Poppie Staden started as digital marketing apprentice at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust in August 2022.
Poppie is undertaking a 15-month level 3 digital marketer apprenticeship with QA, the UK’s number one provider of tech and digital apprenticeships, whilst gaining valuable on-the-job experience at the hospice.
Poppie’s role is fully funded by the government (95%) with the remainder paid by Asda as part of the company’s obligation to support the national apprenticeship levy. This means that Blythe House and Helen’s Trust can continue to spend as much money as possible directly on patient care.
Poppie, who’s from Harpur Hill in Buxton, explains: ‘Before starting my apprenticeship here at the hospice, I was doing an events management degree at Leeds Beckett University. As for a lot of people studying during the pandemic, it just didn’t work for me, and I didn’t get the experience and study I wanted out of it. I decided that digital marketing was the path I wanted to pursue. This apprentice role came up at the hospice, and it couldn’t be more perfect, as Blythe House holds a special place in my heart.
‘The hospice supported me and my family in a very difficult time early this year, when our beloved Grandad died in May. Blythe House supported Grandad by providing Hospice at Home care, and even after my Grandad’s death, the hospice continues to support my family in multiple ways. So, when this apprenticeship role came up in July, it couldn’t have been more perfect. It was exactly what I was looking for, and the fact of how I know what an amazing organisation the hospice is, it made it even more rewarding to be accepted for the role.
‘During my first few months here at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust, I have met some extraordinary people; it’s such an honour to be apart of such a lovely and caring team. I would say my favourite part so far has been that during my first few weeks here, I was given the opportunity to get to meet everyone individually, which made settling into the job very easy. This also gave me the chance to share with everyone my ideas for my role here at the hospice, and everyone was so accepting and open to new ideas and opportunities, which is great!
‘My apprenticeship will help me to increase my knowledge and understanding of digital marketing, and throughout the course I will be studying: practical digital marketing; relationship marketing; web technologies; analytics and so much more.
‘I hope that looking forward, we will be able to maximise the potential of marketing here at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust. I hope that I bring a new set of eyes and ideas to the organisation, and I help to reach the goals in which we’ll set out.
‘I’m looking forward to increasing my knowledge and understanding on digital marketing, charity marketing, and Blythe House and Helen’s Trust in general. I will do this by using a variation of new platforms and techniques, to increase performance on our variety of channels and marketing strategies. Working here is just such a great opportunity, and I can’t wait to start spreading the word of the amazing care, support and services we provide here, that we’re not just a hospice, we are so much more than that.
‘In my spare time I love socialising, going to a variety of events, and going on walks with our beagle, Rex.’
Read our patient and families stories that Poppie has been involved in sourcing and writing.
