Apprentices in Greater Manchester offered a 'Creative Break'
A new public sector backed apprenticeship programme will launch today which aims to help young people in the Greater Manchester area break into the creative industries.
‘Creative Break’ is a partnership between public sector apprenticeship support organisations and the creative industries within Greater Manchester which aims to generate vacancies within the creative community where there is currently a dearth of opportunity.
The programme is being funded primarily by Skills Solutions with support by National Apprenticeship Service and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and will look open up more apprentice placements within creative companies.
Apprentices within the programme will be offered training in essential skills needed to work within creative agencies or marketing departments.
Led by Sandy Lindsay, group MD of Tangerine PR, the scheme will reward apprentices with nationally recognised qualifications, based on assessment of progress within the workplace, as well as essential work experience.
Already signed up to the programmes are Cuckoo Design, Fudge, Pets at Home, SSL International, MediaVest Manchester, Planet Confidential and Tangerine PR.
Sandy Lindsay, explained: “While carrying out research for the programme we spoke to leading agency MDs and client-side marketing directors about their views on apprentices. Many of them still thought that apprentices were plumbers or unskilled young people but when we told them they could have a bright, qualified and specifically trained individual for less than £5,000 per year, the typical response was: ‘Where do I sign?!’”
Mark Critchley, marketing director of SSL International (Scholl, Durex), who is a member of the Creative Break Advisory Panel, said: “A great administrator is an essential part of any creative team. Administrators not only do the routine, organisational things that creative types rarely do well, but they also help make a team run more effectively, enabling fee earners and marketing personnel to focus on generating additional income.”
Critchley continued: “Making the best use of all available talent is how businesses thrive, especially those in the creative sector.
The Creative Break programme is a no-brainer for any business which could benefit from additional admin support for busy creative teams and, let’s face it, who couldn’t? It’s a great opportunity for employers and offers young people a fantastic break into one of the best sectors available – a classic win-win.”