Channel Marketing Manager Apprentice

Overview

Location: Reading
Duration: 3 years
Salary: £25,200 per year
Start Date: September 2026

Being a Microsoft Apprentice - Ready to kick-start your career and make an impact? As a Microsoft Apprentice, you’ll earn while you learn, build real-world skills, and work on projects that matter from day one. No coffee runs here—you’ll have a full employment contract and a seat at the table, shaping ideas that drive change.

The Consumer and Channel Sales and Marketing (CCSM) organization works with ecosystem partners to build, market and sell a winning portfolio that delights customers and earns fans around the world. CCSM is great part of the Microsoft business to make an impact because –

1. We uniquely provide the opportunity to touch every consumer, student, SMB and enterprise with devices and experiences and simply make daily life and tasks more productive and fun.

1. We are at the forefront of Microsoft’s intelligent Cloud/Edge strategy as the guardians of the intelligent edge that drive the intelligent cloud.

1. Every commercial customer is a consumer and we have the critical responsibility to win their mindshare both inside and outside the office.

1. Every day we get to work with the most recognized consumer brands in the world.

1. We get to work with and learn from some of the smartest consumer minds in the tech industry.

1. Our jobs are fun as we get to launch cutting edge consumer products such as Xbox, Surface, Windows and M365

1. We get to work on landing new cutting-edge business models aligned to the cloud and digital transformation

The Channel Marketing Manager Apprentice – is the specialist marketing manager creating and establishing our Category Marketing plans that represent both the Category’s and partner ambitions. In tnis role youwill need to be able to clearly articulate the story both internally and externally to our UKI Managed Retail Partners . The Channel Marketing Manager Apprentice collaborates with key stakeholders in the CCSM UKI organization but will build a rapport with the Regional Teams too.

• Accelerate Growth develop marketing plans that support our Sales and Category teams to drive growth in the market

• Identify and develop new opportunities for Microsoft by leveraging partners key consumer strengths

• Manage and influence relationships majority of which are internal

• Support the business as the expert in the marketing of the product category, leveraging market knowledge to drive strategy and planning

• Facilitate relationships internally in order to deliver the marketing of the product successfully to the market, manage the marketing strategy and planning through the life cycle and engage with the right audience in the right tone.

Role Overview

The Microsoft CCSM Team are looking for young talent to contribute to an experienced Channel Marketing team with a perspective and ideas that are uniquely yours.

The role will involve working across many stakeholders to land the marketing strategy, planning and assets derived from the Category team’s product guidance. You will need to build a strong rapport with the Sales, Category and Partner Marketing teams within CCSM to engage their support on the delivery of a joined up Marketing plan. This Channel Marketing role would be work across our Modern Life categories such as, Surface, M365, PC Accessories or Windows. The role will require you to build deeper relationships with key stakeholders in order to develop marketing strategies, deliver the relevant assets and work closely with our Partner Marketers to ensure the plans are executed to agreed KPIs, timelines and targets.

Relationship management is key predominantly internal, you will need to be able communicate effectively at all levels across the organisation.

You will join a dynamic and fast-paced environment and work with cross-functional teams to design, build and sustain solutions to support Microsoft’s growth ambitions. Come be part of a solution-oriented team that is influencing and contributing to Microsoft’s mission.

Responsibilities

What will I do in this job?

• To start, you will shadow a Channel Marketing Manager in the team – learning who we target, who we compete against, how we convince consumers to purchase Microsoft hardware and software.

• You will learn how to create a strategic marketing plan for the category that includes a clear vision for the future, actionable objectives, aligned marketing investments and measures of success.

• The role will involve taking sole responsibility for the delivery of critical marketing assets for our Retail Partners for both online and offline execution.

• To execute this plan, you would learn how to collaborate with a broad set of stakeholders across the consumer division at Microsoft locally, including account managers and Partner marketers.

• You will learn how our channel partners work, both online and physical stores. You will understand their businesses, what motivates them & how Microsoft can help them achieve their goals.

Qualifications

• No degree yet (this is your launchpad!)
• 5 GCSEs (including Maths & English, grades A*-C or 9-4)
• 3 A-levels (A*-C), BTEC Nationals, T Level, or equivalent by September 2026

What do I need to be successful?

• Apply entrepreneurial and innovative thinking to identifying and executing business opportunities

• Ability to analyze market data, draw relevant conclusions, develop accurate business plans and spot market opportunities

• Build and drive program execution

• Possess high standards for performance and compliance

• Ability to influence multiple stakeholder groups

• Must be able to effectively articulate technology and product positioning to internal audiences.

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.