Herald and Gazette adds to 100 in 100 campaign with its own marketing apprentice

Martin Farrugia, 20, from Hove, has joined our series, focusing on marketing, and will be studying at Northbrook College, Worthing, while spending two days each week based at the offices of the Worthing Herald and Chichester Observer.

Having completed A level studies, Martin considered his potential career options and said he was glad to be taking on further study and practical media experience.

Describing his route to gaining the apprenticeship, he said he believed the opportunity offered a sense of vindication after studying and searching for suitable employment.

He said: “Like many other young people my age, I have struggled to use my qualifications to get a job.

“I worked Saturday mornings at my father’s business to earn some extra money while looking for work. After some months I managed to get a job in a supermarket. Finally, I thought, my first step on the job ladder.

“Over the next year-and-a-half, I cherished the feeling of hard work and earning every penny I deserved, but I became aware that I needed to move on, to progress, and began looking for my next ‘big break’.

“I applied for what must have been hundreds of jobs, but had little luck. I was becoming demoralised, but in wanting to progress I broadened my range of applications. These included jobs I wasn’t as keen on, or I had never even thought I would consider – among these were apprenticeships.

“Apprenticeships hadn’t crossed my mind at school, as they hadn’t with many people I knew.

“I applied for them, expecting nothing, but was shocked when I got the call to come in for an interview for the Herald and Gazette.

“It went well and I was offered the apprenticeship.

“It will bring a lot of new challenges, new people and a whole host of new opportunities, but I will walk into them eager and willing, in the knowledge I am now on the right track and am paving the way for a better future for myself.”