Creative businesses to offer 300 jobs to school leavers

ITV, Facebook, Twitter, RSA Films, Aardman Animation, Saatchi & Saatchi, Omnicom Media Group, Spotify, Zynga, global gaming company Activision and special effects company Double Negative are just some of the 100 creative and digital media companies uniting behind an innovative new recruitment drive across the country to fast track 300 young people into employment in the UK.

Spearheaded by advertising trade body the IPA, the initiative has support from Ed Vaizey, minister for culture, communications and creative industries. Applications for the ‘Creative Pioneers Challenge’ open today at creativepioneers.co.uk. Deadline for entry is noon on 27 April.

Successful applicants will begin work in September in a variety of roles as apprentices or paid interns in television and film production, gaming, digital technology, web design and analytics, social media, media planning and buying, creative services, marketing communications and advertising.

“This brilliant scheme will create hundreds of exciting and rewarding new jobs for young school leavers in the creative sector,” Vaizey said. “The creative industries represent a massive opportunity for growth and the IPA and the companies involved in this challenge are to be commended for nurturing and developing the next generation of film directors, web and video game designers, advertising chiefs and marketing experts.”