What I’ve learned in my first 6 months as a marketing apprentice

Six months into my apprenticeship and role as Delivery Manager feels like the perfect time to pause and reflect on how far I’ve come.

Having never worked in an agency before, I didn’t realise how many moving parts go into delivering a campaign or website, from developers and designers to copywriters and paid media teams. In that time, I’ve learned more than I could have imagined, not just about delivery, but about myself: how I work, what drives me, and what it means to be part of a team that genuinely wants you to grow.

Here are some of the biggest things I’ve learnt so far:

1. Find out what motivates you to succeed

When I started at Enjoy, I knew why I wanted to do an apprenticeship and why I wanted to be here. What I didn’t know was what would motivate me day to day.

I quickly discovered that seeing a project through from start to finish, and witnessing the impact of my work, is my biggest motivator. Delivery means being involved from the very first conversation through to campaign analysis and reporting. Watching a project succeed and knowing I played a part in making it happen is incredibly rewarding. It’s taught me that marketing isn’t just about ads or websites; it’s about taking real people on a journey.

I began by supporting Enjoy’s first client project - a three-month Meta campaign. Being involved from the initial immersion session through to post-campaign analysis gave me a clear view of the real impact of our work and highlighted just how important my role, and the wider project team, is to delivering successful results. Since then, I’ve progressed to becoming the delivery lead on two additional campaigns.

Hearing positive feedback from clients has made this even more rewarding. Comments like “it has given us a good boost in leads”, “it’s been really positive so far”, and “I have loved this campaign” showed me the real-world impact of the work I’m helping to deliver.

2. Communication really is everything

I’d always heard people say communication is key, but I never truly understood what that meant until now. Working in delivery has shown me just how important clear communication is. I collaborate with multiple people, teams, and priorities every day, and I’ve learned that communication can make or break a project.

One early learning moment came during a creative handover, where I hadn’t clarified whether back-end development was needed as well as front-end. It meant running two handovers instead of one, a small impact, but a clear reminder of how easily miscommunication can create unnecessary delays when expectations aren’t aligned early.

Over the past six months, I’ve learned the value of asking questions, sharing updates, and keeping everyone aligned. A good Delivery Manager knows how to listen, take the time to understand, and adapt to different ways of working.

I’ve also become more comfortable raising risks and addressing them as they come up. Far from being negative, flagging risks early and working with teams to find solutions has boosted my confidence massively.

My apprenticeship training with Pareto has also been incredibly helpful. Learning how to understand briefs and ask the right questions has allowed me to clarify expectations early in a project and keep teams on the same page.

4. Don’t be afraid of feedback

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the importance of feedback. At first, it can feel daunting, but it’s one of the fastest ways to learn and grow. Acting on feedback has improved how I communicate and manage projects, and continues to shape how I approach my work every day.

During my six-month review, I was given thoughtful guidance on how I can continue to grow, especially around confidence when communicating, which helped me see feedback as a sign of trust and investment rather than something to fear.

5. Absorb the knowledge from your team

Working with the delivery team has been the most rewarding part of my apprenticeship. From day one, I felt supported by colleagues who were eager to share their knowledge, answer questions, and involve me in every stage of the delivery process.

I’ve benefited hugely from the mentoring and support of the team, who took the time to teach me key delivery processes, from setting up new projects in Forecast to invoicing and raising POs. While a lot has come naturally, that guidance has been invaluable in building my confidence and understanding of the role.

Over the past six months, my responsibilities have grown significantly. I now manage five projects as Delivery Lead while supporting others across the wider delivery team. Exposure to a variety of clients, project types, and ways of working has helped me develop a more well-rounded understanding of delivery.

6. Celebrating progress and learning along the way

The past six months have taught me to recognise progress, both big and small. Seeing my first project through from start to finish was a huge confidence boost, and each campaign since has helped me grow more confident in my role as a Delivery Manager.

Alongside these milestones, receiving positive feedback from clients has been incredibly rewarding. Challenges such as managing tight deadlines, coordinating handovers, and adapting to changes along the way have pushed me to stay organised, communicate clearly, and keep learning with each project.