The KM Group is on the hunt for its next editorial apprentice.
The scheme, which is now in its fifth year, offers an amazing opportunity to begin a career in journalism without the need to go to university.

The successful candidate will earn as they learn, combining classroom-based sessions with real-life experience in one of our newsrooms.

Our first two editorial apprentices, Dan Wright and Josie Hannett, have seen their careers fast-tracked thanks to the scheme.

Josie, who started work in our Ashford office before transferring to our television station KMTV, has just landed a dream job as a producer for Sky News at the age of 22.

Dan has just been appointed news editor of the Kentish Express - one of the most senior roles in the editorial department - at the age of 23.

Our next apprentice is likely to be a school-leaver, although we also welcome applications from people who have taken a degree in a subject unrelated to journalism.

They will have a keen interest in news and current affairs, a good grasp of grammar and a willingness to learn.

Talking of her time at the KM, Josie said: "I’ve made so much progress since I started as an apprentice four years ago.

"I’ve covered some fantastic stories, won awards and been bitten by a pig in a piece to camera along the way!

"I can’t thank the apprenticeship scheme enough, it’s fast-tracked my career and given me the hands-on experience I would never have got had I gone to university.

"I’ve been able to save money and not worry about having debt from getting a degree."

Dan said: I had just finished my A-levels in the summer of 2013 and was looking to get into journalism, but didn’t want to go to down the costly university route.

"I worked hard to put myself in a position to pass the exams, before moving to my home patch with the Kentish Express in September last year.

"Little did I know then that I would be appointed news editor of my home town paper just months later, but it goes to show how valuable the apprenticeship initiative is."

• To apply for this year's apprenticeship scheme, please visit KentJobs.co.uk and click on the KM logo in the 'Featured employers' section.