主播大秀

The 主播大秀 Make it Digital Traineeship is the largest programme of its kind, involving a partnership between the 主播大秀 Academy, Department for Work and Pensions, Skills Funding Agency, Scottish and Welsh governments and training providers across the UK.

Working closely with Job Centres nationwide the programme helps inspire young people looking for work to get creative with 主播大秀 inspired digital skills , at the same time as boosting general employability skills and self confidence in the work place.

Trainees spend four weeks in training or with one of our training partners getting to grips with how to use social media, producing multimedia content for web sites, search engine optimisation, branding, budgeting, marketing and project management. Then fully-armed with new skills, they head out on a three-week work placement with a local employer before returning for a final week of training.

In the future we’re aiming to reach up to 5,000 young people across the UK, by the end of 2016. Recently, we've seen the 1000th Trainee start on the programme.

We spoke to three talented youngsters who are settling into their new careers after completing the Make it Digital programme.

Back in work after unemployment                                                                                                       

After two years of being unemployed, Sam Wade, 21, from Sunderland discovered that just a couple of weeks in the classroom helped boost his confidence with Maths, English and how to use social media in the work place. In the last week of his traineeship he was offered a full time apprenticeship with VW.

“I’m now a service technician apprentice and I have a mentor who I shadow. We mainly do mini services on cars and I’m still learning the ropes. After the apprenticeship I hope to see how far I can climb up the company,” Sam said.

“It can become very demoralising after applying for many jobs and then getting knocked back, but being back into the world of work is great. All I did was work hard and I got a job out of it. The opportunities are out there, so I recommend anyone to just grab them!” he added.

Catapulted to management

Mercedes Gomez, 22, from Birmingham, says the digital marketing techniques she learnt provided her with a life-changing opportunity.

Mercedes, who is originally from Guatemala and came to the UK three years ago, had worked in a coffee shop and in a junior position at a private medical practice before starting the trainee scheme in summer 2015. During the traineeship, Mercedes got the opportunity to put her new skills into practice during a three-week work placement at the Custard Factory, Birmingham’s creative quarter.

After being hugely impressed by the new skills Mercedes had learnt, her previous employers asked her to return when she completed the traineeship and offered her the job of Practice Manager.

“The 主播大秀 Make It Digital Traineeship really broadened my horizons and made me realise there are so many basic digital skills, such as creating and editing websites and using social media for business, that you can apply and really help you in the workplace.”

“I also learnt a lot of personal skills like how to speak in public, which really helped me feel more confident about my own potential. In my new role I am in charge of bringing new clients to the clinic, so I need to be successful in promoting the business that I work for.”

Gaining the confidence to work in television

Sam Kerr, 22, from Norwich, completed a placement with Apprenticeships Norfolk, based at Norfolk County Council. Sam has now successfully secured a full time apprenticeship with Norwich-based film-makers Wide Angles TV.

“I learned about my own skills, like finding out that I had more confidence than I ever realised, learning how to do presentations professionally and networking. Meeting new people and making new friends has been a massive part of it as well. It’s been really good.”

“If you want to get into the media sector, this traineeship helps you so much with everything. Videos, photography, all of the digital side of it, there is so much to learn. Everything that we've done you wouldn’t think it’s possible to do in eight weeks, but it is, and it’s really fun as well,” she said.

Jessica Cecil is Controller, 主播大秀 Make it Digital

•  for a place on the Make it Digital Scheme via the 主播大秀 Academy
• Discover more about Make it Digital 
•  other posts by Jessica Cecil