At Professional Academy, the apprenticeship experience is shaped not only by the quality of our programmes, but by the quality of support our learners receive throughout their journey. To understand how well we were delivering on that commitment, we surveyed our Sales, Marketing, and Business Administration apprentices to ask them about their experience — covering the apprenticeship content itself, the support they received, eLearning, workshops, and mentor sessions.
The results were genuinely encouraging. When surveyed, 97% of respondents felt Professional Academy supported their apprenticeship programme well throughout the COVID-19 pandemic — an incredible testament to our support team, trainers, and mentors, as well as to the learners themselves, who were able to continue learning and developing during an unprecedented period of disruption.
Apprenticeship Overall
The first question focused on how learners felt about the quality of the actual apprenticeship content — the standard of the programme and how relevant it had been to their job role. The feedback reflected a consistent theme: that the apprenticeship was opening doors and building genuine, applicable confidence.
One Marketing Executive apprentice described how the programme had opened new opportunities for progression in the workplace, giving them the confidence and skills to grow both professionally and personally.
A Marketing Manager noted that having the knowledge to back up their work had made them significantly more confident in themselves and in their abilities.
About Us
It was important to understand how learners felt about Professional Academy as an organisation — particularly in terms of how well we had supported them during a challenging and uncertain period.
A Marketing Executive described Professional Academy as clear and transparent about what was expected of them throughout their course, noting the substantial amount of support documentation available to assist with distance learning.
Another learner described their experience as professional and very supportive, highlighting that queries and issues were always addressed with appropriate urgency.
A Marketing Assistant described their experience as genuinely helpful and enjoyable, noting that all staff were pleasant and approachable, and that the workshops had been well-structured and engaging throughout.
eLearning
Interactive eLearning has always been a part of apprenticeship delivery at Professional Academy, but its importance grew significantly during periods when learners were unable to apply their learning in a traditional workplace setting. The feedback on eLearning was consistently positive.
A Marketing Executive Apprentice noted that the eLearning platform was clear, easy to follow, and complemented the workshops and tasks well — adding depth to their knowledge and understanding beyond the live sessions.
A Marketing Executive highlighted the value of the additional materials available, which enabled them to create flashcards and study in a different style to the workshops — supporting a more personalised learning experience.
Workshops
Ensuring that workshop delivery remained engaging and interactive during a period of enforced remote learning was a significant priority. Trainers adapted quickly to virtual platforms, and the introduction of tools such as breakout rooms and collaborative digital resources helped to maintain the quality and interactivity of sessions throughout.
A Marketing Manager praised the engaging and supportive approach of workshop tutors, particularly the use of discussions and real-life examples to bring theory to life within the sessions.
A Marketing Executive Apprentice noted that, despite never having met their cohort in person, they felt genuinely connected as a group and looked forward to the workshops each month — highlighting the tutors' ability to make sessions interesting and interactive for a fully remote group.
Mentor Sessions
Mentors play a central role in the Professional Academy apprenticeship experience — providing personalised guidance, practical advice, and pastoral support that goes beyond the formal curriculum. During periods of heightened pressure and uncertainty, that support became even more valuable.
A Marketing Executive spoke warmly about their mentor's availability, approachability, and ability to always provide the best solution to any challenge they faced — describing the mentoring relationship as genuinely invaluable to their progress.
A Business Administrator Apprentice described their mentor sessions as a valuable opportunity to ask questions, address concerns on a one-to-one basis, and receive feedback on performance and progress in a way that felt genuinely supportive.
A Marketing Executive noted how their mentor consistently provided practical advice and pointed them towards useful resources to support both their apprenticeship and their broader professional development.
A Marketing Manager highlighted how their mentor went beyond the formal requirements of the programme — checking in on their general wellbeing and ensuring they were coping with the demands of work and study simultaneously.
What the Survey Tells Us
The experience of delivering apprenticeships through one of the most disruptive periods in recent history demonstrated something important: that the quality of support provided to learners matters as much as the quality of the content itself. Our learners, our mentors, and our team as a whole have been able to grow and develop through a period that none of us could have fully prepared for.
Not only did our apprentices complete their programmes — many of them did so whilst navigating the additional pressures of a global pandemic. That is something to be genuinely proud of, and it reflects the resilience, commitment, and capability of every learner who took that journey with us.
How Professional Academy Supports Your Journey
At Professional Academy, we are committed to delivering apprenticeship programmes that combine exceptional content with the kind of personalised mentoring and pastoral support that makes a genuine difference to learner outcomes. Our current apprenticeship provision includes programmes in Marketing, Sales, and Business Administration.
If you are interested in hiring an apprentice or enrolling a current employee onto one of our programmes, get in touch with our apprenticeship team today.
