**This project has now closed**
Northern Lights is an innovative multi-platform media production course that helps young people to break into the industry.
Funded by Vision+Media, this four-week programme will see 16 people who are new to the industry gain specialist training in TV, Radio, Gaming or Digital Interactive working. The successful applicants will then apply these skills to one of four live industry multi-platform briefs.
Partner companies for 2010 will include Fudge, Chillingo, BBC and Key 103.
The course is once again being run by Moira Kean and Andrew Thomas. Moira has recently left the BBC with over 25 years of production and training experience. Andrew was previously eBusiness Director at parenting club Bounty, and has over ten years interactive sector experience in the North West.
Read what some of last year's trainees are up to now and what employers think of the scheme.
The programme begins on Monday 01 November and more information can be found on the Northern Lights Website.
Below is a short video made by some of last year's trainees, explaining a little about the course.
What past trainees say:
Hayley McCool Smith
Where I am now: I work as an interactive researcher for T4. My job is fantastic, I am in charge of the social media for T4 as well as coming up with ideas for features and web exclusives. It's a really exciting job and every day is different. I am proof that Northern Lights is an amazing opportunity and for those of you lucky enough to become part of it, it is the perfect platform to launch your career.
How Northern Lights helped me: I had experience within radio and not much else. I went on Northern Lights with a plan to further my knowledge of the radio industry, but after learning more about digital (an area I was not so familiar with) I had, what I like to call a digital epiphany. Given the fact I had chosen to pursue a career in a highly competitive industry, the knowledge and insight that Northern Lights provided me with was invaluable. Without their help and continuing support, there is absolutely no way that I would now be working at T4.
Tom Kinniburgh
Where I am now: Following my placement, I am still working at Chillingo and have been promoted to an associate producer, meaning I have more responsibility and can produce and publish my own game projects with little to no intervention now. One of my games, 'Helsing's Fire',which I managed from start to finish, is just starting to top into the charts.
How Northern Lights helped me: The course put me in contact with Chillingo directly and made me think about gaming as a serious industry (before I went on the course I had honestly never considered games I only played them!). I still keep in contact with other people I worked with and some of my teachers as all contacts are invaluable!
Melissa Power
Where I am now: I am currently a freelance Broadcast Assistant and producer for BBC Radio Manchester. I work on a variety of programmes, coming up with ideas and then thinking how these ideas would work successfully on air. It's a fantastic job and I love every bit of it! My work for the BBC means that I'm starting to get offers of work from different departments and I have also been accepted into the BBC North jobs pool.
How Northern Lights helped me: I believe that I wouldn't be doing what I am now without the help of Northern Lights. I am one of a very small number of people in the BBC office that doesn't have a masters/degree in journalism. Northern Lights taught me a great deal around about broadcasting law, how to secure talent, how to write a pitch for radio as well as much more - skills which I still use every day.
Luke Doyle
Where I am now: I work at media buying agency MediaVest in Manchester as an Affiliate Marketing Assistant. I am really enjoying my time here and learning yet again more skills.
How Northern Lights helped me: I could never have got to where I am now without the leg-up I received from Northern Lights. The course was a great experience for the likes of me, coming from a very broad course at University. I was able to gain insight and knowledge about all aspects of the digital sector. I've never looked back...
What the industry says:
Jon Holmes, Managing Director, Milky Tea
"As a company, we felt that the course was a great opportunity to explore new ventures and design ideas while also clearly identifying future employees. Overall the roll out of Northern Lights has been great and has lots of future potential to develop and grow further. Milky Tea would love to be part of any future rollout and can’t recommend it enough to other studios to engage and get involved."
Russell Crewe, Head of Programmes, Made in Manchester
" Northern Lights has proved that the North West has an almost endless seam of young people with the same drive, ambition, and desire to work on multi-platforms. There are too few courses like this and Northern Lights doesn’t run often enough in my opinion. It was a delight to be part of NL2 and I hope to be a part of NL3, NL4 and right through to NL99!"
Nick Gallon, BBC Future Media and Technology
For me it was great to see such raw enthusiasm for the industry within which we work and it's clear that a major benefit the students gain from the Northern Lights programme is in marrying this with real world experience and expertise. There is a real passion for creating products and services that will make a difference to viewers and a feeling that with their newly gained knowledge, that they, the students, could take on the world never mind the North West.
Martin Chapman Fromm, Creative Director, Mando Group
"From the initial interviews right through to the final presentations, their inspiration and energy never waned. All participants were a joy to work with and constantly kept us on our toes. They relished the opportunity to delve into the increasingly convergent platforms of digital, TV, games, and radio, thus turning them into lean mean commercially-viable creative machines! Call it education 2.0 (urgh!) if you like!"