Business Action August / September 2019

My name is Rosie, I’m 20
years old and I live in the
small seaside town of Lynton.
In my spare time (and when
the weather allows), I love
lounging in the sun on the
beach, swimming and surfing.
I first discovered my interest
in marketing during my time
at college, where I studied an
extended diploma in business.
I really enjoyed learning about
marketing, as it enabled me
to bring out my creative side.
During the course, we had to
conduct market research on
the chocolate industry and use
our findings to come up with
an idea for a new chocolate bar.
With me being a huge chocoholic,
I was in my element and
the task highlighted my interest
in market research, which was
one of the reasons that led me
to apply to Turquoise Thinking
for the apprenticeship position.
Marketing apprenticeship
I started my marketing apprenticeship
through Petroc here at
Turquoise at the end of March
2019. During this time, I have
gained a pool of knowledge
about market research and how
the business operates. What
made Turquoise stand out to
me as a market research agency
is their extensive cross-sector
experience. They have worked
with a mass of blue-chip clients
in a wide number of sectors
over their 30 years in the market
research industry, and really
understand how people work
and what makes them tick.
My first day
I was thrown in at the deep
end on my first day, where I
was given the opportunity to
travel to Somerset to attend
a client presentation with my
new teammates. On arrival at
this highly secure site, we were
invited to sit in a porta-cabin
which had a poster on the wall
with warning signs telling us
to “run, hide and tell” if we
were faced with any immediate
threat or danger. Just the warm
welcome I needed to settle my
first-day nerves! However, we
made it out alive after Laura
delivered a fantastic presentation.
Getting involved in client
projects from the get-go has
made me feel part of the team
and allowed me to get a real
taste for how Turquoise interacts
with clients.
APPRENTICESHIPS
Diary of a market research apprentice
Apprenticeships are fast becoming the best way for young people
to start a career and for businesses to develop skilled people. This
month Rosie Hayton writes about her first month as a marketing
apprentice with Turquoise Thinking in Barnstaple
Deep in thought at Turquoise: (from left) Lisa Ollerenshaw, Mark Harvey,
Laura Scott, Rosie Hayton
My introduction to the
world of market research
Since starting my apprenticeship,
I have had the chance to
work with different colleagues
on an array of tasks each day,
from data analysis to scripting
questionnaires. This has given
me an understanding of everyone’s
role within the organisation
and what part each person
plays in taking a client project
from start to finish.
I was also given an exciting
opportunity to experience
a big kick-off meeting for a
client in the water sector in
Birmingham. The project
set out to achieve objectives
such as monitoring customer
satisfaction and increasing
awareness of service.
Attending this meeting
made me feel like I was a
valued member of the team
and gave me a greater understanding
of the process that
Turquoise goes through when
undertaking a project.
Getting on the phone!
The team has helped to push
me out of my comfort zone too.
In my second week, I was given
some training in the art of coldcalling
. . . uh-oh! This took the
form of first getting my head
round the sales process, sales
pipeline and how to introduce
the Turquoise proposition to
attract new business.
We then moved on to roleplay
which was particularly
challenging, because let’s face
it, who likes role-play anyway?
However, the training paid
off, and I had some good
conversations, which actually
resulted in being able to book
a couple of appointments
with universities who were
interested to speak to us about
our education sector market
research experience with
regards to upcoming research
requirements. This really
helped to build my confidence.
Best bits
My favourite thing about
working at Turquoise is the
variety that comes with the
job. I get to work on tasks in
different areas of the business,
conduct research, present my
findings to the team, and learn
new things every day.
I have really enjoyed my first
month at Turquoise Thinking.
I’m looking forward to what is
to come and gaining experience
and a full understanding
of the market research industry.
I would like to thank Turquoise
for giving me the opportunity
to help them expand their
close-knit team and for being
so welcoming.
■■Details 01271 337100 or
thinkturquoise.com
Cranford Business
Services Limited
www.accountsindevon.co.uk
Old Stone, Cranford, Bideford, Devon, EX39 5QW
07896 204 857
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@businessactionm | August / September 2019 | business action 17