Your Career. Our Priority.
When businesses think about apprenticeships, they often focus on the end role, but what’s often overlooked is the flexibility they offer along the way. Apprenticeships are not fixed career paths. Instead, they provide a foundation for progression, adaptability and long-term development, both for the learner and the employer.
Starting in a broad role, such as a Business Administration apprentice, doesn’t mean staying in administration. It can open doors to multiple career pathways across a business, allowing apprentices to build experience before specialising. Let’s hear from MSG Tours Ltd and their experience of how impactful that journey can be.
Elliemae, now a Multi-Channel Marketing Apprentice at MSG Tours Ltd, began her journey in a Business Administration role. This allowed her to gain a wide understanding of how the business operates, from systems and processes to working across multiple departments. For many apprentices, this early exposure is invaluable. It not only builds core business skills but also helps individuals discover where their interests and strengths lie.
MSG Tours Ltd recognised this potential and decided to invest further in Elliemae’s development, supporting her progression onto a Level 3 Multi-Channel Marketer apprenticeship. A Business Administration apprentice offers opportunity, supporting multiple areas of the business and freeing up time for senior staff to focus on higher-value work. At the same time, apprenticeship progression allows businesses to develop talent internally, reducing recruitment costs and ensuring employees are trained in line with company processes and culture.
Let’s hear from Laura Smith, Finance/HR Manager, and Elliemae’s line manager from MSG Tours, and Elliemae on their experience of moving from Business Administration into the business’s marketing team.
“Hi, I’m Laura, Finance/HR Manager at MSG Tours Ltd I have been here around 2.5 years and have worked with 5 apprentices going through their studies (one being Elliemae, who is now on her second apprenticeship).”
“Hi, I’m Elliemae, Multi-channel Marketing Apprentice. I started with MSG in September 2024. I then completed my Business Administration Apprenticeship in December 2025 and have now moved into the marketing team!”
“We could see that Elliemae had interests in other areas of the business, as big supporters of apprenticeships, we wanted to help Elliemae grow her skill set within the business. Elliemae already had a strong understanding of the way the business works, the systems and daily processes, which made the move into the marketing team seamless for us.”
“Having that understanding of MSG as a whole from doing my Business Admin apprenticeship, moving over felt easy as I already knew the basics and could build on this. I didn’t have to learn loads of new systems or processes; I already knew all of this.”
“Elliemae already understands the goals the business wants to achieve through its marketing campaigns. She also has a different perspective, having moved from our operations team and business administration role into the marketing team, which allows more insights into how marketing affects other departments within the business.”
“Knowing the structure and culture of the business has helped me to understand why processes are so important and how each team member affects the outcomes of a task/campaign. By gaining insight into areas such as finance, operations, customer service, and administration, I developed a broader awareness of how business decisions are made and how each department contributes to overall success.”
“As a business, we fully believe in apprenticeships, having had 5 over the last few years. Using them to grow and develop team members minimises our recruitment and training processes and costs. We, as a business, use a lot of different systems, and no day is the same, so it helps smooth the day-to-day running of a small business.”
By starting with a Business Administration apprenticeship and progressing into a specialist area like marketing, apprentices gain a well-rounded understanding of the business, while employers benefit from a skilled, engaged and loyal team member.
For SMEs looking to grow sustainably, apprenticeships offer a clear advantage: developing the right talent, in the right way, at the right time.
Looking to upskill your team through an apprenticeship? Get in touch to find out how we can help.
