George joined the Purple Team on the 15th of July to take up the role of Apprentice Web Developer. After just a few weeks in the position, George has settled in well and already feels like a member of the Purple family. So we thought it was time you got to know him better!
The first few weeks of working as a Web Developer hasn’t been easy by any stretch of the imagination, as Coding HTML and CSS isn’t something you can just learn overnight. Like anything in life, it takes patience and practice- both traits that I feel I have managed to equip for the role.
My journey to Purple was complicated and confusing, to say the least. After sitting my GCSE’S in Year 11 at Wensleydale School in Leyburn, I then aimed to follow my dream of pursuing a job role around sport. As a result, I enrolled onto the Sports and Exercise Science course at Darlington Technical College. The course was a total of two years, where I was able to come away with a Distinction*.
With sport becoming an unrealistic career choice, due to the lack of opportunities, I took it upon myself to take a tactical U-turn and look at an alternative different career in TV and Film. I began studying a diploma in Creative Digital Media Production which I really enjoyed it as it gave me a chance to take a stab at something completely different and out of my comfort zone.
The course allowed me to channel my creative ability for the first time and I was able to create my own Documentary and Film production over the year. After completing another year at Darlington College, I now had another Diploma to add to my CV.
For a few years I had been contemplating whether to take the leap into University or not and now I finally thought that the time was right. I decided that Teesside University was the right choice for me to further my studies. My initial idea was to combine my knowledge of Sports with my new knowledge of the TV and Film industry. So I chose to study for a Degree in Sport’s Journalism.
In truth, it was not entirely what I expected. Without going into too much detail and boring you, I ultimately didn’t feel as though I had a realistic chance of securing a job at the end of the course. University isn’t for everyone and It wasn’t for me! Before I had even finished University, I was looking for potential Apprenticeship opportunities. Having come close to securing a couple of roles, I started to think I wasn’t having any luck.
When all seemed lost, I saw Purple were advertising for an Apprentice Web Developer.
Having not really heard about the company before, I only had the thoughts and opinions of friends that have either worked with Purple before or heard about them through the grapevine. All opinions were positive of course!
I never in a million years expected to make it into the final four candidates, never mind being the one getting the job by the end of it all. I am so overwhelmed and humbled to be part of the team and doing something that I really feel like I could have a positive future in.
It will be incredibly challenging and difficult at times, but this isn’t a problem when I know that every single member of the Purple Team will help me out with absolutely anything I am struggling with. It is very much is like a family here, and I have felt like a member of that family ever since I walked through the door for my very first interview. I am extremely motivated and excited about the challenge that lies ahead of me, and I look forward to my future with Purple!