YOU’RE HIRED! MIDLANDS APPRENTICES GO CREATIVE

 

 

 

 

 

When a Worcester company wants its apprentices managed by Birmingham based Creative Alliance, you know that this is an organisation serious about its people.

Trying to break into the creative industries can seem impossible when you are starting out, but award-winning Modus only sees the positives in growing your own talent. Modus’ boss, Guy Marson, who started his own working life as an apprentice, has partnered with Creative Alliance for more than five years.  In that time, Modus has taken on eight apprentices, three who are still with the company and who are at various stages in their training or now working as regular employees.

“The people who run Creative Alliance are talented and dedicated. They really commit to working with their apprentices and if an individual finds the going tough, they recognise where the challenges are and support the youngsters, helping them to work through their doubts. That makes them real partners in developing our future talent.” said Guy Marson, Chief Executive and Creative Director, Modus Creative.

Alex Williams is a real Modus Creative success story, who started with the company in 2011, through the BBC framework.  The scheme was not working for Alex so Modus involved Creative Alliance who mediated to help build a programme around him to harness his energy and emerging talent.  Alex started off in a sales focused role but his real skills were identified in Media Buying and Planning.  After a change of emphasis, it was not long before Alex was running the account for key client, the Caravan Club of Great Britain.

In 2014, after three years with Modus Creative, Alex joined Leeds-based MediaCom and continued his success, planning international campaigns. He was the account lead on the MissingType Campaign for NHS Blood and Transplant, which has now been nominated for three MediaWeek awards in November. Alex’s next step is a move to Australia to take up a senior role with international media planning and buying company, StarCom Mediavest.

“It was a real advantage for me to get into the industry as early as I did, and get that vital experience under my belt. It’s a career path I would actively encourage the youth of today to explore, as it really can help you progress in the long run with your careers but also equips you with skills you can’t learn at University. While I’m now moving to Sydney to be a strategy and solutions manager for Starcom Mediavest, Modus will always be special to me as it’s where my journey began. Who knows, I could be back one day, this time telling Guy what to do.”  said Alex.

“Modus are a great example of some of the pioneering employers we’re privileged to work with in the creative industries. It’s very much a partnership approach: Modus know the skills, knowledge and behaviours they want to develop and we work within that to enable the young person to achieve the apprenticeship qualification and become market ready for employment in a highly competitive industry. Guy gets to develop the talent that is absolutely right for Modus and young people benefit by learning what’s needed get a foot in the door of a marketing agency,” said Noel Dunne, Director of Creative Alliance.

Since 2010, Creative Alliance, based in Digbeth’s inspiring workspace, The Custard Factory, has placed 300 apprentices with over 200 employers, including McCann, Elonex and The Royal Shakespeare Company.  As the Midlands leading independent learning provider for creative talent, Creative Alliance offers a range of careers services and training opportunities.

Find out more about the winning team at Modus by visiting www.moduscreative.co.uk  or if you are an employer interested in apprentices, visit www.creativealliance.org.uk