Stoke up on young creative talent – call to city employers

From Clarice Cliff to Robbie Williams, Stoke-on-Trent has provided the world with creative talent.

Now Stoke-on-Trent College is challenging local employers to back the city’s up and coming artists, designers and film makers.

Talent on Trent is a new initiative aimed at getting North Staffordshire businesses to think about employing a creative apprentice.

More than 50 creative businesses and charities are expected to attend a Talent on Trent event at the Mitchell Arts Centre on Friday, 10 February.

The audience will hear employers, including Mike Keane, General Manager of Stoke-on-Trent Theatres, speak on the benefits of employing creative apprentices.

Talent on Trent is a joint initiative between Stoke-on-Trent College and West Midlands based arts organisation Creative Alliance.

Charles Bartholomew, Assistant Director of Media and Performing Arts said: “Stoke-on-Trent College runs apprenticeships across a wide range of creative work areas such as performing arts, web design or photography.

“Employing an apprentice has many advantages. Research shows that customers are more likely to choose a company which has the foresight to employ apprentices and that apprentices are likely to give years of loyal service to the company which gave them a chance.

“Companies also benefit from an injection of new ideas and enthusiasm from their new apprentices.”

Talent on Trent will be held over lunch on 10 February, running from 12.30pm to 2pm. The date coincides with National Apprenticeship Week which has been set up to showcase the benefits to employers of taking on an apprentice. 

It offers an opportunity to find out how the creative apprenticeship scheme can meet the entry level employment needs of companies and organisations in the public and voluntary sectors.

Noel Dunne, Director at Creative Alliance, said: “This briefing lunch is an opportunity to find out more, ask some questions and explore any myths employees may have heard about the creative apprenticeships programme.''