Growing Local Talent: Insights from Our Graduates and Apprentices

Do you think nurturing and supporting the talent of local Hullensians is important? At Summit, we do. And we also know that starting your very first job can be daunting- trust us, we’ve all been there. Here at Summit, we want to provide a motivating and supportive learning environment and to help us do this, we created the Performance Team. This is a team full of new and experienced execs and apprentices who are there to guide you every step of the way.  

In our latest blog post we are speaking to our local graduates and apprentices to hear about their experience at Summit, what attracted them to digital marketing and what their top tips are for starting a new job! 

Why did the Performance Team choose Digital Marketing? 

Digital marketing is constantly evolving and growing and now is the perfect time for young and opportunistic people to start their career in the industry. It is a great, in demand skill to learn to get ahead in your career. At Summit, you will create and grow your network with some of the biggest UK retailers, giving you the opportunity to showcase your ideas to both the teams and clients, ensuring strong development in your communication and marketing skills.  

Lewis said, “My interest in social media and a curiosity to better understand ways of promoting yourself and brands online drove me to look for a role digital marketing – as well as the opportunity to join a growing industry at a young age.” 

Let’s Meet The Team

Meet Hannah

Education: BA (Hons) English Literature at York St John University 

Fun fact: I was live on BBC Radio York in the studio with the host for a game section of the show. 

I was attracted to Summit because I wanted a change in my career and to enter the world of marketing. One thing Summit offers is hybrid working which is great for me as it gives me the opportunity to have a flexible work/life balance. My development at Summit has consisted of successfully completing PPC training and having weekly 1-2-1s with my line manager to discuss and track my progress. So far, I have learned a lot about the basics of marketing in the performance team and I am excited to discover more about the other teams within the business.

Advice: Ask questions and make notes.

Meet Anna

Education: BA (Hons) Business Management & Marketing at Nottingham Trent University 

Fun fact: I have ridden a camel in Egypt.

Summit was recommended to me by a previous employee. I was told that it’s a brilliant company for those fresh out of university or beginning their careers in marketing. The training and development programmes have been excellent. I can now confidently use platforms such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads Manager, GA4, Funnel, etc., and I am excited to learn more about testing and exploring strategic decisions. I love hybrid working due to the social aspect of being able to still come into the office, but value being able to work from home. My day-to-day tasks include reporting on key client metrics and proposing actions for the week, which are then completed amongst my team and me. I optimise, perform ad-hoc and value-add tasks such as promotional support and set-ups, and engage with the client during meetings to further discuss performance and actions, and I am always learning from my teams! 

Advice: Fill in your timesheets with any spare time you get!

Meet Sarah

Education: (BA) Hons Business & Marketing at the University of Lincoln

Fun fact: I occasionally model wedding dresses.

I was initially attracted to Summit as I was able to start with minimal experience and learn on the job by completing all the training Summit provides. One of my favourite benefits working at Summit is compressed working, where we have every other Friday off. I go through my Personal Development Plan every other week with my manager and discuss what my goals are and how I can achieve them. I have learned a lot about PPC, and I am excited to learn more about Paid Social and SEO. I fill in budget sheets daily and check yesterday’s spending and then I complete BAU tasks for clients, focusing on account hygiene, keyword research and ad improvements.  

Advice: Ask a lot of questions and don’t be afraid to ask for more help if you don’t understand something. It is better to understand something fully than waste your time doing it wrong.

Meet George

Education: HNC Sport and Exercise Science at Bishop Burton

Fun fact: I have played football on the Camp Nou (FC Barcelona’s stadium).

Summit has supported my development in PPC and Affiliates and I have regular 1-2-1s with my manager where we chat about the next steps in my apprenticeship and outline a clear path of progression. We regularly have training and knowledge-sharing sessions on tasks and other channels which help expand my knowledge and understanding of different areas of the business. As part of my wider learning, I also attended webinars, where I was able to learn about the current market, and was given the responsibility to send a summary in a company email. Giving me the responsibility to carry out tasks, interact with clients, and send company-wide emails gave me confidence in my role. My favourite benefit at Summit is compressed working because it allows me to have a three-day weekend which is always a bonus! 

Advice: Come with an open mind and ready to learn. Also don’t forget to enjoy it!

Meet Lewis

Education: South Hunsley Secondary School

Fun fact: I have met Charles Leclerc at Silverstone (Ferrari F1 driver).

The strong benefits the company offered to its employees and a friendly workplace with a caring attitude towards everyone is what attracted me to Summit. Compressed working is my favourite benefit as it offers great opportunities for longer holidays and weekends. I have learned great social skills through Summit and built a great understanding in the Affiliate marketing space. I have been excited to run accounts during the Black Friday period and enjoyed the busy time it is – I’ve learned to manage time well and communicate with partners efficiently to progress projects further. Joining straight after school seemed like a scary leap into my career however everyone at Summit made me feel welcome. I felt safe to ask questions, to talk to people, and to integrate myself in the teams, all helping me to develop and progress my skills and knowledge in marketing. 

Advice: My advice is to talk to as many people as you can, learn about each channel and find out what interests you the most. Summit is a place with great people and making friends with everyone leads to a fun workplace and the days are always enjoyable.

Meet Hazel

Education: Wyke Sixth Form College

Fun fact: I once climbed to the peak of The Old Man of Coniston in the Lake District which is 2,635ft high.

Starting at Summit has been the biggest stepping stone in my career. My love for business and marketing started from choosing it as one of my GCSE options, then I went on to study at A Level. I never expected so much opportunity in my own hometown and it has been great meeting so many talented and supportive people. I am currently an apprentice, and I will then be moving into the exec role once my college course is complete. I have gained a long list of skills and knowledge during my time here at Summit which includes; carrying out keyword research, analysing data and optimising to improve campaign performance, reporting and contributing to commentary for our clients, and the opportunity to carry out tasks across PPC, SEO and Affiliates. This opens the door for me to choose which area of the business I want to pursue a role in.  

Advice: My advice is to never be afraid of failure, always have a go and put yourself forward. This is the best way to learn and to get stuck in!

Key Benefits of Working at Summit 

• Professional Growth Opportunities: Mentorship, formal training, and hands-on projects. 

• Inclusive and Supportive Culture: Positive work environment, inclusivity efforts, team spirit. 

• Flexibility and Work-Life Balance: Hybrid working options, flexible hours and compressed working. 
• Career Pathways: Opportunities for promotion or specialised training.  

So, now you have met the performance team… are you interested? At Summit, we value everyone who is part of the Summit family and we want you to learn, progress, and most of all, succeed. From working with some of the largest retailers in the UK across PPC, SEO and Affiliates, to great benefits such as flexible and hybrid working, you can’t get more exciting than that, so send us your CV today!