The traditional view of the apprentice has been transformed in recent years, as design and art studios, media companies, record labels, music promoters, fashion houses or photography services vie to spot new talent. There are apprenticeships for school leavers at 16 and 18, for graduates, and even for career changers who want to join the creative industries – a sector that brought in £91.8bn to the UK economy in 2016 – or £10.5m an hour – according to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Young people should “look behind the camera” to find the many different roles in the creative industries, says Nicole Suter, standards associate at Creative Skillset, an organisation that supports talent in the screen-based industries. “If you study the credits that come up after a film or television programme, you will get some idea of all the different roles that contribute to a production – and there are even more opportunities behind the scenes,” she says.
Now is an exciting time for apprenticeships, says Laura Boswell, an industry talent specialist at Channel 4. “Attitudes to apprenticeships generally have changed quite a lot, and for the better. We are taking on more apprentices than ever before – 17 last year – and, alongside other broadcasters, we’re offering new opportunities, such as in digital marketing and cybersecurity,” she says.
Other creative industries are also getting in on the act. Walk into any local pharmacy and you’re likely to be looking at Tilly Greer’s handiwork. As an artwork operator with GSK, the global pharmaceuticals company, Greer is part of the team that designs packaging for its consumer healthcare products.
Although only 21 years old, Greer has an interesting job with a competitive salary and exciting prospects – all of which came about as a result of her on-the-job training on the company’s design apprenticeship scheme.
James Barry left school after taking AS-levels and enrolled on Channel 4’s apprenticeship programme. “I didn’t go on to do A-levels because I knew university wasn’t for me – it doesn’t suit my learning style. But when I was 16, apprenticeships weren’t as promoted as they are now, so I went into the sixth form,” he says.
Barry became a digital and creative media apprentice in 2014, and now has a permanent role with its All 4 team, helping to arrange photoshoots and liaising with production companies. “I always knew TV was something I wanted to work in but I had no idea about the jobs and opportunities, and I’m still learning now about jobs I never knew existed,” he says.
Alim Jalloh, 22, who was one of the first cadre to be recruited to the new junior content producer apprenticeship last November, dropped out from a media and public relations course at university after his first year. “I’d done a lot of media internships and what I was struggling with at university was the theory. In my first month I had to do an essay on Marxism and the proletariat and bourgeoisie, and I found it hard to relate that to public relations.
“In the first week of my apprenticeship at Channel 4, I was heading a campaign for C4 Simpsons Day, encouraging more people to watch it and getting viewers to tweet about their favourite characters. Every day I learn something new and take on new responsibilities,” he says.
Although the apprenticeships offered by the creative industries are becoming more plentiful, there could be many more if the scheme were more flexible, says Seetha Kumar, chief executive of Creative Skillset. “As our sector has a high proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises and extensive project-based and freelance working, we need flexibilities – such as apprentice sharing and transferable digital training vouchers – if we want to increase take-up and benefits,” she says.
Meanwhile Greer, who has three A-levels and two AS-levels and turned down two unconditional university offers for GSK’s artwork and design apprenticeship, has no regrets. “I wanted to start earning but I also wanted to continue to learn. At GSK I have been able to do both. The company paid for me to attend college one day a week to study new techniques and gain qualifications. It was the best decision I have ever made.”
Where to start
- The BBC offers a range of apprenticeships for school leavers, including broadcast operation, business management and software engineering. Applications will open on 5 March for its 22-month digital journalist apprenticeships, starting in September. Applicants need five GCSEs, including maths and English, at grades A-C.
- ITV opens its apprenticeship vacancies in June for a September start. It offers opportunities across the UK in apprenticeships that include newsroom assistant, junior journalist, talent co-ordinator, business services and business services.
- Channel 4 offers apprenticeships in London, Manchester and Glasgow. Apprenticeships include press and publicity, commissioning, 4 Creative, and audience technology and insight. Applications for September close on 30 March.
- The Royal Opera House starts to recruit in May for backstage apprentices. The apprenticeships, which start in September, include costume tailoring, wigs and makeup, prop making, scenic art, carpentry and metalwork and technical theatre.
- Arch Apprentices is a training provider that places apprentices with employers and provides the back-up training. It places young people in creative jobs with both global companies small creative and digital businesses.
- UK Music is an industry-funded body for the producers of recorded, published and live music in the UK. It administers a music apprentice scheme with employers across the UK. The range of apprenticeships available includes promotions and management, logistics and distribution, brands account assistant, and communications and digital assistant.
- Creative Skillset works with the UK’s screen-based creative industry to develop skills and talent. It supports apprenticeships and helps to establish the standards of training received by apprentices.
- Creative and Cultural Skills promotes work and learning for young people in the creative industries, and helps draw up apprenticeship training standards, in conjunction with employers. The organisation also works with further education colleges across the UK to help them deliver new apprenticeships.
