Job Information
Job Title: Digital Marketing & SEO Apprentice
Reports to: Digital Marketing Manager and SEO Manager
Department: Marketing
Location: Leeds or Manchester
Number of roles: 1
Start date: September 2026
The Channel 4 Apprenticeship Programme
If you are looking for an opportunity to gain work experience and a qualification, then an apprenticeship at Channel 4 might be for you. Our Apprenticeships are full-time, with four days per week spent working in a C4 department and one day per week completing the formal learning parts of the apprenticeship. You’ll spend 60% of your working week in your office base and 40% working from home. The formal training provided will consist of workshops, tutorials, webinars, coaching and in some cases residential boot camps. You can read more about the qualification being offered for this apprenticeship below. If you’d like some tips on writing your application before you apply, please watch our YouTube video, How to Write an Outstanding Application.
The programme aims to offer opportunities to those currently underrepresented in the TV industry, so we are particularly keen to hear from Deaf and/or disabled people, ethnically diverse people and people from lower socio-economic groups.
Am I Eligible to Apply?
* You must be 18 years old or over at the time the scheme starts to apply. There is no upper age limit.
* You’ll need to have a Grade C (4) or above in Maths & English GCSE
* You can’t have already completed the qualification being offered or similar at the same or higher level.
* Our apprenticeships are aimed at school leavers and people who do not have a degree. If you have a degree, please visit the Channel 4 Jobs website.
Channel 4 Behaviours
At Channel 4, we have four core behaviours that underpin everything we do. These are outlined below, and we will be assessing candidates on these behaviours throughout the recruitment process.
* Include We’re Altogether Different so let’s give each other a bear hug, team up and trust each other to collaborate arm-in-arm. Don’t just listen: listen to understand.
* Innovate Don’t just rinse and repeat: don’t just go through the motions. Challenge positive and embrace change. Experiment & take smart risks.
* Grow Question everything and school yourself. Be generous with your knowledge with others and seek feedback from them. Be clear with your objectives.
* Get it done Make your time at Channel 4 count. Be a solution-finder, not a finger-pointer. Prioritise, decide and then act – always commercially.
Department Description
Channel 4’s streaming service is home to original and exclusive shows, iconic TV series, and gives users the ability to watch live and catch up on C4’s channels. Channel 4 streaming is available on over 20 different platforms including channel4.com, mobiles, tablets, PCs, TVs and games consoles. We have the youngest audience of all the public service broadcasters and constantly strive to appeal and be relevant to younger viewers.
The Digital Marketing team is a key team within the wider Marketing team at Channel 4. We look after a huge range of topics and projects such as: Paid Social (Meta, TikTok, Snap) planning and strategy; Audience targeting and measurement; Ad campaigns for Channel 4+ (our paid membership programme); Always-on ad campaigns targeting users with 1st Party Data; Testing and Experimenting with new ad-platforms and creative formats; Search (PPC & SEO), plus loads more. SEO requires a slightly separate set of skills, but this apprentice will be closely involved in analysing and optimising towards our organic search performance. The Digital Marketing & SEO apprentice’s mission is to ensure Channel 4’s ads appeal to a broad audience and perform well in their goals to drive Channel 4 views, as well as ensure that the most people possible can find and access Channel 4 content, no matter what search engine they are using. You will work with lots of people in marketing as well as broader teams such as Product, 4Creative, 4Studio, Tech, and Pictures.
Key Responsibilities
* Copywriting: support the team in writing the descriptions for ads across paid social, display, paid search, and organic search. Also, writing articles that help drive traffic to Channel 4.
* Interrogating analytics tools and other data sources to answer questions and influence decision making, such as Meta/TikTok ad managers, Adobe reporting, Search Console.
* Creative testing and optimisation: understanding what types of digital ads drive our KPIs and making suggestions to our creative teams on what will work based on data and insight.
* Work with the paid marketing team and Product team to align PPC and SEO goals.
* Collaborate with other departments and assist with SEO training sessions led by the SEO Manager.
* Analyse traffic stats to review website performance alongside the data team.
* Build relationships internally and externally in order to grow Channel 4’s visibility in search engines via linkbuilding efforts.
* Channel 4+ support. Setting up deals and campaigns with affiliate partners such as Unidays & Student Beans. Reporting on performance and optimising to success.
* Identify key trends and search terms which will drive viewers to Channel 4 content, as well as new formats and platforms to consider advertising on.
* Research the future of search, such as AI and TikTok, and help Channel 4 plan for these new environments.
Essential Experience & Skills
As part of the application process you’ll be asked to tell us how you meet the essential criteria listed below. When answering this question think about examples from your experience so far, this doesn’t need to be professional experience but could be academic, from volunteering or a part-time job. We’ve provided some examples beside the first four criteria of experience that could demonstrate you have these skills. Please note you do not need to use these examples, they are just here for guidance and you should draw from your own personal experiences.
