The value of work experience for young people and businesses
We recently welcomed Jacob and Ellen-Poppy to Generator Studios for work experience. Ellen-Poppy and Jacob were keen to learn the fundamentals of PR, graphic design and content creation, as well as experience the day-to-day of a busy brand communications agency.
It’s so important to us that we continue to create opportunities for young people to showcase their talent and passion in the creative world. Providing students with meaningful time to experience real-world work environments fuels imaginations, helps strengthen our industry and as we like to think, inspires belief.
Working with Ellen-Poppy and Jacob got us thinking about the bigger picture. What is the value of offering work experience for a business?
A fresh perspective
Our co-founding director, Lucy Gardiner, began her career following a work experience opportunity. Fast-forward to the present day, Lucy has helped create an award-winning North East agency that has just celebrated 25 years in business. It’s the chances and opportunities that unlock the next steps in a career.
When welcoming a young person to the workplace, we are excited by the different perspective and ways of thinking they bring to a creative brief.
While the premise of the task is primarily to generate ideas and spark a critical way of thinking, our client teams benefit from a new way of thinking and the fresh impetus students bring to a challenge. We’re then able to draw out great ideas and important considerations that shape our client work.
When I first began work experience at Gardiner Richardson, I did not expect to have a team lunch on the Quayside, how to use a professional camera or write some very interesting articles. It’s safe to say that my work experience here was beyond anything I could have ever imagined for myself.
Staff improve on leadership skills
Our staff naturally take our work experience placements under their wing; embedding them into our client teams through meetings, creative sessions and team lunches.
For instance, Ellen-Poppy was placed with Charlie Watson, our PR Account Executive, to work on content creation for our public health accounts, as well as practice interview skills while visiting the Grainger Market for our ongoing work with Newcastle City Council.
Whereas Jacob expressed an interest in graphic design and visual editing. He sat with our PR and Content Manager, Jack Franks, who shared his knowledge of Premiere Pro and other video editing software with Jacob throughout the week.
Strengthening our industry
We firmly believe that offering work experience opportunities to students and school leavers not only benefits our company across the board but also promotes the whole industry we operate.
At Generator Studios, we can offer a glimpse into the nature of working in a dynamic city centre, the thrill of travelling to the city via public transport for the first time, and the variety of work that is typically completed throughout the week.
Offering work experience gives young people the opportunity to have a ‘taster session’ of what goes on within your industry.
I like how at Gardiner Richardson it isn’t just a boring office - it’s more than that - it is a creative workspace. I think working here would be really interesting and something I’d like to do in the future.
Work experience inspires belief
Work experience is a meaningful way for young people to gain insight into the working world.
Time spent with an employer is invaluable and enables young people’s knowledge of industries and sectors to be broadened. Their experience helps inform and shape their career decisions.
Congratulations Ellen-Poppy and Jacob on a great week here at Gardiner Richardson and wishing you the best of luck in the future.
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