Upskilling Bournemouth: A Deep Dive into Local Collaboration
Developing Digital Marketing Skills around Bournemouth:
A few weeks ago, I attended an event at Portman House within the Vitality Building in Bournemouth, all about upskilling in our local area. The main focus was on how Bournemouth University supports local businesses, helps with apprenticeships, and develops fantastic new skill development programs with other local business owners.
My personal interest in being here is to explore how businesses like mine can contribute to developing local skills and, in turn, truly benefit from it ourselves. It's worth noting that Bournemouth University funded my master's degree in Digital Marketing and Creative Strategy, which means I have a vested interest in giving back to the University, people interested in getting into the field and even tapping into the local talent being nurtured.
I'm keen to look into opportunities like hiring an apprentice or collaborating with the university to run workshops and share our expertise with graduates and digital marketers coming through their programs. We've even been exploring potential collaborations with the Innovation Studio at AUB (Arts University Bournemouth) Business. For me, it's about making sure we're fully integrated into the local business community, actively supporting Bournemouth, and finding ways to give back to my town.
Although the event was quite noisy and means the audio isn't great, I hope this summary shows that there are initiatives being run that connect local businesses with graduates and work to develop local skills.
Chatting with Professor Phillip Sewell, Director of Apprenticeships & Skills at Bournemouth University:
I had the pleasure of speaking with Phil, the Director of Apprenticeships and Skills. As someone running a digital marketing agency, I was eager to pick his brain about getting a graduate or an apprentice on board. My main questions were: "How do I actually go about doing that?" and "What are the core benefits for a small agency like mine?"
Phil explained that the first step is always a conversation. They want to understand our business's specific needs to ensure we get the right skills on board. They have a thorough onboarding process, which includes visiting our business to assess the support we can offer an apprentice, making sure we're a good fit for an apprenticeship. They also delve into the apprentice's potential role, checking if it aligns with the apprenticeship standards they offer. This ensures that the workplace experiences complement the educational side of the program.
Once that's all sorted, they support us in employing the apprentice. If we find a suitable candidate, they'll guide them through their entire apprenticeship journey, making sure they receive the necessary support. This even includes additional learning support if needed in areas like maths, English, or digital skills. Phil emphasised that it's a true collaboration between the business, the university, and the apprentice to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Digital Marketing and Future AI Apprenticeships:
Naturally, I was curious if Bournemouth University's apprenticeship programs covered digital marketing and AI, especially since these are key areas for us. Phil confirmed that they absolutely have a digital marketing apprenticeship which also incorporates aspects of AI. He highlighted that as a university, they are constantly updating their programs to include the latest research findings and crucial areas of knowledge. What's more, assignments can be tailored to be incredibly relevant to our business's needs, particularly if we're looking to develop in specific areas.
It was an incredibly insightful morning, and I'm genuinely excited about the potential for further collaboration with Bournemouth University to foster local talent and strengthen our business. There was even coffee!
