The opportunity to enter a creative career is at risk, what can the marketing industry do to help?

In the UK, we face a real challenge with the threat of creative subjects being removed from the curriculum. In June, the Design Council and Design & Technology Association found that pupils taking Design and Technology (D&T) at GCSE level have fallen 68% in the past decade and there has been a sharp downturn in the number of teachers available to teach creative subjects. This, combined with the rising costs of living and education, means that the opportunity to enter a creative career is at risk.

Adrian Taylor, SVP, Executive Creative Director from our London office shares what we can do to help those wanting to enter a creative career, and how his passion for getting people into the industry from all walks of life turned into a two-week immersive journey:

“At Jack Morton, we passionately believe in what we do and want to foster careers in this field. We know that in order to evolve, grow, and stay at the top of our game, we need to actively cultivate our own talent.

So, let’s remove the barrier for entry and welcome all to apply.

In marketing, experiential, is an ideal sector to apply this mantra to. It attracts a diverse array of creative individuals and is a melting pot of fascinating people from all backgrounds (design, film, writing) who have either by choice or chance found themselves working in this exciting, highly creative industry. We cherish this diversity and actively seek to nurture and grow it with fresh, unique talent.

Recently, we decided to change things up and double down on our commitment to DEI by creating an open call for fresh talent named Open House. Candidates participated in an intense two-week brand experience immersion. Most importantly, applicants require no experience or formal qualifications.

Open House was a paid, curated ten days of rich, immersive content covering everything from creative strategy, creative technology, storytelling, and design to content creation. Candidates also worked on two live projects, a global summer activation, and a brand installation for a watch brand, to gain real industry experience .”

“Open House has been exceptional for attracting diverse candidates, and we hope the enriching two-week experience has inspired the talented individuals to pursue a career in the industry,” says Fiona Lawlor, SVP, Human Resources Director, EMEA. “We are always looking to develop new people and recruitment strategies to proactively align with the ever-changing talent acquisition landscape, and to support those looking to enter an experiential marketing career. With such a successful first Open House, we are looking to deliver this again in 2025.”

Focusing our energy on connecting with a wide audience of prospects who might not otherwise have the opportunity to explore what our industry has to offer is imperative.