Bridging the Gap Between Experience & Qualifications with HLA
Andrea Gardner is the Marketing Manager at the Energy Agency, supporting the Home Energy Scotland project for the Energy Saving Trust and Scottish Government. With nearly 30 years of industry experience behind her, Andrea recently completed her Diploma in Digital Marketing through Highland Learning Academy.
“My Diploma in Digital Marketing is now hanging proudly on my wall, and I would say to anyone considering the course to just go for it!”
– Andrea Gardner, Marketing Manager, Energy Agency
🎯 A Course That Came at the Right Time
For Andrea, the opportunity to join a Modern Apprenticeship in Digital Marketing came at just the right time. Despite her decades of experience, she realised her formal qualifications hadn’t kept up with the pace of change in the marketing industry.
“When I looked back at my CIM Diploma, I realised it was so out of date emails were just becoming a thing and social media didn’t even exist back then!”
📈 From Print to Digital – A Career of Adaptation
Andrea’s marketing journey has spanned print journalism, the hospitality sector, copywriting, and agency life. She’s always kept up with industry changes but this course offered a way to formalise that knowledge in a modern context.
“I’d always thought Modern Apprenticeships were only for younger people, so I was delighted to be offered this course. It gave me the chance to update and expand my digital skills in a structured way.”
🤝 Support That Made It All Possible
With support from both HLA and her employer, Andrea was able to complete the course on an accelerated schedule even while juggling a busy job:
“Roy and the team couldn’t have been more supportive. Even though I couldn’t attend workshops, I always knew I could pick up the phone and get help. My employer also gave me study time during the week, which really helped.”
🧠 Filling Knowledge Gaps – Even for Experienced Professionals
Even with her deep background in marketing, Andrea found the course content surprising, insightful, and practical:
- Structured, modular online content that’s easy to follow
- Applicable to real-world campaigns and strategy
- Confidence boost from formal qualification achievement
“A lot of the topics were familiar,” she says, “but I was still surprised by how many gaps got filled. It’s been a great learning experience.”
➡️ Think It’s Too Late to Learn Something New?
Andrea’s story proves that Modern Apprenticeships in Digital Marketing are for everyone not just school leavers. Whether you’re new to digital or looking to validate years of experience, the support and structure are there to help.
