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A Creative Break-Through as Apprentice Programme Raises New Levels of Interest

Posted by: Creative Break

Date added: Wed 20 Oct 2010

Creative Break has reached a significant milestone, as over one hundred companies in Greater Manchester have expressed an interest in recruiting an apprentice through the scheme that promotes creative Apprenticeships in the area.

Only four months after its launch, Creative Break, the Apprenticeship Programme designed specifically for the creative industries, has clocked up its first 100 enquiries from agencies and in-house marketing teams looking to reap the benefits of the programme.

Funded primarily by Skills Solutions and supported by the National Apprenticeship Service and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the programme has successfully placed administration apprentices in full-time employment within a mixture of sectors including advertising, marketing, digital, design and PR.

John Myers, regional employer services director for the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “Companies are responding to the message that employing an apprentice through the programme isn’t just an invaluable investment to any business, it plays a vital role in the development of the creative industry.

“Employers are realising that the programme is an absolute ‘no brainer’ – not only do they gain a capable, bright and ambitious full-time administrator to support their creative team, but they are also giving young people a fantastic break into the world of work and cultivating an enthusiastic and highly skilled workforce.”

Sandy Lindsay, Group MD of Tangerine PR, who is leading the programme, said: “This landmark figure is testament to the way companies have embraced the programme and its progress to date speaks volumes about how apprentices can help businesses move forward.

“The creative sector is one of the fastest growing industries in the UK and in an increasingly competitive climate, apprentices are a cost-effective way for businesses to grow their own talent pool.

“Their on-the-job experience, untapped skill-set and enthusiasm makes apprentices the unsung heroes that clearly have the ability to hit the ground running in the creative world of work.”

Steve Wheatley, deputy managing director at Cuckoo Design, who sits on the Creative Break Advisory Panel, is a big advocate of the programme and has recruited through Creative Break.

He said: “As someone who spent my early career as an apprentice, I have first hand experience of how invaluable Apprenticeships can be. Not only do they help the region plug the skills gap, but they provide much-needed high-quality training to the local workforce.”

Businesses that want to learn more about recruiting an apprentice through the Creative Break programme or students who would like to register an interest in becoming an apprentice, please visit www.creativebreak.info.
 

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