An East Lancashire digital marketing company has welcomed its newest young apprentice. 

Joey Tarrant has joined Blackburn-based 21Digital’s Search Academy, the firm's first recruit since opening its doors earlier this year.

Aimed at providing an entry point for people looking for a start in the UK’s digital marketing sector, the Search Academy was launched following the agency’s successful apprentice schemes.

By working with local colleges, the scheme has resulted in a number of previous apprentices joining the full-time team.

Nineteen-year-old Joey, from Padiham, will now join the multi-award-winning lead generation and ecommerce agency’s 14-strong team based at offices on Blackburn’s Trident Park, where he will undergo training and development led by former apprentice-turned-employee Declan Porter.

Managing director of 21Digital, Sam Fletcher said: “We’re really pleased to have Joey as the first recruit for our Search Academy.

“Our Search Academy is a new take on our apprenticeship programme, but with a particular focus on search engine marketing, both paid and organic practices.

“We came up with the idea following the success of our previous apprenticeship schemes, which is how we’ve gained our digital marketing apprentice, Sarah Chan, and our paid search executive, Declan Porter, who has since completed his apprenticeship to become a fully-fledged member of our search team.

“Search marketing is one of our three main pillars here at 21Digital, and we’ve got a long history of delivering outstanding success for our clients, many of whom have enjoyed triple-digit percentile increases in online sales after working with us.

“Now we’re looking for the next generation of budding search specialists to join our expanding team and learn the skills of the trade through our Search Academy.

"No formal qualifications are required, and all candidates will be selected by interview, where we are just looking for enthusiastic, motivated individuals who are keen to build a career in digital marketing.”

For more information go to www.21digital.agency.