From Apprentice Compliance Coordinator to Marketing Lead: Katie's Journey at LSP
In this blog, Katie shares her journey from starting at LSP as an Apprentice Compliance Coordinator to becoming Marketing Lead. She reflects on the challenges she’s faced, the lessons she’s learned through multiple apprenticeships, including her recent Degree Apprenticeship in Digital Marketing, and offers advice for those starting their own career journey.
Tell us about your career journey at LSP.
I started at LSP in 2015 as an Apprentice Compliance Coordinator. My role was focused on ensuring the administration processes ran smoothly, handling compliance processes and supporting the wider team. It was my first step into the sector, and it gave me an early understanding of how apprenticeships work behind the scenes.
Fast forward to today, and I’m now the Marketing Lead, responsible for shaping our campaigns, managing our digital presence, and finding new ways to connect with our audience. It’s a completely different role from where I started, but everything I learned in those early years still plays a big part in my work now.
How have apprenticeships contributed to your growth?
Apprenticeships have been a huge part of my development at LSP. I’ve completed four since starting 10 years ago:
- Business Administration Levels 2 & 3 - Built my organisational skills, confidence and understanding of business operations.
- Social Media Level 3 - Introduced me to digital marketing, content creation and social engagement.
- Degree Apprenticeship in Digital Marketing - Allowed me to apply strategic marketing knowledge, data analysis and campaign management skills directly into my current role.
Each qualification has equipped me with relevant skills that I could put into practice straight away.
How has LSP supported your career progression?
LSP has a culture of recognising potential and investing in people. I have constantly been provided opportunities to take on new challenges and develop skills beyond my initial role.
LSP has supported not only my growth but also the growth of so many others within the business. I’ve seen colleagues progress from apprenticeship roles to team leaders and managers - all through the training and mentorship offered here.
How was your experience completing your Degree Apprenticeship?
Completing my degree apprenticeship was one of the most rewarding (and challenging!) stages in my career so far. Balancing work, study, and life wasn’t always easy - but it was 100% worth it!
One of the highlights was meeting other learners from different industries, sharing experiences, and learning from their perspectives, which broadened my understanding of business and marketing in ways I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise.
I also had the opportunity to serve as a student representative, giving feedback to the training provider/university and supporting my peers throughout the course. Part of this role allowed me to suggest changes to assignments and course delivery, ensuring future cohorts could benefit from improvements we identified. Seeing those changes implemented was incredibly rewarding and gave me a real sense of contribution beyond my own learning.
Graduation at Solent University was such an amazing day. After 4 years of online learning, finally meeting tutors and classmates in person made it all feel real. It was great to catch up and celebrate our achievements together!
What advice would you give to someone starting their career journey?
I would say definitely take every opportunity to learn, even if it feels outside of your comfort zone. Don’t feel like the traditional university path is the only way to succeed. Apprenticeships are a fantastic alternative - they let you earn while you learn, gain practical skills, and grow within a supportive business!
Katie’s journey shows that career growth doesn’t have to follow a traditional path. With curiosity, determination, and a willingness to embrace learning opportunities, it’s possible to gain valuable skills, overcome challenges, and achieve your goals.
