I echo Latitude CEO Richard Gregory’s call that more talent is needed in the digital sector. And it’s great news that the Salford Business School is launching a Search and Social Media Marketing course with such industry backing. Manchester Metropolitan University is also building on its Digital Marketing degree with E-consultancy with new initiatives like Search School and industry support, and recruitment days like ProDevDay. From these it's clear we all agree that it’s vital to retain and nurture the talent we have here too.
We play our part in industry-lead solutions to talent gaps – from multi-platform media production ‘finishing school’ Northern Lights (recruiting imminently for 3rd cohort), to industry placements, our training fund and 1-to1s. We have been involved directly with industry-backed university modules (e.g. mobile games initiative Mobile Bullets).
As we hear in the news that more and more young people will not get to University, let’s remember that it’s equally important to boost Apprenticeships and Placements, which incidentally we’re recruiting 2 placements now!
We have a skills team passionate about making connections with industry and our Board members like Sean Marley and Tony Foggett are equally focused on making sure we build the right links between Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and creative businesses.
It’s uncontroversial to note that the creative industries thrive on talent and that HEIs and industry needs to work better together to get the savvy work-ready graduates it needs. But, it can also be questioned if enough private creative companies are genuinely interested enough in engaging with universities in the sustained way that’s needed to make this happen? And companies might also argue, should they have to be in the first place?
We believe we can help to forge this link between companies and HEIs.
Following on from our Creative Currency report, we’ve established a group of industry leaders who are working with us to produce solutions for: attracting and retaining talent at all levels (as well as in 3 other areas), and this link between North West HEIs is key to its success.
In the mean time, I urge creative companies to join our network, tell us what you need, we can lobby, and create programmes that meet those needs head on!
