The Door To Knock: Our Work Experience

Shaping Young Minds

Bridging the gap between education and work is pivotal, especially within the creative sector.

People will say it’s not who you know but who knows you blah blah…  Yes, making connections is necessary in this industry, but nothing can beat hands on experience and on-the-job knowledge.

Collaborate will always create the door to knock on when it comes to opening up opportunities for young creatives.  We connect the next generation of talent with real- world experiences, paving the way for a new wave of creativity and innovation in the event industry.  The difference between hoping for change and taking action, is in the ’doing’ therefore it is up to an agency such as Collaborate to offer the door. It is down to the individual to come and take it off its hinges.

Chichester is packed full of students yet isn’t known for being a creative city and it is the responsibility of an agency to extend their arm out and into their community. There’s lot to get our teeth sunk into in Chichester, but being so close to London, it seems Chichester outsources creatives from other cities.

Creating unforgettable experiences, encouraging unique & innovative ideas, and doing cool shit with cool people, isn’t only for our clients. This ethos exists throughout the company, allowing each individual to reach their full potential, and expanding our culture throughout the city of Chichester allows students to become aware of the various opportunities within the creative industry.

Engaging with secondary school students sparks their interest by providing immersive experiences that offer perspective on different career options available to them. At the college level, building strong relationships and providing guidance helps shape career paths, providing tangible experienece on top of knowledge they have gained. Finally, at the university level, offering tangible employment opportunities, enhancing the skills they have learned and giving them the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions about their future careers will only end up benefiting both the individual and the employer who has put in the work leading up to that point.

Young minds are shaped by the environment around them. Collaborate has created an inclusive and supportive culture for those wanting to learn. Here has how that has manifested itself within the last 12 months.

Issy (college):

A four day experience on site at Festival of Speed that culminated in full time employment at Collaborate.

Joe (school):

A week’s work experience at only 15 years old. Joe spent time working on a campaign around e-gaming and saw his ideas go into a real pitch.

Kieren (university):

Joining us for an overseas project, Kieren spent a week on site with our project delivery team and took away real world experience on an international level.

Luke (school):

Luke spent a week with us and in that time went on to help Collaborate at the Jamesons 5-a-side tournement (we may have come dead last, but we don’t hold Luke accountable)

The value of this approach is evident in stories like Issy’s, who, through her time with us, discovered a clear path from her studies to a fulfilling career. Starting with a passion for media but uncertainty about her next steps, Issy was able to immerse herself in the diverse activities at Collaborate, from marketing to production, gaining invaluable experience along the way. The skills and confidence she developed here not only prepared her for the challenges of the professional world but also helped her realise her potential in ways that traditional education alone might not have.

This is why we do what we do—because we believe that real-world experience is essential in helping people find their path, grow their capabilities, and achieve their goals and above all that, because we should.

Louise Boothroyd – Collaborate Global