Small team, big impact: how Rivervale’s marketing apprentice is already running campaigns

National Apprenticeship Week (9 to 15 February 2026) is a chance to spotlight the people and businesses proving apprenticeships are not just a “first step”, they are a proper route into real careers. This year’s theme is “Skills for Life”.

At Rivervale, we have seen that first-hand with Jess, who joined us as a Marketing Apprentice in September 2025.

Apprenticeships are brilliant, but they are not “set and forget”

I have worked with apprentices before and I have loved it. There’s something genuinely rewarding about helping someone grow in confidence, learn new skills, and start to believe in what they can do.

There’s also a reality people do not always talk about. Apprentices often need a lot of attention at the start for guidance, coaching and nurturing and our marketing team is small. It’s hands-on. It moves fast. Priorities change quickly, and you have to keep up. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to give an apprentice the level of support they deserve, which matters if you want to give them the best possible head start.

Ben Freakley, Group Marketing Manager, Rivervale, said: “Apprenticeships can be brilliant, but in a small, fast-moving team they do need real time and support. I was genuinely sceptical about taking one on, because I didn’t want to short-change someone’s development. Jess has completely changed that. She’s proactive, she learns quickly, and she thinks for herself. She’s not doing ‘donkey work’. She’s running campaigns, speaking to partners, getting involved with filming, and she cares about results. It’s been a breath of fresh air.”

Jess has been a breath of fresh air

From the start, Jess has brought a real can-do attitude.

She’s keen to learn, but she also uses her own initiative. She thinks things through. She tries to solve problems, rather than waiting to be told what to do next. That mindset is gold in a small team.

Jess has not just been “helping out”. She’s been contributing in a way that has made the whole team stronger.

In the last few months alone, she has:

• Managed her own campaigns end-to-end

• Put together marketing plans and turned them into action

• Got hands-on with filming car reviews

• Spoken directly with suppliers and partners about projects

• Looked at results and asked the right question: “What can we do better next time?”

That curiosity is the difference between doing tasks and learning marketing.

Jess, Marketing Apprentice at Rivervale, said: “I’ve felt trusted from the start, which has made a huge difference. I’ve been able to work on real campaigns, learn by doing, and see how marketing works day to day in a busy business. I’m enjoying getting stuck in, and I’m excited to keep learning and improving.”

A training partner who flexes around the business

A big part of making apprenticeships work is having the right training partner.

We work with Next Step Apprenticeships in Brighton, and they’ve been flexible in tailoring the programme around what the business actually needs, while still supporting Jess properly through her apprenticeship.

That flexibility matters, especially for smaller employers. It helps keep learning relevant and it keeps momentum high.

Rivervale might be national, but we are still very local

Rivervale has a national presence through our personal and business car leasing and fleet management operations.

Day to day though, we are still a local business at heart. People are at the centre of everything. We care about how we treat customers, and we care about how we treat each other.

Anyone who has visited our showroom on Victoria Road in Portslade will see that straight away.

You’ll also see something else we’re proud of.

We’re a diverse team.

Different backgrounds, different personalities, different strengths.

That mix makes us better.

What I’d say to other small businesses thinking about an apprentice

If you’re a small team and you’re unsure, I get it.

My advice is simple:

• Be honest about the time you can commit

• Find a training partner who will flex with you

• Give the apprentice real responsibility when they’re ready, not just admin

When it clicks, it’s a win for everyone.

For us, Jess has shown what’s possible when you back young talent and give them the space to grow. And during National Apprenticeship Week, that feels like exactly the kind of story worth telling.

Ben Freakley, Rivervale