Channel 4 has announced the launch of a new initiative to offer creative career opportunities to young people in Yorkshire.
Up to sixteen people will be offered the chance to kickstart a career in creative digital media and take part in the Content Creatives scheme, a 4Skills initiative.
The 14-week fully paid initiative is targeted at 18-24 year olds from disadvantaged backgrounds with a passion for digital content and creativity.
As part of the paid scheme, participants will undergo six weeks of bespoke training with social enterprise SharpFutures followed by an eight-week work placement at a creative digital organisation in Leeds. The work placements will either be with Channel 4’s Leeds-based digital content production unit 4Studio or a range of creative digital partners in Leeds.
The Leeds-based creative partner companies joining Channel 4 to offer eight-week work placements include McCann Leeds, Born Ugly, Dubit, Social and CreativeRace.
The six-week paid training is due to start in May where participants will experience all aspects of creating and delivering digital content including digital storytelling and pitching skills.
Sinéad Rocks, Managing Director Nations and Regions said: “One of our key priorities is to offer genuine life-changing opportunities to people who otherwise would never consider a career in the digital creative sector. If you’ve got passion, imagination and you’re creative this could be just the opportunity you’ve been searching for. Last year’s Content Creatives pilot scheme led to a trainee landing a job with 4Studio which is exactly the outcome we want to achieve.”
Lee Stanley, CEO at SharpFutures, commented: “The combination of paid creative digital skills development and work-based placements make Content Creatives an amazing opportunity for young people in Yorkshire.”
Olly Sowden, Managing Partner at McCann Leeds, added: “Diversity, equality and inclusion is a key pillar of McCann’s philosophy, and by supporting Channel 4 and its Content Creatives programme, we hope to give a platform to young people who may not have otherwise had access to the inner workings of a global creative agency.”
Applications need to be submitted by Monday 28th via the SharpFutures website.
