Vicky Janaway joined a panel along with the wonderful people at Smarts (MSQ’s PR agency), at the latest in Creative Access’ series of inspirational masterclasses. During the event, there were lots of great questions about careers and in particular, career moves.  From how to move to agency-side from client-side, or vice versa, as well as how to freelance, or, perhaps, understandably, what it takes to be successful.  As Janaway offered advice at the event about career decision making and reflected on how important these choices can feel with each step, she wondered about how we can truly own our non-linear career stories and a source of career inspiration came to mind.

Read the article in full here.

Our newest series, Creative Industry Trailblazers, highlights some of the best and brightest working across the creative industries – in TV, film, music, marketing, theatre, journalism, design and beyond. At Creative Access we support individuals at all stages of their career cycle. And we’re excited for you to read about the experiences and lessons from our impressive mid-senior CA community. 

Who better to start with than a former CA intern and current member of our Steering Group, Arshdeep Kaur? Arshdeep kicked off her career via Creative Access as a talent assistant intern at TV production company Arrow International Media and CPL Productions in 2016 and now works as a product lead at Sky. 

I project managed the creation of an internal employee website from scratch for a campaign I was working on and loved it! I realised there was a whole career path within product and technology doing these kinds of roles. I started to book in chats with product owners, heads of departments and directors at Sky to get advice and slowly transitioned over to product and tech. 

Stakeholder management – being a people person is so crucial in a role where you rely on relationships to help get things done. 

I constantly had imposter syndrome. Sometimes women feel the need to fulfil 100% of a job description prior to applying, but the best advice I received was: “When entering a new role, you should actually feel incompetent. Once you feel competent it’s time to move on to your next role or challenge!” 

Building an automated, international volunteering portal for our employees from scratch. There are so many moving parts to a project like this, it’s a challenge of many competencies, namely project management.  

It’s constantly challenging, but just as equally rewarding. You also get to work with super smart people who you learn something new from every day.  

Get networking and book in a coffee with a colleague or friend who works in product or technology! 

All the female leaders I’ve worked with or have been kind enough to mentor me. Many didn’t actually come from science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) backgrounds, so they gave me confidence that I could succeed in this area without a technical background or qualification.  

If you’re interested in switching career industries like Arshdeep did, check out our top tips on how to do so here. 

In partnership with BBC and Radiocentre, we hosted this month’s masterclass in BBC’s historic radio theatre – home to some of the most iconic broadcasts of the last 90 years. Rooted in its rich creative history, we welcomed the next generation of talent from our community in the creative industries to gain wisdom from radio broadcast professionals at the top of the game. The panellists took a deep dive into what it takes to ‘make it’ in radio, the various routes in, plus career lows and highs so far. Our chair was the famous Radio 1 DJ Melvin Odoom, he instantly set the tone for great informal discussion and humour, as he opened with: “You lot must really love radio because it’s blazing outside!”.  

Panellists included: Melvin Odoom (chair & radio DJ / presenter, BBC Radio 1), Creative Access alum Naomi Julien (social media assistant, Kiss FM), Faron McKenzie (head of station, BBC Radio 1Xtra), Shivani Sharma (producer, LBC Radio), Robbie Wojciechowski (assistant producer, BBC audio science).  

Career lessons learnt 

You don’t get into these roles or reach the heights our panellists have without learning a lot along the way. For 1Xtra exec Faron McKenzie, resilience is key: “You get confronted with things to see if you can really push through and to push through those blocks is real passion.” This sentiment was shared by Kiss FM’s Naomi Julien and LBC’s Shivani Sharma who both discussed the ways their flexibility and open-mindedness has been rewarded at work. Naomi said problem-solving and being flexible was integral to working in social media, where things can abruptly change and she has to adapt quickly.  

LBC’s Shivani told the audience that trying things outside of her first passion – journalism- led her to production and she encouraged the audience to be open to new opportunities. BBC Audio Science’s Robbie, reflected on his younger days spent in a youth club in Brixton, where he discovered a space that was incredibly creative, and emphasised being around people that enhance your passions. Melvin’s story was a lesson of perseverance, as he started at the BBC as an assistant with Rickie Haywood-Williams but wanted to be on air: “No one wanted to hear our voices”. After not giving up and winning a competition to be a radio presenter, he got signed with Kiss and the rest is history.  

