Small team, big impact
Not just making the tea: how one marketing apprentice is driving real results at Rivervale
National Apprenticeship Week (9 to 15 February 2026) is a moment to celebrate the people and businesses showing apprenticeships are not just a “first step”. They are a real route into real careers. This year’s theme is “Skills for Life”.
At Rivervale, we’ve seen that first-hand with Jess, who joined us as a Marketing Apprentice in September 2025.
Apprenticeships are not “set and forget”
I’ve worked with apprentices before and I’ve always enjoyed it. It’s genuinely rewarding helping someone build confidence, learn new skills, and realise what they’re capable of.
But there’s a reality people do not always talk about. Early on, apprentices often need a lot of guidance and support. Our marketing team is small. It’s hands-on. It moves fast. Priorities can change quickly, and you have to keep up.
I was concerned I wouldn’t be able to give an apprentice the support they deserve, which matters if you want them to get the best possible start.
Ben Freakley, Group Marketing Manager at Rivervale, said:
“Apprenticeships can be brilliant, but in a small, fast-moving team they 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.”
A breath of fresh air in a busy team
From day one, Jess brought a proper can-do attitude.
She’s keen to learn, but she also uses her initiative. She thinks things through. She tries to solve problems, rather than waiting for the next instruction. In a small team, that mindset makes a huge difference.
Jess hasn’t just been “helping out”. She’s been contributing in a way that makes the whole team stronger.
In the last few months alone, Jess has:
- Managed campaigns end-to-end
- Built marketing plans and turned them into action
- Got hands-on with filming car reviews
- Spoken directly with suppliers and partners on live projects
- Reviewed results and asked the key 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.”
The right training partner matters
A big part of making apprenticeships work is having the right training support.
We work with Next Step Apprenticeships in Brighton, and they’ve been great at shaping the programme around what the business actually needs, while still supporting Jess properly through her apprenticeship.
That flexibility really matters for smaller employers. It keeps learning relevant and keeps progress moving.
National reach, local heart
Rivervale supports customers across the UK through our personal and business car leasing and fleet management operations.
But day to day, we’re still local at heart. People are at the centre of what we do. We care about how we treat customers, and we care about how we treat each other.
If you’ve visited our showroom on Victoria Road in Portslade, you’ll see that straight away.
You’ll also see something else we’re proud of. We’re a diverse team. Different backgrounds, personalities and strengths. That mix helps us do better work, and deliver better outcomes.
What I’d say to other small businesses considering an apprentice
If you’re a small team and you’re unsure, I get it.
My advice:
- Be honest about the time you can commit
- Choose a training partner who can work around your business
- Give 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 someone with potential and give them the space to grow. During National Apprenticeship Week, that feels like exactly the kind of story worth telling.
