Posted by Katy Cowan in News on Wednesday 30th November 2011. Tagged with Marketing, apprenticeships, Birmingham.

Demand for social media marketing apprentices has rocketed after a unique programme was showcased to Birmingham business owners recently. Training specialists SSC Learning are now searching the city for talented teenagers to take up positions with the interested firms including those in the creative sector.

SSC Learning, who are based at Keys Business Village in Hednesford, have already taken on the first eleven teenagers for the scheme and placed them with Staffordshire business, but after an event showcasing the apprenticeships to Birmingham businesses, demand has shot up.

The apprenticeships offer paid employment to 16 to 19-year-olds, who are charged with handling the business’s digital marketing, with blogging, Facebook and Twitter being key elements.

The young people are given social media training every month by Cannock-based Passionate Media, plus constant support and advice.

The media specialists have developed and will deliver training modules to the apprentices, beginning with an intensive three weeks induction, which continues for a day each month for the next 11 months.

Each apprentice place, which costs from around £2,500 to £4,500 is being funded by the Government’s Skills Funding Agency.

SSC Learning managing co-director Ian Shephard said the first round of apprentices are now working with companies, who are quickly seeing the worth of being involved in the scheme.

“There’s a real buzz around apprenticeships right now – Young Apprentice is just airing on BBC1, and with the need to create more jobs for young people, lots of business leaders realise that apprenticeships are a great way to train and bring on young employees.

“The reaction when we spoke to businesses in Birmingham was almost overwhelming – we already have more than a dozen firms interested in taking on an apprentice, and the search for suitable candidates is now very much on.

“We know there’s a wealth of talented young people out there who are not meeting their full potential – some will have opted for college courses they quickly realised weren’t right for them, whilst others will feel they have missed the boat, not finding a course in September, and struggling to find work.

“Our rolling programme of apprenticeships means we are constantly looking for people, so anyone aged 16 to 19 who thinks they have what it takes for a media career, should get in touch with us.”

Carol Garrington, marketing director of Passionate Media, who have taken on an apprentice themselves, said: “Our current crop of trainees are doing really well – most of the companies we have spoken to had already recognised the need to be doing more with social media, but didn’t have the resources to deal with it.

“In just a few weeks, companies are starting to see a change in their online profiles, and the value in investing in an apprentice.” Ian’s co-director Andy Jacques added that the calibre of apprentices is very high, which will be key in ensuring the programme succeeds.

“Our candidates must have good English skills, a natural way with words and a good understanding of social media,” he explained.

“Ideally, they’ll have A-C grades in English and maths, but whilst qualifications are preferred, we understand that school didn’t suit everyone, and we can still work with young people who didn’t necessarily achieve to the right level.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about social media marketing apprenticeships can do so at www.ssc-learning.com.