Celebrating 10 Years of Apprenticeships at ImagePlus

At ImagePlus we’ve been designing and developing apps and websites with your customer at the heart since 1995 and in our 28 year history, we’ve been lucky to have had many things to be proud of.  In fact we started this year welcoming a new chapter when tech entrepreneurs Matt and Tash joined the business and we’re very happy  to be celebrating again as the year comes to a close.  That’s because we’re delighted to announce that it’s the 10 year anniversary since we first started welcoming apprentices here at ImagePlus!   

Since the beginning, our apprentices have played a vital role in our continuing growth and we’re super proud of each of their achievements.  

We decided to catch up with them to find out more about why they chose the apprenticeship route, starting with our very first apprentice who joined us 10 years ago, Ryan O’Doherty.   

Our fantastic first apprentice: Ryan 

Ryan can actually be credited with kickstarting our apprenticeship program – his skills were so good, it made us want more!  He was introduced to us through an apprenticeship provider who realised he’d be a good fit to expand our team and within six years, he had progressed to become our senior web developer on a complex, digital process, web and mobile application for one of our biggest clients, Jaguar Land Rover.

Ryan explains what made him choose the apprenticeship route:  

 “I chose an apprenticeship because I wasn’t interested in college or uni and I just wanted to get hands on in the industry. ImagePlus supported me both with coursework and gaining practical skills on the job during my apprenticeship, and has continued to do so in the ten plus years since then.” 

Ryan’s recent achievements include becoming a certified Laravel developer and his superb technical skills undoubtedly sit at the very heart of our ability to craft highly effective, seamless digital solutions that are helping our clients succeed.      

Our amazing account manager: Annabel 

Annabel Kirk first joined us as a business administrator apprentice completing her level 3 and level 4 apprenticeship. Just like Ryan, Annabel has continued to impress!  

She told us “The on the job learning has given me valuable skills, experience and confidence to help me in my role as a project manager. ImagePlus has also supported me in completing my Prince2 course with Coventry University to help further progress my career.”  

With a brilliant head for business and able to juggle multiple tasks to keep everything on track, Annabel skill’s are vital to the success of ImagePlus. She also makes sure we provide the best customer service around! 

Our super SEO specialist:  Sian

Sian joined ImagePlus, after completing her degree during the Covid 19 Pandemic, as a digital marketing apprentice and has progressed to a key SEO role within the ImagePlus marketing team.

“Before my apprenticeship I believed that having a degree was enough, but there are some things a classroom can’t teach you and the hands-on experience and mentorship I have received is beyond anything I could have imagined.”

When it comes to getting your webpages higher up the rankings on google, Sian is the specialist you need! 

Our creative coder:  Sam

Sam Bendall has successfully completed a Web Developer apprenticeship with ImagePlus and explained why he initially chose that route  “I wanted to learn the skills and knowledge required to work in web development from the industry environment itself, learn from senior developers and not just in the classroom.”  

As well as creating customer-centred websites that convert, such as Smile More Solihull. Sam is also passing on his knowledge in a mentorship role to one of our more recent apprentices, Jesse.    

Our Upcoming Developer  : Jesse

Jesse joined us last year and already has gained an amazing amount of hands-on experience that has allowed him to grow as a developer, and mentored by other members of the team like Sam and our Senior Web Developer, Andy.

Jesse explains “​​I chose to do an apprenticeship to accelerate my learning and get practical skills to kick-start my career as a developer. So far, I’ve gained hands-on experience learning industry-relevant technologies, built functional solutions for clients and fostered invaluable relationships with my colleagues. I look forward to improving even more as I progress through this journey.”

Our wonderful web-app developer: Harry

Harry joined the ImagePlus team in 2018 as another of our successful web development apprentices and since then has become our senior web app developer, working on projects such as CV Life, a local Coventry business that includes The Wave and Mana Spa.

Harry says “I chose to do an apprenticeship due to the typical costs associated with degrees. ImagePlus helped me every step of the way and allowed me to get hands on experience alongside receiving a qualification which has been a great help in allowing me to improve my skills as a developer”

Our smart social media specialist: Sunil

Sunil is currently studying his level 3 in Digital Marketing and is also an established Social Media expert.  He told us that  “Starting an apprenticeship with ImagePlus has been a great experience, with the supportive work environment and the experience of senior staff helping me to become an improved professional. Having already graduated from university, I was looking for an opportunity to continue learning and as well as gain practical experience in digital marketing, and the ImagePlus apprenticeship has ticked all of the boxes I was looking for.”

If you want your socials to sparkle, speak to Sunil!

Our Philosophical Developer: Tom

Tom has a degree in Philosophy and Psychology, and joined ImagePlus as an apprentice in 2021 to further his academic knowledge in a different area as a developer, and now works with one of clients Club Global, a mobile app for VIP clubs and events.

Tom said, “The undeniable growth I experienced and the skills acquired throughout my apprenticeship are truly remarkable. ImagePlus not only equipped me with technical proficiency but also fostered an environment that seamlessly combined learning and contribution. Collaborating with experienced developers allowed me to engage in real projects, gaining practical insights and honing my abilities. The apprenticeship provided a focused and directed learning experience, ultimately equipping me with the necessary skills to advance in my career as a web developer.”

Apprentices – the Future of the Digital World

The digital world evolves everyday, quicker than ever before, and as a digital agency crafting the highest quality digital solutions, we want to stay ahead of the curve. Our apprenticeship programme allows us to do exactly that with each new member of the team collaborating and sharing fresh new ideas.

As we celebrate 10 years of apprenticeships here at ImagePlus, we are excited to see what our apprentices achieve in the future, personally and professionally.

Want to know more about how our team of digital experts craft apps and websites that lead the way?  Drop us a line or give us a call. We love to chat.  We’ve offices in Coventry and Manchester and we work nationwide.