10 access schemes and internships to get into advertising

Disrupting how the creative industry recruits, Brixton Finishing School offers free ten-week programmes for 18-25 year olds mainly from underrepresented communities hoping to work in the advertising industry. It’s a feeder organisation that many companies work with to find potential candidates for roles.

Wieden+Kennedy’s incubator programme doubles as their own Gen Z agency-within-an-agency, where new talent work on real assignments with clients and deadlines. The programme is always looking for writers, photographers, artists, designers, filmmakers, animators and coders looking for a chance to learn, teach and make something.

Channel 4 plays host to several programmes that foster new talent and promote access for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Their design-focused initiative is Content Creatives, a 14-week paid training and placement opportunity aimed at 18-24 year olds in Leeds and Manchester, offering the chance to kickstart a career in creative digital media.

Jolt Academy is an arm of the AK Creative talent matchmaking company, which works with both the UK’s leading diversity organisations and major advertising agencies such as Mother, Engine, Grey and BBH to match them with top talent from all kinds of backgrounds, with a focus on those that are underrepresented.

An organisation which aims to find talent, improve skills and champion diversity in the creative industry, The Industry Club has created various paid apprenticeships pairing Black, Brown, Asian, Arab and minority ethnic candidates with brands and agencies. Their Marketing Debuts scheme also began offering entry-level roles as well as apprenticeships.

Advertising icon M&C Saatchi’s Open House is a free eight-week online training course which aims to introduce participants to, and demystify, the world of advertising – no prior experience necessary.

McCann Manchester’s Apprentice Scheme gives you the opportunity to kick start your career in advertising. They’ve been running their scheme since 2011, teaching aspiring creatives all there is to know about social media, TV production, and everything in the middle.

Award-winning advertising agency VCCP offers a number of programmes for budding creatives. The Table is a year-long programme and Ad School is an intensive 5 day work experience – no prior experience or qualifications are needed for both. They also have a creative placement scheme called The Den, placing creative teams on a 3-month paid contract where they’ll work on live briefs.

Leo’s Futures is Leo Burnett’s brand-new entry-level programme to kickstart your career in advertising. It involves 8 weeks of training where you’ll rotate across all departments, learn from senior leaders and industry partners, and work on a live brief to put your skills to the test.

MullenLowe’s The Ship is a paid scheme lasting 18 months, with a potential permanent role at the end of it. On board The Ship, you’ll get real life practical experience, access to a range of training and mentoring opportunities, and you’ll work together with other creatives on an exciting agency wide project.