Start your career in Marketing, Media & PR

By Mollie Brown - 20 December 2023

Are you creative? Love to keep up with trends and stay one step ahead of them? Know how to grab an audience’s attention, create eye-catching content and tell a good story? If your answer is yes, perhaps now is the time to start a career in marketing, media and PR.

The diverse skill set you could develop will give you plenty of progression options. Employers love this too because your transferable skills make you an asset in many areas.

Shaun Wheatcroft, Digital Innovation Manager at Chesterfield College, gives three key reasons why he thinks a career in the sector is a great idea:

A growing industry: The demand for content creators is increasing as businesses rely on digital marketing to reach their customers.
A creative industry: You can use your imagination and skills to create engaging and informative content.
A rewarding industry: You’ll get the opportunity to make a difference in the world.

Interested in where the sector could take you? Read on to hear from local individuals about how they started pursuing their career in marketing, media and PR.

Test it out with a work experience position

If you’re wondering about a career in marketing, media and PR but you aren’t sure if it’s right for you, perhaps work experience is a good place to start. Mya Curtis, a 15-year-old student from Derbyshire, recently explored her options at Penguin PR, which has offices in Chesterfield and Derby.

Keen to work in journalism, Mya says:

“My work experience with Penguin PR saw me use my writing skills and, because of the nature of the job, the ability to be able to communicate well was essential. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I learned so much.”

By taking part in this work experience, Mya learned what the media look for in a story and how to create social content successfully. She even got a sneak-peek behind the scenes as BBC cameras visited Barrow Hill Primary Academy. This has all helped her think about her next steps.

Not only is this a positive way to add to your CV, but it also helps you to build connections with businesses and remind them why you could be an asset to their team! Kerry Ganly, an account manager at Penguin PR who worked with Mya said, “The media landscape is fast-paced and ever-changing and whilst it’s great that we have such a wealth of experience at Penguin PR, we’re always wanting to learn more, and that’s why we enjoy working with young people.”

See where an apprenticeship could take you

An apprenticeship is a great way to earn while you learn and gain qualifications at the same time. Apprenticeships give you the opportunity to experience work life and see whether a sector is right for you before progressing your career.

Keeley Hoggins is a level 3 content creator apprentice at Chesterfield College, and her role has helped her think about how she wants to progress. She says:

“I became an apprentice because I enjoyed working but I wanted to learn at the same time. An apprenticeship was the perfect opportunity for me as I could gain valuable work experience while refining my skills, learning the marketing industry and creating content for various platforms. Enrolling in an apprenticeship program offered me the perfect blend of mentorship and practical learning.

“I’ve been involved in various tasks in the marketing department, from strategy development to creating content across multiple channels and platforms. When I finish my apprenticeship, I’m considering going to University and building my education in the marketing industry.”

Careers in marketing, media and PR also give plenty of opportunities for progression. Nathaniel Hall joined the team at Chesterfield Borough Council in 2018, starting out as a digital marketing apprentice. Since then, he has been promoted twice and is now working as a Digital Communications Officer. He helps to oversee the council’s website, intranet, and social media platforms. Nathaniel explains:

“I was looking for a different career path that I was passionate about; I always enjoyed media studies in school and college, so I thought this was the best route for me. The apprenticeship helped me develop lots of new skills and gain a deep understanding of digital marketing techniques. Throughout my apprenticeship I have been really focused on my learning. That has really helped me to progress my career. I am now undertaking a team leader level 3 apprenticeship.”

Retrain and learn on the job

Do you already have a career but are thinking about trying something new? It’s easy to feel like it’s ‘too late’ and you can’t make a change. However, you’ll be surprised at how many transferable skills you have developed in other jobs. These could make it possible for you to ‘learn on the job’ and to progress in your dream career

Esther is a marketing assistant at Destination Chesterfield. Joining the team earlier this year, she has a variety of experience but had never previously worked in the sector. She said,

“Since leaving school, I have tried a few different career routes! I studied theatre and performance at university, mainly focussing on set design. I then trained as a primary school teacher. After teaching for a few years, I decided that it wasn’t the right career for me. I have since trained as a nail technician, which I love and still do part time. However, I wanted to use some of my academic skills as well as my creative ones. After lots of research, I became interested in the marketing, media and PR sector.

“I was really nervous to start looking into job possibilities, as I had no experience of even working in an office, let alone in marketing! However, the team at Destination Chesterfield have been so supportive of me and helping me learn. I have come to realise that all my previous roles have helped me develop a range of skills which I can use in my position now.”

As our world becomes increasingly more digitalised, more apprenticeships and job vacancies are becoming available in the sector.

Interested in starting a career in Marketing, Media, or PR? Why not browse current apprenticeship vacancies in the local area and take a look at some of the apprenticeship providers in Chesterfield.