That M&C Saatchi is held in high regard by the next generation of ad people seems to have been proven. M&C Saatchi Group has received more than 1,300 sign-ups for M&C Saatchi Open House, a new free eight-week virtual training programme open to anyone who wants to learn more about a career in advertising.
Since launching the initiative on July 29, the agency has been inundated with applications from a diverse range of people from all over the world, with ages ranging from under 18 to over 55. Applicants represent a range of ethnicities with a variety of levels of previous work experience and an array of reasons for applying.
The primary goal of the initiative is to remove barriers for people who want to break into the advertising or communications industry but have not had the support or access to do so. The programme is also an opportunity to reach those who have never considered a career in advertising, acknowledging that the industry hasn’t done enough to raise awareness and get ‘on their radar’. M&C Saatchi wants to encourage participation from these groups and make it clear that advertising is truly a career option for them.
M&C Saatchi Open House is a series of eight specially created, weekly virtual seminars, each hosted by a different M&C Saatchi expert, including chief creative officer, Camilla Kemp, and chief creative officer, Ben Golik. They share their knowledge on topics such as How to interpret and write a creative brief, How to craft amazing ideas that transform brands, How to bring ideas to life across multiple channels, How to engage meaningfully with customers using data and How to master the art of the pitch.
The programme begins on Wednesday, September 2 and offers an opportunity to be shortlisted for a future role with the agency as well as equipping participants with an in-depth understanding of the industry and a certificate of participation that they can take with them into future applications or career choices.
To announce the launch, M&C Saatchi developed a campaign which highlights the fact that the programme really is open to anyone and everyone, aiming to truly level the playing field. The push targets specific audiences such as people returning to work after a career break, those that have lost their jobs due to Covid-19, students looking for their first job, and individuals looking for more flexible working conditions – for example, those living outside of London or looking for shorter working weeks. The campaign is running across social channels using the hashtag, #opentowork, as well as on recruitment sites and online platforms reaching a broad and diverse audience, with a focus on groups who are currently underrepresented in advertising.
Camilla Kemp, chief executive officer, M&C Saatchi, stated, “We’re absolutely thrilled with the response we’ve had to M&C Saatchi Open House. Not only have we had a huge volume of registrations, but we’ve also been heartened to see such a diverse range of people signing up, with many different reasons for applying. We set out to create a programme which would be accessible to absolutely anyone, so it’s fantastic that so many people, from such a variety of backgrounds, have been inspired to get involved. It’s clear that there is a real need for initiatives like this, particularly in our post-lockdown world where many are looking for work. We really hope we can help to bring a whole new raft of talent into our industry.”
https://youtu.be/CdQHywxLBok
Credits:
Chief Creative Officer: Ben Golik
Creative Team: Camila Gurgel & Ieva Paulina
Senior Designer: Alan Clarkson
Designer: Eliot Pavesi
Agency Lead: Camilla Kemp
Technical Director: Niall Wilson
Talent Manager: Zoe Miller
Account Team: Paddy Cavanagh & Ciara Jenkins