Setbacks 

Careers have gone in unplanned directions, there’ve been setbacks, and there’s also a lot of ‘stuff’ that comes with being human in a fast-paced, creative industry like radio broadcasting.  

For Faron, music was the passion that brought him here, and by no means was a job like this going to fall in his lap. He described his early experiences; humble beginnings that included washing pots in a BBC building in Birmingham, listening to pirate radio, – and his innate curiosity for music, having grown up attending church with his gran and reading the inlays of CDs and records. Faron conveyed that the reality that these challenges were also experiences that contributed to his success. 

Shivani spoke about the challenges of not getting the job she wanted and being turned down for the BBC journalism trainee scheme as a graduate. She gave the comforting advice: “Don’t trust anyone who just lands their dream job straight away”. LBC wasn’t part of her plan, but it ended up being the right place for her. Naomi similarly explored various career paths, originally wanting to be an audio producer. It was in the middle of a job interview that she realised she wanted to create content. 

Being a neurodivergent radio producer 

Robbie spoke of his challenges in radio through the lens of neurodivergence, and this was really helpful insight that we want to avoid paraphrasing, so here it is: “I have autism and ADHD, and every day there’s a curveball. Learning to be confident in who you are and speaking up for yourself has taken me years and there’s been tricky moments, lots of bosses that didn’t understand me. I changed jobs ten times [Robbie was an ex-journalist at NME]. Learn where your heads at, and speak your mind and your truth. The BBC is uncomfortable to work sometimes, with the structure and the hierarchy, but peer networks and support can help along with being confident. It’s not linear.” 

One piece of advice for their younger selves 

Faron: Just keep going! Blend resilience with creativity. Don’t leave your identity at the door because being unique is how you generate amazing content.. 

Naomi: Throw yourself into it, no matter what. Get involved and speak to everyone. 

Shivani: Keep a record of everything you’re doing, any experience, any freelance work. You don’t realise you’re getting so much experience. You can then make a diary or a showreel. 

Melvin: Sometimes you’ll fly and sometimes no one cares about the short black guy from Radio 1. Manage your brand. So, change your mindset on networking. Don’t see it as a fail if you didn’t tick a box and talk to someone. You leave an impression when you are yourself. 

Robbie: Document the culture around you. Archive what you’re involved in. Having questions and working them out with your friends is best, you don’t need an expert guest! 

Getting into radio – “just do it” 

If you’re wondering how to get your foot in the door, Faron says it’s simple: “you’ve got the tool in your pocket to create content”. All the panellists agreed that with a smart phone and some friends wanting to tackle a question or a topic, you can create your own content. They advised keeping your LinkedIn fresh e.g. fill it up with recent recommendation from people you’ve worked with, build your brand on social media, and be analytical about what you like about others’ content so you can apply it to your own. Teaching yourself the technical parts (YouTube is your best friend here) and learning how to become a good listener will also set you apart. Melvin advised bringing authenticity and purpose to it: “Radio is such an intimate form, if you are faking it, they will know. You can hear people smile on the radio! My rule is it doesn’t have to be right, it just has to be funny. I’m gonna have a beginning, middle and end.” 

Best and worst days: the radio version 

The panellists were intimate and honest with this audience question. There have been many challenges for these professionals and most had met problems that they couldn’t solve from answers in a book. For Melvin, it was the day of George Floyd’s death. He is someone whose purpose is rooted in making people laugh and he said ever so sensitively: “It’s my job to talk, and I didn’t know what to say”, but he still went live. For Robbie, he talked candidly about experiencing a panic attack at work whilst with a guest on the podcast, and how he navigated that as a producer. 

Melvin summed up the best of that radio can bring when he said, “There are no normal days in this industry, I could be buying antiques with Gemma Collins one day or covered in custard at the CBBC the next.” 

It was a wonderful evening and we want to thank everyone involved. Melvin also wanted it to be said that to all the people who are the future of radio in the Creative Access: “When you’re a boss in a radio, please employ me!” 

