Andrea Gardner

The Diploma in Digital Marketing came along at just the right moment for me. I’d always thought my study years were behind me and that a Modern Apprenticeship was only for younger people, so I was delighted to be approached for the course.

I’ve been in marketing for almost 30 years, working first in regional newspapers before moving onto the Hilton Group and latterly retraining as a copywriter and running my own online communications agency, so I’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry.

My role as Marketing Manager for the Energy Agency, working on the Home Energy Scotland project for the Energy Saving Trust and Scottish Government, has broadened my knowledge even further, but my qualifications haven’t kept pace with my experience. It was actually quite a shock when I looked back at my CIM Diploma and realised that emails were new back then and social media didn’t even exist! So it was definitely time for an upgrade.

Roy and the team at Highland Learning Academy couldn’t have been more supportive, particularly when I got the study bug and decided to pick up my Open University studies. He helped me plan a realistic schedule so I could complete my Diploma in a shorter timeframe. Even though I never made it to a workshop because of work commitments, it was so reassuring to know I could pick up the phone and hear a friendly voice. My employers went the extra mile too, allowing me study time during the week which really helped.

The course’s learning content is modular, online and well-presented so you won’t have any difficulty following it, and although a lot of the topics might be familiar to you if you’re in a marketing role already, you’ll be surprised at how many gaps get filled. 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!

“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!”