Issue 8 2021

Jun21410 Issue 8 2021 13 Best Independent Social Enterprise Training Provider – Birmingham Creative Alliance is a specialist training provider for creative, digital and marketing roles, providing training opportunities through careers education, apprenticeships and digital training programmes. It develops and delivers work-based learning with employers across the creative industries and beyond. Creative Alliance is recognised as a specialist independent training provider for creative, digital and marketing roles by Ofsted, who graded its provision ‘Good’ with some excellent elements in its most recent inspection in 2019. To support this, 95% of its apprentices who undertake End Point Assessment pass first time, with 35% of those achieving Distinction, and the 5% who failed first time all passing on resit. Destination data from over the last eight years has shown than 80-85% of apprentices who passed are in sustainable employment six months after their completion, with 10-15% progressing onto Higher Education. The training provider also provides a comprehensive recruitment service which includes advice and guidance to young people in order to match the right person with the right employer. Thousands of people have successfully started their careers with Creative Alliance as advertising and marketing assistants; administrators; copywriters; digital content producers; event assistants; graphic designers; lighting, sound and stage technicians; production assistants; video producers; and web developers. The reason behind Creative Alliance’s success? Its training programmes are designed with employers. For example, the Broadcast Production Assistant apprenticeship was produced with Deborah Aston who last year worked with Sir Steve McQueen on Small Axe alongside employers such as Daniel Alexander Films, Second Home Studios and Wellington Films. Also, its training plans are designed so that employers input at every stage in order to ensure that each plan is individually tailored to each apprentice in their workplace and to the standards and within the expectations and culture of their employer. Additionally, it provides a full wrap around programme of support to both employer and learner from beginning to end of the course. Speaking about her experience of taking on an apprentice through Creative Alliance, Tracey Bruch from AE Aerospace said, “We have recently taken on an apprentice through Creative Alliance and they gave a first class service. Everything was presented to us in a timely manner and we were given a great account of each individual and why they thought they would fit with us. The whole recruitment process was quick and easy. There was also no unnecessary contact – such a blessing when you are busy people! Recommend using Creative Alliance for a professional service.” Looking ahead, Creative Alliance is aiming to expand its apprenticeship provision across the country and to support people on Kickstart placements onto apprenticeships. It is also launching two additional training programmes, Headspace and Digital Skills for Business. Headspace will provide training, mentoring, showcasing and networking opportunities for 40 young freelance creatives (designers, marketers, filmmakers, photographers, game developers, musicians, actors, dancers) who are aged 18-29. The intention is to get them and their work in front of industry people who commission, contract and employ freelance creative talent. Meanwhile, Digital Skills for Business consists of four courses which will provide the knowledge and skills needed to create copy, designs and content for websites, social media and print materials. These courses are Digital Marketing for Business, Digital Content Creation for Business, Introduction to Digital Design for Business, and Coding and Digital Systems for Business. The longer term vision (2021-2024) for Creative Alliance is to be the leading provider of work-based learning for the creative and cultural industries in England. It is aiming to increase the number of people from the most deprived areas of the country who gain employment within this sector. This means it will have a national impact and make a difference through providing alternative routes into sustainable employment in the creative and cultural industries; providing opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds, experiences and abilities to access careers; and creating bridges into work for talent furthest from opportunities and with the most barriers to overcome. It will do this through listening and responding to industry professionals and helping talent fit the workplace; providing thought leadership on work-based learning; and the quality of its teaching, learning and assessment which is recognised as being at the forefront of innovation, assistive technology and adapted to meet the needs of each learner. Company: Creative Alliance Contact: Noel Dunne Email: [email protected] Website: www.creativealliance.org.uk