Jessica O'ConnorAlmost 80,000 young people have taken part in employer-led activities in the creative industries as part of a government-funded programme designed to widen access to careers in the sector.
Discover! Creative Careers Month, which ran throughout November, provided 79,134 people aged 11 to 18 with direct encounters with creative industry employers.
The initiative forms part of a wider, industry-led programme aimed at improving understanding of creative jobs among young people, particularly those from working-class and underrepresented backgrounds, and showing that opportunities exist across all regions of the UK.
Activities were coordinated by industry hosts and supported by the skills charity ScreenSkills.
They covered the full breadth of the creative industries, including theatre, television, gaming, music and visual effects.
Ian Murray, Creative Industries Minister, said: “Discover! Creative Careers Month is completely aligned to what this Government believes in – improving access for people of all backgrounds, and creating earning power and economic growth across our regions.
“It’s encouraging to see just how many young people it’s reached already, and to think about the potential for the future.”
ITV Academy, the broadcaster’s training arm, held multiple events including a Coronation Street storytelling workshop in Manchester, which included a set tour and sessions on writing and plot development.
Sonny Hanley, director of ITV Academy, said: “The ITV Academy is dedicated to inspiring the next generation, and Discover! Creative Careers Month has been the perfect platform for this.
“We were proud to support the month with a range of events across the UK, including at Coronation Street in Manchester and at our London offices for ITV’s 70th birthday.
“Through each of our events, we gave students a tangible look at the production journey from idea to transmission. It is vital we continue to demystify the industry and prove that a career in television is accessible to everyone.”
The programme also involved the games-sector charity Into Games, which ran workshops in schools in London, Brighton, Birmingham and Hartlepool, giving students insight into game-development careers.
In the South West, Get Into Theatre delivered backstage workshops at venues including Bristol Old Vic, Bristol Hippodrome and St George’s.
A young person who attended an immersive VFX workshop said: “Actions speak louder than words… when you come to the office, meeting the people…seeing the work environment, you can now envision yourself in it.”
Mary Rose, head of Discover! Creative Careers, said: “This year’s Discover! Creative Career Month has seen the biggest number of industry hosts to date opening their doors and sharing their expertise. We are so incredibly grateful to them for inspiring the next generation and helping to build a stronger, more inclusive future workforce across the UK.
“Our expansion of the Discover! Creative Careers programme over the past year, has not only seen record reach during November’s Discover! Creative Careers Month, but an expansion into Scotland and Wales delivered by Into Film.”
