What the Make it Digital Traineeship pilot did for me

Jordan Walker participated in the Make it Digital Traineeship pilot scheme the BBC Academy ran a few months ago. In this post, he reflects on his experience and explains how it led to an apprenticeship with a digital agency.

I first heard about the Make it Digital Traineeship pilot when I saw a leaflet at the Jobcentre, visiting for my weekly review. The pilot scheme offered an opportunity to learn more about digital media, and gain work experience in a digital media company. It seemed like a perfect chance to get a foot in the door. My advisor agreed agreed the traineeship would be right for me because of my love of digital and because I had already been volunteering my skills to a local business. What I knew then was that I didn’t really have any formal training. The scheme seemed like a good way of getting some of that training. 

Making the decision to get hands-on experience turned out to be a great move. I knew I had to grasp this fantastic opportunity, because I realised that if I went to university for three to four years I'd end up in a lot of debt, not really an option for me. Plus, the traineeship would get proper experience on the job. In my mind, I reckoned employers would value that even more than a degree. 

During the scheme I got stuck in with planning social media activity using, building simple websites and creating short videos for the web, I did a two week work placement with Bareface Media in Birmingham’s Custard Factory. I knew quickly that this was just where I wanted to be. My two weeks with Bareface there were brilliant learning more, for example, about Google Analytics and how to make websites responsive across all PCs, mobiles and tablets.

Working at an agency was totally different to what I expected and I think my two weeks work experience helped me adjust to the new environment. I learned a lot of things about web development tools and improved my skills.  During the course I also had to stand up and speak in front of a group and that helped me become a lot more confident, something I realise is really important in the workplace. 

After the Make it Digital Traineeship ended my work placement offered me a full blown apprenticeship - a 12-month Developer & Digital Designer apprenticeship with the agency, which will provide hands-on experience of working with clients and working with people with a lot more experience in the field than I have - really important for my future full-time employment. 

I am really pleased with myself that I took the opportunities when they appeared. It was surreal for the first couple weeks, as I had not imagined myself working at an agency by the time I was 22, never mind 19. And it’s made me certain that I definitely want to continue climbing up the career ladder.

If other young people like me want to get into a field within the digital media industry, the Make it Digital Traineeship is a great chance to gain some work experience. Experience is essential in getting a job and the younger you are the better.  So, I would say gain work experience as early as possible and take the opportunities that come to you.  I did and now I’m thinking, maybe eventually I could even build my own company. It’s not quite clear to me yet, but I can imagine myself in a high position. The traineeship has given me the confidence to really go for it.

 Jordan Walker is a former Make it Digital Trainee

• Read about the the 5,000 Make it Digital traineeships on the Media Centre website. 
  
  
• Find out more about how to apply for the Make it Digital Traineeships on the BBC Academy website.