Derbyshire’s Penguin PR has gained the experience of a digital marketing executive, Esme Wade, in a secondment with marketing and design agency MacMartin.
Digital marketing executive Esme has recently completed a level 3 apprenticeship with Derby-based EMA Training and is now dividing her time between Penguin PR’s offices in Duffield Road and MacMartin’s base in Church Broughton.
In 2022 she was named a finalist in the Apprentice of the Year category in the prestigious Enterprising Women Awards, run by East Midlands Chamber.
The two companies, having worked closely together on several projects in the past, are looking to collaborate and expand their skillsets through the transfer of knowledge that Esme will give and acquire.
Penguin has worked on campaigns for MacMartin, which has in turn designed the Derby PR company’s website.
With plans to increase the speciality knowledge in writing at MacMartin, and further the digital marketing offer at Penguin PR, both companies hope the secondment will grow and improve the services at both businesses.
MacMartin brought Esme onto the team in 2021 as a digital marketing executive. Having noticed a passion for copywriting develop in Esme over the course of her employment, MacMartin co-director Claire MacDonald approached Penguin PR about providing further training through a secondment.
In return for the skills exchange, Penguin PR will use Esme’s experience in marketing to bring more services to the table and uplift their clients’ marketing efforts, such as email marketing and social media.
Esme said: “I’m ambitious to refine my writing style and skills over the course of my career. Being given the chance to work amongst experienced writers at Penguin PR is an opportunity that really excites me.
“I’ve been building knowledge in digital marketing over the last 18 months with the brilliant team at MacMartin, so I hope to bring some valuable insights and skills to Penguin PR, both to assist with their own marketing and boost marketing for their clients.”
Esme, who was inspired to start her apprenticeship with MacMartin after undertaking an online course following her drama degree, is the first member of the team to trial a new way of learning through the secondment. Splitting her time equally between the companies, she hopes to learn more about the art of copywriting whilst delivering her own marketing expertise.
Penguin PR director Sarah Newton said: “We’re eager to get Esme started, as we know that MacMartin have fantastic marketers and Esme will be no exception. At the same time, I embrace the opportunity to get the Penguin team teaching and helping an aspiring writer learn and grow.”
Claire said: “Following the completion of Esme’s apprenticeship, we were looking at her next steps in regards to personal development when the idea of a secondment was born.
“Esme is very keen to develop her copywriting skills further and we knew the talented team at Penguin would be our ideal partner, enabling Esme to learn from the best. We know how powerful collaboration can be and believe this secondment will be beneficial not only to Esme, but to both businesses as well.”
