MediaCom invests in inaugural non-graduate apprentice scheme

By Mark Banham, mediaweek.co.uk, Wednesday, 04 July 2012 08:43AM

MediaCom is launching an apprentice scheme that breaks away from the normal graduate training on offer by selecting candidates without degrees to work at the agency while studying for an NVQ in marketing and communications.

The UK's largest media agency by billings will launch the scheme in support of the 100,000 Apprenticeship target set by Mayor of London Boris Johnson in April.

It "aims to dispel the myth that you need to be a graduate to get ahead in the media industry," according to MediaCom.

Run with the aid of the National Apprenticeship Service, the paid scheme will pick 10 young people who haven’t had the benefit of being able to attend university and award them with a year-long apprenticeship at the agency's London office.

Spearheading the project is Nancy Lengthorn, head of recruitment and talent sourcing at MediaCom.

She will be working alongside Outsource Training and Development to ensure that the apprentices receive a thorough grounding in the media business. Each trainee will also take one day off a month to attend college.

Karen Blackett, chief executive of MediaCom, said: "We want to provide a fantastic opportunity for these youngsters who perhaps wouldn’t ordinarily get the chance to work within our industry.

"Our aim is, in the first instance, to offer these positions to local talent in order to provide Londoners with jobs.

"We feel it is time to re-invest into the media industry by training up and investing time into this source of fresh, raw talent."

In addition to the NVQ course, the young apprentices will also take part in a bespoke, experience based training programme at MediaCom.

Regular opportunities will be given to tap into the senior management team to receive the benefits of their wealth of experience will be supplemented with regular Q&A sessions with the managing partners of the company to aid the apprentices' development.

Junior buddies will also be provided to each apprentice to ensure that they have mentoring opportunities from all levels of the agency.

One of the new recruits to the scheme, Shauna Newth, said: "It's a fantastic opportunity for people like me, who on leaving school have found it really hard to get a foot in the door in the media world.

"I have spent the last two years volunteering, whilst also applying for over 300 jobs and whilst I have enjoyed my time as a volunteer I’m ecstatic that I’ve finally got the chance to train within an industry that excites me so much."

The apprentices will start at MediaCom on 16 July.

This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk