Five years ago, Louie Bartlett joined Lead Pronto as an apprentice eager to explore the world of digital marketing. Fast forward to today, and he’s now our UX and Creative Manager, leading a talented team and shaping the success of our campaigns. As he marks this milestone, Louie reflects on his journey – how he got started, the challenges he’s faced, and the rewarding moments that have defined his career so far.
How does it feel to celebrate five years at Lead Pronto?
I can’t quite believe it’s already been five years! The time has flown by, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my journey at Lead Pronto. I’m looking forward to what the future holds for both myself and the company.
Can you tell us about how you got started and what your role was back then?
My journey at Lead Pronto started as a Digital Marketing Apprentice. After finishing my A-Levels, I knew university wasn’t the right path for me, so I began looking into digital marketing apprenticeships. After attending a few workshops, I applied through Apprentify, who matched me with Digital Associate (now Lead Pronto) as my employer.
From the start, I gravitated towards the creative side of digital marketing, taking an interest in graphic design, web design, and development. My apprenticeship gave me the opportunity to contribute to web design projects and assist with social assets for the Paid Social team. However, as an apprentice, I also supported various departments, helping me develop a well-rounded knowledge of digital marketing.
How has your role evolved over the years, from where you started to becoming the UX and Creative Manager?
Once I’d completed my apprenticeship, I knew I wanted to specialise in creative work, so I focused on developing my skills in social media ad design and landing page development. As Pronto grew, we expanded our team, allowing me to build and lead a talented group of designers and developers.
This progression led me to my current role as UX and Creative Manager.
Now, I oversee the design and development of high-converting landing pages and marketing assets, ensuring our creative work supports the success of our lead generation campaigns.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced during your time here, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was during my first year as an apprentice in 2020, when COVID hit. Trying to complete my apprenticeship while adapting to full-time remote work was tough. It was a completely new experience for me, and managing my workload became a challenge.
Fortunately, I had an incredibly supportive team who helped me find the right balance, and I was able to successfully complete my apprenticeship while continuing to grow in my role.
What’s the most rewarding part of working in UX and creative design?
One of the most rewarding aspects is seeing real results from the work we create. Whether it’s a landing page performing well in a campaign or a social ad delivering strong conversion rates, it’s satisfying to see the impact of our designs.
Another highlight is receiving positive client feedback. Knowing that our designs help businesses grow and succeed makes the job even more fulfilling.
How does your team collaborate to deliver great results for clients?
The design and development team work closely together, constantly reviewing each other’s work and providing feedback. This collaborative approach ensures our projects are refined before they even reach the client, leading to high-quality results.
How has the company culture at Lead Pronto supported your growth over the years?
The company culture is one of the best parts of working at Lead Pronto. The team gets along incredibly well, both in and out of the office. Social events and activities help strengthen our relationships, which in turn enhances the way we work together.
Having a strong, supportive culture has played a big role in my personal and professional development.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in a similar role at Lead Pronto?
Get stuck in! Throwing myself into different projects and learning by doing has been the best way to grow. I’d also recommend getting involved in industry communities outside of work – learning from others in the field has helped me improve massively.
How have your relationships with the team evolved during your time here?
At first, I was quite quiet and reserved, but as the team grew, so did my confidence. Over time, I’ve built great relationships with everyone at Lead Pronto, and I feel much more comfortable in my role and within the team.
How do you see Lead Pronto evolving in the next five years, and how do you see yourself contributing to that growth?
There are a lot of exciting projects happening behind the scenes that I can’t talk about just yet, but Lead Pronto is set to grow massively in the coming years. My goal is to push our creative projects to the highest level and help the team develop their skills so we can continue producing the best work possible.
If you could go back and give advice to yourself on your first day at Lead Pronto, what would it be?
Be confident and get involved! I’ve grown so much in confidence over the years, and if I could go back, I’d tell myself to trust the process and embrace every opportunity.
How do you find balance/relax outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy going to the gym, playing football, travelling to new countries, and spending time with friends and family. I also like to play games every now and then!
Louie’s journey from apprentice to UX and Creative Manager is a testament to hard work, adaptability, and the power of seizing every opportunity. Over the last five years, he’s played a crucial role in shaping Lead Pronto’s creative direction, and his impact continues to grow. As we look to the future, we’re excited to see how Louie and the UX team push boundaries and elevate our creative projects even further.
Congrats on 5 years Louie, and here’s to many more!
