Apprenticeships play a vital role in shaping the next generation of our industry. They create meaningful pathways into media and advertising, offering hands-on experience, real responsibility and the opportunity to grow within a supportive team.
At BBJ&K, we’re proud of the talented individuals who have started their journeys with us as apprentices and progressed into key roles across the agency. Hear from some of our team who share their experiences of entering the industry and building their careers with BBJ&K.
Five years ago, in 2021, I joined BBJ&K as an apprentice, new to the industry, excited, and honestly a bit intimidated. I had enthusiasm, but very little hands-on experience. What I didn’t realise then was how much support and trust I was about to be given, and how much that would shape my career. From day one, apprentices aren’t treated as observers, they're part of the team. That means real responsibility, real clients, and real opportunities to contribute. It can feel daunting at first, but being trusted early on builds confidence fast. With managers and colleagues who are always willing to guide and encourage, challenges turn into learning moments. Starting as an apprentice and progressing to Junior Account Manager showed me that hard work is recognised and growth doesn’t stop when the apprenticeship ends. BBJ&K continues to invest in its people and that’s made all the difference for me.
My apprenticeship at BBJ&K gave me a strong foundation to start my career in the industry. I joined around two and a half years ago as an apprentice with no prior experience, and after completing the programme in 2024, I progressed into my current role as a Digital Account Executive. Throughout my journey, I was supported by a team who were always willing to share their knowledge and provide guidance, helping me build both skills and confidence. With their consistent support, I achieved a distinction in my apprenticeship and have since gained my IPA MIPA, which I’m extremely proud of. It’s been incredibly rewarding to grow within a business that genuinely invests in developing its team.
Joining BBJ&K as my first role in Advertising and Media has been a great experience. Although I initially didn’t know what to expect from the industry, the immersive nature of my role as a Digital Media Executive has enabled me to develop a diverse skill set in a relatively short period of time. I am particularly grateful for the internal culture at BBJ&K, as the team’s consistent support has been fundamental to my development, allowing me to feel like a valued member of the agency. Looking forward, I am eager to further contribute to our team at BBJ&K and continue to expand my knowledge of the fast-paced and dynamic advertising and media landscape.
“Here at BBJ&K we are proud to support apprentices and people as they take their first steps into a media and advertising career; we have caught up with a few of our recent team members to get their thoughts on apprenticeships, BBJ&K and entering the marketplace.”
Beth Reid, Deputy Managing Director
When I received the offer for this role I expected to be ready for an intense start to the corporate world but on my arrival the support and welcome was genuinely comforting. From day one, the team was welcoming and showed me that asking questions was fully encouraged, which made starting my apprenticeship and my first job feel far less intimidating than I expected. One of things I appreciate the most, and find most useful to any apprentice, would be the involvement in meetings, internal and external as it helped me understand real workplace discussions and how the teams and clients I would be working with communicate with each other.
My experience of being an apprentice at BBJ&K has been really positive and has helped me develop both professional and personal skills. I’ve been able to gain hands-on experience across different areas of the business like how campaigns are planned, booked and reported on. The company has supported me throughout my whole journey, everyone was always happy to help and give me advice whenever I needed it, which really supported my learning. I was also given time during work hours to complete my coursework, making balancing work and my studies much easier. This support helped me build confidence and improve my understanding of the media industry.
I joined BBJ&K in October 2023 as an apprentice, eager to begin my career and gain real industry experience. Although I started with limited hands-on knowledge, I was quickly given real responsibility and treated as a valued member of the team. That trust helped build my confidence from the very beginning.With ongoing support and guidance from colleagues who were always willing to share their knowledge, I developed both my technical abilities and key professional skills such as communication, organisation, and problem-solving. Each project allowed me to grow and take on new challenges. I’m proud to have completed my apprenticeship at the start of 2025 with a distinction. The experience gave me a strong foundation in the industry, and I’m incredibly grateful to be part of a company that genuinely invests in its people and their development.
I began my apprenticeship at 18, immediately after completing my A Levels in summer 2021. Although I had applied to university and originally planned to attend, I was keen to enter the working world, gain hands-on experience, and explore what truly interested me. In my first week at BBJ&K, I travelled to Manchester with members of the team to attend an event hosted by Finecast, where industry experts shared their insights on media and emerging technologies shaping the sector. From that very first week, I knew media was the right place for me -the blend of creativity, data, and collaboration suited me perfectly. Throughout my apprenticeship, I felt consistently supported in my coursework and development. I also worked closely with other apprentices across the company, sharing experiences and learning from one another, which greatly enhanced my growth during the programme.
At BBJ&K, investing in apprentices is part of our long-term vision. We are committed to providing structured support, real opportunities and clear progression routes that enable individuals to thrive in media and advertising. The stories shared above reflect the culture we strive to build, collaboration and continuous development. As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to working with apprenticeship providers and welcoming the next generation of ambitious media professionals. If you’re interested in starting your career with us or learning more about how we support emerging talent, we’d love to hear from you.
