Enterprise Skills & Creative Work Programme launches in Hackney

Its Like This design studio, in partnership with the Arcola Theatre, is launching Phase II of an exciting new enterprise programme, YourFuture. It matches talented, creative young people with businesses needing their skills. The job seekers get commercial experience, skills training and pathways into full-time or longer-term employment.

50 young people will take part in a dynamic week of enterprise training sessions, be matched with a mentor from industry and will work on briefs for 25 growing local organisations, helping to deliver high-quality products and services across the areas of graphic design, photography, animation, fine art and advertising. The candidate pool will include exciting and emerging creatives in the local area, looking for opportunities to help them launch their careers.

The project will help support a fertile local business market whilst driving down youth unemployment by developing their employability skills and signposting them to work. Jonny Weston, Creative Director of Its Like This and Project Leader, says: In order to gain work and thrive in business, creative young people need 3 things: relevant skills training, real contacts and mentoring. This project delivers all three simultanousely, again demonstrating that Hackney is leading the way in employability efforts, especially in the creative sectors.

For young people interested in taking part visit: www.arcolatheatre.com/your-future/for- candidates/