LO2. 2.2 - SWOT Analysis & The Apprenticeship Route

SWOT Analysis

Strengths 

My digital media blog has strengths such as showing off all the work that I've completed during and outside of the time of my Digital Media extended certificate. It showcases the things that I'm good at and what I enjoy doing (e.g. videography and editing images) with many examples of these things - my blog also shows my attempts, fails and successes, of creating different things which shows the progression as improvements are made on key elements that can be changed for the better. Blogs can also be commented with feedback or criticism which can be improved and touched upon. 

Weaknesses 

However, some of the work completed may not currently be up to the best of its standard but as there is a lot of work completed, sometimes is it difficult to go back to exact pieces of work and to reflect on them. 

Opportunities

The opportunities of a digital media blog would be that possible future employer could possibly see the online digital media blogs, enjoy/ like the work produced and get in contact with the person who has created the work and offer them a job.

Threats 

However, the threats of this would be that there are thousands of other people would have also created online digital media blogs as well which would mean that your blog has to stand out more than any other blog and all work must be completed to its absolute best standard. 

The Apprenticeship route

'Jonny cannot make up his mind whether to go to university or complete an apprenticeship with an employer. He is looking to eventually work in the digital media industry. Can you produce an outline report for Jonny detailing what he needs to do to follow the apprenticeship route?' 

An apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (e.g. 4 days on the job site and one day in College/ University learning and studying). Apprenticeships will usually enable the apprentice/ practitioner to gain a license to practice in the regulated profession (e.g. plumbing, tiling etc).

https://www.screenskills.com/ is a useful website as it describes what is needed to develop skills and talent and invest in the future of UK screen - ScreenSkills is the 'industry-led skills body for the screen industries - film, television (including children's, unscripted and high-end), VFX (visual effects), animation and games. They are supporting the nations and regions by investing in the skilled and inclusive workforce who are critical to the UK screen industries 'global success'. This will be extremely beneficial as it will help Jonny investigate into the Apprenticeship route for the digital media industry. Screenskill aims to:

• Help to identify skill gaps (current and future) across the screen industries and the whole of the country to provide an evidence base for investment in skills and training.
• Providing careers information.
• Mapping and quality-marking professional pathways to improve entry-level diversity and work readiness.
• Supports development at every stage of a professional career in screen including through mentoring and offering bursaries. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to-apprenticeships is also a useful website as it gives an outline of what it's like to be an apprentice - the opportunities, benefits and just how far an apprenticeship can take you in the future. This website features documents such as 'A guide to apprenticeships', 'A to Z of apprenticeships', 'Calendar of events' and ' Essential guide to apprenticeship support'. All these documents include information about the titled topics which will help Jonny learn more about the apprenticeship route that he is interested in. 

https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeshipsearch?_ga=2.10154226.697101221.1611530134-1907034670.1611530134 - This is also a very useful website as it allows Jonny to search for all the different current apprenticeships within a certain area (e.g. 5 miles etc) using keywords (such as media) which will allow him to search for exactly what he wants to do and learn about which is an extremely beneficial way of looking and won't result in him spending unnecessary time searching through all the different options which he may not actually even care about.