Apprenticeships provide opportunities to gain knowledge and skills in different industries. They involve both on and off-the-job training and help build and progress careers.

Clemence Blanchard joined the Communications team a month ago and reflects on her role and learnings so far.

What is your apprenticeship and what do you do?

“I’m the Communication Assistant in the Communications team here at the Quadram Institute. I’m part of the team responsible for communicating the work and science of the institute to audiences across the globe and managing engagement with the public and stakeholders such as funders, policymakers, local communities and news media.

Day to day, this role involves social media, website content, policy engagement, branding, internal communications and public engagement work.

At the same time, I’m studying for a PR & Communications Assistant Apprenticeship at Cambridge Marketing College. I’m learning about a range of topics like public relations, corporate identity and strategy through an online learning platform and webinars.”

What did you do before joining the Quadram Institute?

“I graduated from Imperial College London with a BSc in Biological Sciences in 2024. I spent three years at university unsure what to specialise in. So I studied a little bit of everything from microbiology to plant immunity and ecology.

I also explored science career options outside the lab during my sandwich year at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. I worked in conservation policy, helping prepare for the 15th UN Biodiversity Conference of the Parties and updating guidance for working with Indigenous traditional knowledge.”

Why did you decide to pursue an apprenticeship, and why science communication?

“I chose a science communication project as part of my final year at university. I knew that I liked being in a scientific environment, but life in the lab or field wasn’t for me.

After university, I explored options around science communication and policy roles. I wanted to gain more practical communication skills, so I liked the versatility of the apprenticeship scheme, where I get to learn and work at the same time.

I had heard of the Norwich Research Park during my time at Kew, and I was sold on the exciting microbiome research at the Quadram Institute. In fact, in my final year, I worked on a grant proposal project looking at the impact of bacteriophages – viruses that infect bacteria – on UK wild bee microbiomes.”

What have you been up to in your first month?

“Lots! I’ve started my apprenticeship learning, attending webinars on corporate branding and social algorithm trends for 2025.

Practically, I’ve been writing blogs, planning social media content and I’ve attended policy events and lots of training.

My second day on the job, I was lucky enough to attend a Parliamentary Scientific Committee All-Party Parliamentary Group discussion on precision medicine in collaboration with The Physiological Society. It was interesting to learn about the ways that personalised treatments – based on biological and environmental characteristics at the individual level – can improve health outcomes, and link this to the work of the Quadram Institute.”

What stories or research areas are you most looking forward to covering?

“I’m excited about Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT), the successful treatment for bowel conditions caused by recurrent Clostridiodes difficile (C. diff) infections, a particularly tricky microbe that can make you sick when antibiotic use has wiped the good microbes from your gut.

Thanks to this new therapy, the healthy microbiota of donors, made up of those good microbes, can be transferred to C. diff patients for better health outcomes. This is because the good microbes will keep the tricky ones, like C.diff, under control.

It’s also been a highlight to hear the public’s reactions when they learn about FMT. We recently welcomed some local Year 10 students for a visit and sharing about FMT generated a lot of excitement.”

What has surprised you the most about the apprenticeship and role so far?

“How varied it is! I get to learn about the different communication roles and tasks managed by the team and then put them into practice.

For example, I’ve been able to sit in the media training that some scientists at the institute receive and plan social media posts related to upcoming human studies, which you can take part in!

As an apprentice, you become a team member, so your role is both important and clear, and there are lots of opportunities to learn and improve.”

What do you hope to learn from the apprenticeship?

“I’m hoping to gain more experience in producing exciting video content. It’s the future of science communication – and social media in general!

Sometimes, sharing science on tiny microbes can seem difficult, but I’m hoping to make this easier and more engaging to help promote this important research.”