* Verbal and written communication skills – Verbal – e.g., experience of dealing with customers or working as part of a team. Communication – e.g. writing emails, completing an application form or essay, or if you have a hobby that involves creative writing.
* Proven experience in creative writing/copywriting. E.g., a student newspaper or an online blog.
* Attention to detail – e.g., cashing up on tills or proofreading coursework.
* Organisation skills and ability to prioritise tasks – e.g., planning events, whether personal or for professional purposes, as well as managing work life balance, for example working whilst doing coursework/exams.
* An understanding of and a passion for Channel 4's remit
* Confirm you have Maths & English GCSE Grade C (4) or above.
* Active user of search engines and how they can be used to discover content.
* An interest in digital marketing and how to expose our audiences to the content they love.
* A collaborator with good communication skills (verbal, written and presentational).
* Technology fan – e.g. Do you wonder how the web works? Do you want to understand how and why websites are built the way they are?
Qualification Offered with this Apprenticeship
Level 3 Content Creator
Length of Apprenticeship
15 months
Alternative Formats
We are committed to making the application process accessible. If you would like to discuss suggestions for alternative formats, or have any questions about the recruitment process in general, please contact us at apprenticeships@channel4.co.uk
Take a look at our access page for more information. You can also watch our YouTube video, Demystifying Interview and Workplace adjustments.
Relocation
If you need to relocate in order to take up this opportunity, we can offer you support towards the financial costs of moving. This includes a contribution towards your deposit and first months’ rent, plus visits to your new city to look for accommodation.
Basic salary per annum starting from £24,328.00
Application questions
* Referring to the essential criteria listed on the job description (which are all skills and experiences we deem important to thrive as a C4 apprentice), please use examples to demonstrate how you meet these.
* Can you share with us why representation and inclusion matter to you and why you think they are important?
* Please share a list of your current qualifications, including those you expect to obtain before the September 2026 start of this apprenticeship.
* How do you think SEO could help Channel 4’s Communications Teams in securing proactive positive media coverage about Channel 4 commercial and corporate activities and/or its content?
* What areas interest you most about digital marketing right now? What channels or concepts are you most excited about learning about?
* Write 3 different length descriptions of your favourite Channel 4 show. Emblems encouraged!
* A Meta ad description (up to 150 characters)
* A tweet (up to 280 characters)
* A description on Channel4.com (up to 50 words)
Benefits
* Private medical insurance
* Free Virtual GP access for employees
* Free Female Health hormone test each year
* Free Tastecard membership
* Financial guidance 1-2-1’s available each quarter
* Discounted Gym memberships
* Pension
* Life Assurance
* Income Protection
* Holiday Purchase
Hybrid working
From September 2023, C4 has operated a 60/40 working pattern, equating to three office days per week. Having everyone in the office three days a week gives us more opportunity to build our high performing, inclusive culture; to collaborate and to learn and share with each other, as well as helping to coordinate a regular pattern of home and office working days. Employees then have the flexibility to decide where they spend the rest of the working week. All our offices are open five days a week.
Applications Close Date
02 Jan 2026
Equal Opportunities
Channel 4’s purpose is to create change through entertainment; by representing unheard voices, challenging with purpose and delivering content which reflects the diversity of different communities across the UK. We are only able to deliver on this remit by having a workforce rich in diversity of thought, background and lived experience. As an employer we encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on disability, age, gender reassignment, gender expression, criminal history, length of time spent unemployed, marriage or civil partnership status, national origin, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Disability Confident Scheme
Channel 4 is a member of the Business Disability Forum (BDF) and has also maintained the highest level of the Department of Work and Pension's Disability Confident scheme - Level 3: Leader. Under the Disability Confident Scheme, we aim to offer an interview to all candidates who have a neurodiverse condition, impairment or long-term condition and who meet the essential criteria for an advertised job. If you wish your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme, please select yes when completing the application questions. For more information, please visit the Disability Confident Campaign website.
Care Leaver Friendly Employer
Channel 4 is a Care Leaver Friendly Employer. By signing the Care Leaver Friendly Employer Charter and adopting its principles, we are supporting an immensely talented yet often under-served and under-represented community of young people/adults. We commit to offering an interview (and constructive feedback) to applicants who identify as care experienced and meet the essential criteria for the role as outlined on the job description. Applicants should indicate if they wish to apply under our Care Leaver Scheme by selecting the option on the application form. For more information, please refer to the Care Leaver Scheme.
Workplace Adjustments
We are committed to providing disabled applicants a level playing field when applying for a job and support whilst employed to perform to the best of their ability and develop their careers. If you have a neurodiverse condition, impairment or long-term condition and require any adjustments, additional support or alternative arrangements during the recruitment and wish to discuss this confidentially, please let us know via the following e-mail recruitment@channel4.co.uk
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