Listen to the recording:

Media consultant, trainee plumber and Creative Access mentor, Rebecca Fenton gives us the lowdown on how both mentees and mentors can get the most out of a mentoring partnership…  

I am a senior media professional with wide-ranging content development experience in marketing, project management and executive production spanning the worlds of audio, digital, tech (Amazon: Audible), TV (All3Media: Lime Pictures) and publishing (Worldreader). 

– Be as honest and open as you feel comfortable being 

As a mentee, sharing insights into your career, personality type, professional and personal ambitions and even factors like your wage bracket and age can be helpful for a mentor to best guide you and  share relevant anecdotes and experience. Openness in a safe environment such as mentoring with a Creative Access appointed contact can also engender a mutual trust that can be nurtured throughout the sessions and potentially beyond. 
 

– Ask for what you want (respectfully) 

If you have specific aims, ambitions or questions for your mentor – or if you are looking for specific introductions or advice in any given sector – be clear in terms of what you would ideally like to get out of the working relationship. Work with your mentor to map out steps towards your goals and requests. A mentor may not always be able to provide everything a mentee asks for, though the adage is true: ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’. You may be surprised where your focus and assertiveness takes you. 

– Be on time!  

It may sound obvious but remember that your mentor is a busy person too and is giving their time and expertise for free. Strive to show mutual respect by logging on or showing up on time or a few minutes early, so that your mentor isn’t kept waiting and doesn’t have to chase things up. Travel delays inevitably occasionally happen, though overall, punctuality goes a long way – both in your working relationship with your mentor and beyond in your wider professional life. It is also a plus if you take the initiative to schedule any Zoom meetings or meeting places where possible. Many mentors may be time-poor and will appreciate it, so by doing this you can get stuck straight into your sessions and make the most out of them. 

I find mentoring most rewarding when I see growth in confidence, understanding and professional opportunities in the mentees that I work with. I come from a modest background with no family members or contacts who worked in media; I could not afford to complete unpaid internships and was not coached educationally in public speaking or self-promotion, so I had to work my way up and work out many things for myself. Thankfully I have garnered support and tips from official and unofficial mentors, bosses and colleagues along the way.  

I personally found the transition from middle to senior management one of the trickiest to understand and navigate. By working with mentees who are looking to make this same move and sharing my experiences (including the peaks and pitfalls) with them, I can ensure that they are best informed at this pivotal professional juncture. 
 

My first mentee came to me with a list of professional and life aims and goals that she was aiming for and by the end of our 6 months, she had achieved all of them! This is hugely due to her capabilities and expertise, though I was pleased to work with her in approaching these goals in a calm, organised and strategic manner to help her manage stress and prioritisation at a time that was a real state of flux for her on both the work and home front. She recently shared with me that almost a year after our mentoring relationship, she now considers me a friend, which I take as the highest compliment.  

I have had a few mentors over the years and have learned that some mentor/mentee relationships tend to find you if they are meant to, alongside official mentoring programmes and schemes. The mentors that I had around the time that I was mid-senior level in my career reminded me to slow down, not to be too hard on myself, to not be too impatient or presumptive, to consider my options and to focus on the important things. And without fail, all of them always emphasised that no job or career move is worth sacrificing your health or mental health over – something that many mid-level candidates may be in danger of doing in order to feel that they must prove themselves.  

I am pleased to be part of Creative Access’ mentoring program to emphasise to my mentees that there is another way – that life and /work balance is possible and should even be aimed for as a core career goal. 

Feeling inspired to help someone accelerate their career? Sign up to become a Creative Access mentor here.

Looking for a mentor? If you’re not already signed up with us, do so here. Creative Access runs several opportunities for mentor matching across the year, so keep an eye on our opportunities board as well as on our socials for upcoming mentorship programmes…  

Bhavini Goyate, Creative Access programmes manager (alumni), featured on CH Video’s ‘A Really Useful Podcast #1  |  How do I get into the TV/Film/Video production business?’ detailing our services to school/college or university leavers.

You can listen to full episode here.

Research findings within Creative Access’ Disability Report 2022 were quoted in Campaign’s article covering Clear Channel, Heineken and Arla’s adaptation of OOH ads for neurodiversity drive.

