Up To 30,000 Students To Take Part In Discover! Creative Careers Week.

A major new initiative is to be launched to encourage young people to consider a career in the creative industries. Discover! Creative Careers Week has been backed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in England through the Creative Careers Programme and is designed to find and encourage new, diverse talent for the country’s booming creative industries. As statistics show, the creative industries are one of the country’s fastest growing business sectors, growing at twice the national rate, and now accounts for more than 6% of all jobs in the UK according to new government data.

The nationwide programme of events runs from 18 to 22 November and is designed to showcase the broad spectrum of careers to be pursued in the creative industries, opening students’ eyes to industries and jobs they may not have known about or considered.

During the week, young people will get to learn about animation with the creators of Peppa Pig, go back stage at The National Theatre, use interactive 3D computer modelling with XSite Architecture in Newcastle, explore individual career paths by interviewing the team at Tate Liverpool, get a taste of the world of publishing with Hachette, and understand how a film is promoted and distributed with Sony. From fashion design with Burberry in Yorkshire to game design with SEGA in the South West, and more than 20 National Trust properties up and down the country taking part, students from schools across England will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experiences in job roles that many haven’t even heard of.

“I think it is great that the biggest names in the creative industry are opening their doors for students as part of Discover! Week. When our students get to experience the workplace and engage with employers first hand – you see a real positive effect on their development as young industry professionals. They become more inspired, engaged and focused to the world of work and all this helps them to prepare for life after their school days – whatever their chosen career.” Jonathan Jacob, Head of External Relations and Careers at Global Academy whose students will be taking part in the film marketing and distribution Discover! event with Sony, Feref and Moving Picture Company.

Ruth Eastwood, Chief Executive of Blackpool’s Grand Theatre, said: “Blackpool’s Grand is delighted to be a part of Discover! Creative Careers Week, held in Blackpool. Working in an arts venue that’s been presenting shows for over 125 years we value the importance of introducing young people to the incredible range of career opportunities within the world of theatre. We are excited to spend the day showcasing the many disciplines that can build a rewarding career within the arts and a venue.”

A spokeswoman for the Creative Careers Programme delivery partners: Creative & Cultural Skills, ScreenSkills and the Creative Industries Federation said: “Giving young people an insight into the many jobs available across the creative industries is invaluable because we know that there are many roles that people have no idea exist. It is difficult to contemplate a career you don’t even know about. We are immeasurably grateful to all those companies and organisations who have taken the time and effort to open young people’s eyes to the opportunities and are inspiring the next generation of talent.”

An estimated thirty thousand young people aged 11+ are expected to make visits with their schools and colleges to creative businesses during the week as part of Discover! Creative Careers Week from 18-22 November 2019. Employers opening their doors range from advertising agencies, film studios, theatres, architect practices, museums, heritage properties, libraries, design studios and many more with events taking place in all regions across England.

The venture will be launched at a series of events at the start of the week and include Blackpool on Monday 18 & Tuesday 19 November (various times).

The Blackpool Creative Cluster Discover! Is hosting a number of events across the town giving over 200 local students an opportunity to experience job roles and industries that many don’t even know exist in the area. Ranking 316th out of 324 districts for social mobility, Blackpool is one of the Government’s programme of 12 Opportunity Areas which aims to help more children and young people achieve their full potential.

Students will meet for roundtable activities before heading off for various building tours. Participating employers include The Grand Theatre, Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool Tower and Ballroom, Blackpool Winter Gardens, Visit Blackpool, Leftcoast, Blackpool Museum Project & Heritage Service, Lightworks and Blackpool Libraries. As well as this, on Monday 18 November students will learn about what happens behind the scenes of BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing at Blackpool’s iconic Ballroom.

To celebrate the number of organisations coming together, there will be a breakfast event from 8.30am on Tuesday 19 November at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens for invited guests and press where representatives from Blackpool Council and the Creative Careers Programme will introduce the activities taking place.