Salford teen encourages others to embrace apprenticeships

A 19-year-old from Swinton has overcome stiff competition to land his first job since leaving school – as Tangerine PR’s third social media apprentice.

Nathan Youd is now encouraging other teens in the area to put themselves forward to become an apprentice, after standing out at The Juice Academy’s rigorous bootcamp selection day.

The Juice Academy, the UK’s first employer-led social media apprenticeship, has created more than 30 jobs for young people since its launch in June 2013.

The Academy is currently recruiting its fourth cohort of apprentices, with jobs up for grabs at a number of North West and national companies, including JW Lees, Binary Box and Tangerine PR.

The brainchild of Manchester’s Tangerine PR, the apprenticeship was created to increase youth employment and fill an industry-wide skills gap by training young professionals in the practical application of social media.

Nathan is one of nine apprentices in the Academy’s third cohort of budding young social media stars, who have been placed in prolific businesses such as Weber Shandwick and Berg to learn on the job.

He said: “Social media is already a huge part of my daily life, so I feel privileged to be using this as a platform for my career. I’m learning something new every day while at Tangerine and feel like I’m making a positive difference to the company.

“University is not the only option for people my age and I’m glad my career is starting now, rather than in a few years. If I could give any advice to fellow teenagers in a similar position, it would be to give it a go – you never know where the chance might lead.

“By the end of the apprenticeship, I won’t be saddled with thousands of pounds’ worth of debt and I’ll have one of the most valuable things employers look for – on-the-job experience.”

As part of his day-to-day role, Nathan is tasked with scheduling tweets, creating content and attending brainstorms, while taking time out to train at the Academy in Castlefield.

To find out more about The Juice Academy’s next cohort of social media apprentices, or to apply, please contact Lucy Adams on 0161 817 6600, email lucy.adams@juiceacademy.co.uk or visit www.juiceacademy.co.uk/apply-now

Applications close on Monday 28th April.