices and highlight the positive impact they make to communities, businesses, and the wider economy.
Our two apprentices, Jack and Demi, both have a fabulous future with us, acquiring skills and knowledge whilst working with our world-class partners!
Get an insight into their experiences!
When did you join the Primary Engineer team and what does your role involve?
Jack: I joined the Primary Engineer team on 18th October 2022 as a Finance Assistant. My role involves supporting the accounting needs of the company, managing incoming and outgoing invoices, assisting with reporting and administrative duties.
Demi: I joined Primary Engineer at the start of January of this year so everything is still very new to me! I am a marketing apprentice which means I assist in all things marketing such as events, social media and graphic design!
What pathway led you to this apprenticeship?
Jack: I chose to become an apprentice as I much prefer the best of both worlds approach, learning at college whilst gaining experience in a working environment. The combination is widening my skill set, helping me develop skills a lot quicker and is an overall more enjoyable approach to learning. The apprenticeship I’m currently on, Level 3 in AAT (Association Of Accounting Technicians), will set me on the right pathway to becoming a fully-qualified accountant and achieving my goals. Looking further down the line though, once I’m comfortable with my skills and knowledge, I’d like to own my own accountancy firm.
Demi: I took an unconventional path to this apprenticeship, like many graduates, I found myself unsure of what career I wanted to pursue after university. It wasn’t until I discovered my interest in marketing that I even considered it as a career. Despite having no formal experience in the field, I was drawn to the idea of marketing and the dynamic nature of the industry. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to not only work at Primary Engineer but also learn about professional marketing through formal education. The apprenticeship appealed to me because it offered a hands-on approach to learning. I had never studied marketing before, and I loved the idea of combining classroom education with real-world experience. This dual approach would give me the chance to gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, ensuring my understanding of marketing is well-rounded. Currently, I’m studying on a Multi-Channel Marketing apprenticeship with an emphasis on customer-based marketing activities. This course is designed to equip me with the essential tools and knowledge I need to support the marketing team at Primary Engineer, while broadening my skill set for future opportunities in the field.
What skills have you learnt in your apprenticeship that you wouldn’t have learnt otherwise?
Jack: Throughout my apprenticeship, I have learnt a lot about the accountancy field and my communication skills have improved majorly.
Demi: Through my apprenticeship, I’ve learned a variety of skills that I definitely wouldn’t have gained otherwise. One of the most valuable has been learning how to apply marketing theory directly to real-world projects. The hands-on experience I’m getting while working with the team at Primary Engineer is allowing me to develop a practical understanding of multi-channel marketing, customer-based activities, and campaign management—skills I wouldn’t have developed purely through traditional education.
What do you like about your job?
Jack: I enjoy working here for a few reasons! Everyone is really easy to get along with, it’s such a calm workplace environment and I feel the organisation is run well which makes such a big impact on how enjoyable coming to work is for all the employees. In terms of my day-to-day work, I like ensuring everything is in order so it tends to be very satisfying having systems and processes in place to follow. Most importantly though, I feel well supported here by everyone but in particularly by those I work closely with Jamie (Operations Director).
Demi: Although I’m still relatively new to my role, I already absolutely love working in the marketing team at Primary Engineer! Everyone has been incredibly welcoming, and the support from the team has made it so easy for me to settle in. What I enjoy most is that every day brings something different. There’s always a new project or task to tackle, which keeps things exciting. I especially love when the whole team collaborates on a campaign—it’s a great feeling to come together, share ideas, and work collectively towards a common goal.
What would you say to anyone considering an apprenticeship?
Jack: I would say to anybody considering an apprenticeship is, do it! In my opinion, it is the best way to learn as well as gaining all the experience at the same time. Going down the apprenticeship route has helped me develop my personal skills and career so much so far.
Demi: I would definitely say go for it! An apprenticeship is a fantastic option at any stage of life. Personally, having gone from college to university and back to college again, I can honestly say I appreciate my education so much more now that it directly complements my job. An apprenticeship is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to step into your future career—no matter what field you’re interested in. It’s a chance to learn while doing, and you gain valuable skills that can set you up for long-term success. If you’re unsure about your next step, it’s definitely worth considering!