THE future stars of the region’s media and digital sector were given a boost at a special event organised by Leeds Media and Social Alchemy.
Full time media, digital and creative students, graduates and freelancers battled it out in a competition to showcase their work at the recent Inspire.Create event, which combined an exhibition of budding creatives’ work with a series of seminars and workshops.
Polly Williams, a graphic design student at Leeds College of Art, won a brand new Apple Mac computer as well ongoing guidance and support from a mentor from Leeds-based communications agency Logistik, for her entry ‘Life’s Not All Lollipops & Candy Canes’.
Also studying graphic design at Leeds College of Art, Sai Praefa’s work won her a paid placement at digital agency Brass.
Polly said: “I feel so lucky to have won such an amazing opportunity, especially in my final year where I will really value all the advice I can get to help me with the transition from student to professional. As well as the incredible prizes, I think the competition and event were a fantastic opportunity for students from all over Leeds to network with professionals and each other.”
Sharon Ward, corporate responsibility manager at Logistik, said: “We wanted to get involved with Inspire.Create as part of our drive to broaden our work with educational establishments.
“Our head office is based in Leeds and we therefore want to promote local agencies and the creativity of the region so that we have the best people to recruit.
“We’re looking forward to supporting Polly. We have a large studio and a lot of expertise so we really want her to be able to pick what’s most useful for her.
“The event provided a great opportunity to network with fellow industry creatives and make contact with students with heaps of potential. Overall the event had a great atmosphere and a genuine collaborative agenda.”
Some of the UK’s leading agencies based in the Leeds City region joined forces to support the event and Yorkshire’s rising talent.
Representatives from What !?, Engine Room Apps, Thompson Brand Partners, BrandNu, Clearsilver, Coolpink and Creative England ran workshops and seminars offering advice on CVs and portfolios, career progression, how to become a freelancer and how to set up an agency.
Over 150 students, graduates and freelancers attended last week’s event to seek advice from the creative agencies present. Over 90 professionals from various companies in Leeds came to view the creative work on display and discuss employment opportunities with the young creative talent in the region.
Nick Ramshaw, Chair of Leeds Media comments: “The event was a resounding success, competition entries poured in and I’d like to congratulate the winners and everyone who submitted their work.
“The event demonstrated the calibre of talent that lies within our region’s creative and digital sector and the commitment that Leeds Media is making to help develop and support the future stars of the industry.”
Michaela Laubscher, Director of Social Alchemy commented: “The event not only gave young creatives the opportunity to show what they have to offer the sector but also provided them with vital information on how to progress their careers.
“Some of the best agencies in the region turned out to support the event to offer practical support to ensure that the Yorkshire’s next generation of talent are able to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead and set them on the road to success.”