Clear Channel UK has joined forces with Heineken, Arla, Keep Britain Tidy and LeoReader for the launch of “Different minds, better outcomes” – a campaign devised to make ads more neurodivergent-friendly.

Read the article in full here.

Lauren Brown in The Bookseller has reported on the return of the David Miller Internship for the second year in partnership with Deborah Rogers Foundation (DRF) and Creative Access. The programme offers two internships in an effort to create publishing industry entry pathways for people in underrepresented groups. 

The internships will provide an entry-level introduction to rights and agenting in publishing companies and literary agencies, providing a full understanding of the role of rights professionals within the wider industry. Companies committed to the programme and which will provide placements include Penguin Random House, Faber, Profile Books, David Higham, Greyhound Literary, ILA, PEW Literary and Eccles Fisher.

Read more about the programme here.

Find out more about the roles and apply here.

This week’s masterclass saw our community welcomed into Smarts’ Agency offices in Covent Garden to hear from an expert panel about the various different roles that make up the PR & communications industry. Our community got to put their questions to PR leaders, influencer specialists and marketing professionals and network with said experts and their peers!  

Award-winning PR agency Smarts is shines in traditional PR, as well as modern practices from influencer management to content marketing, helping brands such as Diageo, Zalando and Booking.com to be culturally relevant. Smarts is one of PR Week’s fastest growing agencies and were named PR Week’s One to Watch for 2023.  

Chaired by European CEO, Greg Jones – who has 26 years’ experience in the industry – the panel included Yen Bui, part-time influencer manager at Smarts and part-time freelancer; Vicky Janway, chief client officer at The Gate London (part of Smarts); Nneoma Ulu, a communications director at Smarts with over 12 years’ experience in brand communications; and Rachel Watt, a communications director at Smarts who works exclusively on the Johnnie Walker whisky global account. 

One thing our panel were keen to emphasise was the fast-paced nature of PR, talking of everyday campaign and project multitasking. Vicky said: “The fast-paced nature of it is so energising when you’re in the thick of it. If you enjoy flitting between projects, then this is your industry”. This can be ideal for anyone who has lots of different interests, Nneoma added the main reason she loves working in comms is because “no two days are the same and there’s not many industries where you can be constantly curious, learning and excited about what you do”.  

While the excitement of working in a fast-paced environment and meeting all kinds of people may sell the industry to you, all of our panellists kept coming back to the one core skill: creativity! When explaining why she is so energised by the industry she works in, Vicky said, “When you get a brief from a client to do something, you’re essentially starting with a blank piece of paper, and you get to manifest what that turns into, for example, when it gets put in the news. The product we sell clients is creativity.” While Rachel wanted to let the audience know that “there’s a tendency to worry when you’re starting out that your ideas are silly, but you should expand your ideas as much as possible by looking at industry news and going to exhibitions.” 

Nneoma implored the audience to make the most of their transferable skills – creativity and inspiration being one of them. “Being proactive, being open to experiences, how you view the world: everything is transferable. Probably more than any other industry, people want to know what you’re interested in more than anything.” She reassured the audience that while it’s good to have communication skills – they can also be taught; what’s really important is having a passion and letting it shine through.  

Vicky built on this and advised the Creative Access community that as passion can be an overused word, think about it through the framework of curiosity. “What do you gravitate towards that gives you creative inspiration?”, she continued that it’s important in interviews to frame the word passion with an explanation of what it is about PR and comms that makes you passionate. Ultimately, use your interests and sell them as part of your value. Nneoma added: “If you have a real interest and have done a bit of work experience, or have started a blog, or started your own TikTok channel, all those things show your value!” 

Yen and Rachel both agreed that confidence helps. However, Rachel emphasised that confidence doesn’t mean you “have to be the loudest person in the room” telling the audience that “some of the best people I’ve worked with in PR are the hidden gems”. But one thing our panellists did vouch for was that when working in PR you have to be a ‘doer’. Yen explained: “It might sound obvious but need a good work ethic when you work in influencer marketing, you have to be proactive”.  

