A new
film has been launched by the National Apprenticeship Service to encourage
more young people to take up an Apprenticeship in the creative sector. The film
features four young people working in different creative industries who share
their stories about how an Apprenticeship set them on their way to a future
career in the creative sector.
The
four rising stars from BBC 1’s The One Show, digital media agency,
Twofour, photography company, Seven Spring Studios, and creative
industry training provider, Diversity in Visual Arts, also talk about the
varied
job roles and opportunities available.
Employers, led by Creative Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for
the Creative Industries, are being encouraged to promote the film across the
sector and to young people. In addition, the National Apprenticeship Service
will use the film in resource packs for schools and at careers events across the
country.
Luke Boatright, 21, formerly an advanced apprentice in Creative and
Digital Media at the BBC, and now a junior art director for BBC 1’s The One
Show, who features in the film said: “My Apprenticeship gave
me experience, one of the best qualifications possible in the TV industry, as
well as the opportunity to build a network of contacts. The experience has
proved invaluable. The creative industry is incredibly broad in terms of the
type of job you could end up doing so an Apprenticeship is a great way to
explore what’s on offer. I would definitely encourage more young people to think
about doing an Apprenticeship.”
The
other stars of the film are:
· Selene Shaw (20), a
marketing assistant and advanced apprentice in creative and digital media at
Diversity in Visual Arts in London
· Rich Thompson (21), a
junior assistant producer and formerly an advanced apprentice in creative and
digital media at digital media agency, Twofour Digital Ltd in
Plymouth
· Lydia Cobb (19) a studio
assistant and advanced apprentice in photo-imaging at Seven Springs Studios in
Dorchester
Dinah Caine, CEO from Creative Skillset, said: “Providing opportunities for
young people from a range of backgrounds to enter the creative industries is
vital to keeping the sector vibrant and fresh. Apprenticeships offer young
people the opportunity to build skills, experience and contacts in this
competitive and fast-paced sector. They give employers access to a diverse
talent pool and the opportunity to train the next generation with the skills
needed to help the UK creative industries maintain their excellent standing
around the world.”
David Way, chief executive of the National Apprenticeship
Service,
commented: “With Apprenticeships now available in many of the creative
industries, there has never been a better time to become an apprentice and get
the skills and experience you need to really make a mark in this competitive
industry. This campaign features the best people to get this message across –
people who are or have been apprentices themselves. We hope young people will
see the film and be inspired to explore what an Apprenticeship could do for
them.”
The
Creative Sector film is the second in a
series of ‘sector in the spotlight’ films being created by the National
Apprenticeship Service to promote Apprenticeships in key industry sectors.
Apprenticeships cover more than 250 skills and industries across
1,400 job roles, over an extensive range of skill levels. An Apprenticeship in
creative & digital media or in marketing covers new entrant roles in a range
of areas, including TV, Archive, Animation, Interactive Media, Film, Photo
Imaging, Radio, PR, Event Organisation, Marketing, Market Research and
Advertising.
Government funding is available to help companies take on an
apprentice. Through the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) of 16-24 year
olds, businesses who choose to grow their business through Apprenticeships can
access funding of £1,500. The grant is open to organisations employing up to
1,000 people, who have never employed an apprentice before, or have not
recruited one in the past 12 months.
