Jack Frampton in the Somerset County Gazette: Taunton apprentice wins two national awards

The Somerset County Gazette reported that a Taunton apprentice, Jack Frampton, had won two national awards at the Great British Business & Community Awards. The piece highlighted my work as a marketer at Queen's College, Taunton, my advocacy for apprenticeships across Somerset, and the launch of the Taunton Apprenticeship Evening.

It also made clear that the awards were not handed out for simply completing an apprenticeship. They recognised real campaigns, real events, and the initiative I have built around my day job.

National awards are great, but local newspapers like the Somerset County Gazette are the layer most people in Taunton, Wellington, Bridgwater and Yeovil actually read. When a Somerset story appears in a Somerset paper, it tells young people here that the apprenticeship route is not abstract - it is happening on their doorstep.

For employers, it shows that investing in apprentices can lead to public recognition. For parents, it is proof that the route carries weight.

The Apprentice of the Year bronze recognised the quality of my marketing work while training. The Young Entrepreneur of the Year bronze recognised the side projects I have built: the Taunton Apprenticeship Evening, free mentoring, and the content I publish to help school leavers navigate apprenticeships.

Together they say the same thing: an apprenticeship is not a slower route. It is a route that lets you earn, learn and build something of your own at the same time.

If you are a school leaver in Somerset reading the Gazette article, the takeaway is simple: you do not have to wait until you are older to do meaningful work. If you are an employer, the takeaway is that apprentices can deliver real marketing, design and campaign value from year one.

You can read the full Somerset County Gazette piece for the original coverage, or see my about me page for the full background.

The awards were a milestone, not a destination. I am continuing my marketing work at Queen's College, growing the Taunton Apprenticeship Evening, and writing regularly on this blog about apprenticeships, marketing and early careers.

If the Gazette piece brought you here, welcome. The best way to stay updated is to connect with me on Jack Frampton on LinkedIn or browse the apprenticeship articles on this site.