The youngest employee at Suffolk’s Diocese is urging more more young people to consider an apprenticeship – after landing her dream job.
Lauren, aged 23, joined the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich’s communications team in September 2019 as a digital marketing apprentice.
Now a fully fledged member of the team, in the role of communications assistant, Lauren says learning on the job has really kickstarted her career.
She said: “Like many people, I didn’t really have an idea of what I wanted to do after finishing my studies.I had been to sixth form, college and had briefly attended university – but found it wasn’t for me.I was looking around for jobs and thought the idea of an apprenticeship would be really good.”
Lauren said learning as she worked really boosted her confidence, leaving her feeling she knows her new job inside out before even starting.
“On my apprenticeship I was learning new things every day about all aspects of the Diocese – it really gets you up to speed,” she said. “It was not just the digital advertising side but learning about the Church of England as a whole, the role it plays in the community and meeting fascinating people. The job experience has been invaluable.”
Lauren said she would urge other young people to consider an apprenticeship as an alternative to university.
She said: “While I was at school, the idea of apprenticeships were pushed to the side a bit – they make it seem like they are only for trades, like plumbing or carpentry. I didn’t even know apprenticeships in digital marketing existed until I started looking around for them. I would wholeheartedly recommend young people look into them, 100 percent. t has helped build my confidence, to gain stability and to understand what I want from my career – without being hit with a big student loan to pay back. I just wish apprenticeships were advocated more these days – that people realised university is not the only way to a happy career.”
Lauren said the church has a lot to offer young people and the wider community.
She said: “You get the spiritual and religious side of things, but then also the incredible community projects – the youth clubs, environmental campaigns and the work the church does with schools. Part of my job I love the most is speaking to people who have found comfort in the church and have been inspired to help other people too. It’s lovely to hear those stories.”