Because comms is a fast-paced and deadline-driven industry, our panel emphasised the importance of having open communication with your line managers and teams to ensure you receive the support you need. “You’re ultimately all part of a team”, said Greg. While Nneoma explained that no one you work with wants to see you struggle. “Ask your manager to help you with your to do list, ask them to help you to prioritise and what can be pushed back. Be open and solutions-focused,” she told the audience. All of our panellists explained that as an industry, PR and communications is full of supportive and enthusiastic people who want to see you thrive and develop.  

Yen reminded the audience to set boundaries and when you are feeling stressed, and that you have to remember, “this is just your job”. She explained her unique position as a freelancer allows her the privilege to turn down projects that she doesn’t stand behind. However, speaking from a permanent employee’s point of view, Greg stated that in 26 years he’s never worked on a project which was completely at odds with his morals – because he has always worked at agencies which share his values. He advised anyone searching for a comms role to do online research and drill in to questions about how the business selects which clients it works with in interviews.  

Finally, Rachel left the audience with some parting advice for what she’d tell her younger self: “develop your skills in the workplace, you don’t have to know exactly what you want to do when you’re first starting out”. She explained: “I now have more to bring to the table than I did when I first started out, so if I wanted to go into a different space or a career, I have more to offer. Get your foot in the door, start out where you can, and later down the line you’ll work out what you’re good at.” 

This masterclass was extra special as we also announced two brand new internships with Smarts! Check them out here and don’t miss the chance to join one of the most exciting agencies in London.  

Weber Shandwick UK has joined forces with social enterprise Creative Access to create Launchpad, a programme that aims to enable individuals from under-represented communities to enter the comms industry, Elizabeth Wiredu writes in PR Week.

It forms a key partnership and emphasizes the talent strategy to intentionally drive the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion action plan at the grassroots level. Weber Shandwick and Creative Access will work together to provide those on the programme with unique opportunities to gain practical knowledge in areas such as public relations, marketing, social media, or corporate communications and build industry connections.

This partnership will include a three-month paid summer internship at Weber Shandwick UK from July -September 2023, providing individuals with hands-on experience, exposure to real-world projects, and access to mentors from the creative industries. Creative Access is managing the recruitment process and will provide career support for those on the programme, including an induction to working in the creative industries, a “buddy” from the CA community, access to monthly masterclasses and the wider CA community, training and ongoing pastoral care.

Read the article in full here.

There was a huge turnout from the Creative Access community last night who ventured through the hard rain to Shoreditch’s Oliver’s Yard to hear their questions answered by a panel of publishing industry professionals. And who better to shed light on the sector for our budding individuals than a panel of experts from across Sage Publications in part made up of Creative Access alumni? As an independent academic publisher that Creative Access has worked with to widen diversity for many years, their mission to ‘build bridges to knowledge’ is an inspiring one.  

The panellists held a variety of roles; CA alumni Machoechoe Oteng – associate editor (journals editorial), Sehar Nizami – marketing communications manager, David Lin – associate product manager, and the chair of the evening, Kiren Shoman – senior vice president. The audience deserve a nod too, for having brought with them questions that covered decolonisation, career daydreaming and the rise of de-emphasising academia. Read on for the evening’s highlights and wisdom… 

Why publishing? 

Around 29,000 people are currently employed in publishing and 70,000 people within the (growing) sector. Research shows that TV and films that have been adapted from books are significantly more successful and popular than original screenplays. When senior vice president Kiren Shoman reads out these statistics, it reinforces that publishing in all its forms is important! 

The humble beginning of Sage is worth a read and explains its specific commitment to social science research. ‘Most people see trade publishing as the sexy place to go to, we want to change your mind about that!’ said Shoman who detailed the specifics of what academic publishing covers: books, journals, and library resources. She also emphasised the different jobs in publishing that one can have at Sage; agenting, audio, digital development, marketing, sales, the list goes on. Panellist and associate product manager, David Lin, proved to be great insight into the modern roles within publishing as he discussed his work in developing the vision of the company, product strategy and how they’re using augmented reality -in-training.  

The major takeaway? Set your sights wide in the sector and keep an eye out for a number of (TBA) internships launching at Sage via Creative Access in various departments this summer. Sign up to our opportunities board if you haven’t already! 

