Happy Purple Birthday to me! 🎉 It’s official, I have been a Purple person for 1 year and I honestly can't believe how fast these last 12 months have gone and just how much I have done and grown.

I walked through the door filled with nerves and excitement but was met by the most amazing team who instantly made me feel welcome, these past twelve months have been filled with fun projects, laughter, and creativity—everything from copywriting and graphic design to content creation. 🤩

Being in an office setting for the first time has been fantastic, this was a big change from my many years in hospitality but I wouldn't want to go back! In our office, we bounce ideas off each other and offer mutual support which is fab to get all of those creative juices flowing. 

Purple’s open-plan office, with music and fun activities like table football, Skyjo, daily yoga and “I’m a celebrity, who am I?” as well as endless cups of Yorkshire tea creates a positive work environment and somewhere that I am proud to work. The entire team has been incredibly supportive and a joy to work with. Many of the current team members have completed apprenticeships in areas such as website development, project management, and digital marketing while at Purple. This reassured me that the training curriculum is directly relevant to my role, providing me with the knowledge I can apply daily. It also showed that the team understands the kind of work I will be doing and opens the door for them to offer guidance based on their own experiences.

We have very recently had a big celebration for the 15th anniversary of Purple! I was super excited to be part of a big milestone for the company and it was really lovely to spend some time with the gang outside of the office as always. We all enjoyed the brilliant film Up, messages from the old Purple team and a good old laugh. Happy Birthday, Purple! 💜

Looking Back on the Last 12 Months

Before joining Purple, I completed a degree in 3D Design at Northumbria University in Newcastle, a program I absolutely loved. However, during my final year, the world came to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges and necessary adjustments, I persevered and successfully completed my degree. Unfortunately, this also meant that finding a job in my field became even more difficult as a recent graduate. Feeling that my current position in bar management wasn't where I wanted my future to be, I decided to move back to my lovely hometown of Richmond, like many others during that time. This is where I came across the digital marketing job advert here at Purple and the rest is history.

I have had such a great time working with a wide variety of clients in different sectors on a range of marketing support from email marketing and social media, to writing press releases and content for blogs and website copy, mixed in with some graphic design projects like Chrismas menus and flyers for a restaurant, posters for digital use, creating brand guidelines and even designing a website! This broad range of day-to-day tasks means no two days are the same, which I think is why my first year at Purple feels like it has gone by in the blink of an eye!

Doing my Digital Marketer apprenticeship with Apprentify has been an absolute game-changer! I've been able to join my classes remotely, keep an eye on my progress through the portal, and get amazing support from my development coach, Sharon. This program has been fantastic for juggling work and learning, and it's done wonders for my self-confidence. The teachers, coaches, and fellow learners are all fantastic, making the whole experience really enjoyable and uplifting.

The next step for my apprenticeship will be going through Gateway which means I have completed all of the tasks that were assigned to me on the learning portal Bud, demonstrated all the required knowledge, skills and behaviours, and have the finished version of my portfolio ready to submit. 

Reviewing my portfolio, I’m amazed at how much I’ve achieved. My design skills have been put to good use, creating both digital and printed marketing visuals for Purple and clients alike. I have also had a brilliant time developing my copywriting skills through super helpful feedback from the team as well as practice through regular client blogs, press releases, and content writing.

Even though I am going through Gateway this month as I begin the End Point Assessment process, Apprentify continue to support me. They are always offering different courses allowing me to expand my knowledge, learn new tools as well as look into different specialisms such as videography. I am currently taking a workshop focusing on video strategy and how to get the most out of video content, which will help Purple's social media as well as clients’!

Hopes for the Future

Working at Purple, especially with the beautiful Aske Estate as a backdrop, has been an eye-opening and invaluable experience. I’ve gained hands-on experience and expanded my skills within the industry. I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with such talented colleagues who’ve taught me so much and I can't wait to continue my journey!

I hope my regular updates have entertained you, providing insight into my apprenticeship journey and life at Purple. I look forward to sharing my final update soon, revealing how I did in my assessments! 🤞