Breaking barriers and big breaks 

‘I broke the door down’ said marketing communications manager Sehar Nizami, referencing her fierce determination to get into publishing – which is sometimes thought to be a competitive and exclusive club. Conversation surrounding access dominated a big portion of the evening and the panellists had great insight. Nizami prefaced her story with ‘please don’t do this’ but told the audience she had called every publishing house and pleaded for any kind of experience, until eventually ‘someone got so tired of my voice they put me through to HR’. She graciously said how thankful she was to CA for the internship that followed later in her career, as was fellow alumni Machoechoe Oteng, associate editor at Sage. For Oteng, her career journey ‘was not a narrow path’ and as a history and philosophy graduate, she had no background in publishing, but applied for a role in the production technology development straight out of university and via a CA internship has worked her way to associate editor.  

How to sell your experience 

How can I fit half a lifetime of work onto a one-page CV? How can I show that raising children is invaluable experience? Is my role as a bookseller for a large retailer enough for an entry-level role? Do I have to be ‘young’ to be an intern?  

These were all excellent questions from the audience and we learnt that according to Shoman and those at Sage: ‘it’s what you can be, not what you’ve proven to be’, so you don’t need all the experience when applying, instead focus on your potential. A lot of publishers don’t require a degree for an entry-level role, they want your appetite and passion. In response to the question of retail experience in bookselling, Shoman advised highlighting the transferrable skills that a role gives an individual and how it would translate to a sales position at a publisher, ‘there’s no reason you shouldn’t apply if you can demonstrate an interest and how that interest translates to skills.’ 

In response to the question of raising children, the answer was helpful for everyone in the room. Shoman answered that when you have a variety of professional experiences, which includes raising children, you don’t want to list them all on a CV. You’ve lost your reader if your CV is four pages long. You need to tailor it for the role you’re applying for, so pick specific experiences that demonstrate that the relevant value and skills you bring. Nizami suggested keeping it brief with bullet points and bringing in the ‘human’ element to your application in the cover letter i.e. ‘I would also bring being a parent into this role in X ways’. 

As for being a certain age and applying for internships, Shoman said that if you’re comfortable applying for an entry-level role then do so, and fight back ageism wherever you see it. 

Top tips 

Hot off a promotion, Lin was passionate about the ‘growth mindset’ and how a student-like curiosity and pursuit of continual growth can project your career further and help avoid staying stagnant. He suggested weekly meetings with your manager to discuss your strengths and areas for development. Nizami echoed this with the advice to get involved in as many activities and projects as possible: ‘Be empowered to submit your interests and if something isn’t already set up, set it up yourself’. Oteng advised shadowing people in other departments and emphasising your passion. She herself didn’t meet all the requirements for her role but she showed her passion and why they needed her. Shoman stressed the importance of researching the company you’ve applied to and that in your cover letter it will matter if you’ve clearly spent time getting to know them.  

There were many more questions and interesting discussions, which you can catch up on by watching the footage of the evening which we’ll release soon! 

A big thank you to our panellists, our community and to Sage Publications for opening up your offices, wisdom and SMEG fridge of drinks and snacks to us all. See you at the next one! 

Watch the masterclass here:

Bibi Hilton, CEO of Creative Access featured on PRmoment Podcast, an insiders view of the structure, skill set and role of a modern in-house communications team.

Click here to listen to the full episode and hear from Bibi all the details of Creative Access’ mission, what creative employers who don’t have a diverse range of employees get wrong, and how individuals can access our support.

Since its inception, Hachette UK has partnered with Creative Access to improve access to the publishing industry for those typically under-represented in the sector.

Creative Access has supported Hachette to revise their hiring approach, review job descriptions and develop Positive Action programmes. We have also supported interns to make the move into permanent roles. Together we’ve delivered virtual and in-person masterclasses to educate potential employees about the breadth of roles within the publishing industry. 

Creative Access has a whole-hearted partnership with Hachette UK, providing a more diverse pipeline of talented individuals into the organisation. We’ve placed over 100 candidates from under-represented communities in paid internships at Hachette UK. The majority of these continue to progress through the organisation.  

Hachette UK is the second largest British publishing group and the market leader in e-books, made up of 10 publishing divisions and over 50 imprints.