Agent Academy CIC, the social enterprise established to equip young people with the skills they need to succeed in the digital revolution, has achieved a major milestone, generating more than £2 million worth of salaries in the North West, through its pioneering, industry-designed skills programme.
Agent Academy provides young people the opportunity to break into the creative tech sector. To date, 70 young people from across the North West have benefited, securing full-time industry jobs as a direct result.
The technology sector has changed drastically and continues to evolve, and traditional education can often struggle to keep up. Many young people are leaving education without the skills to hit the ground running in the digital industry leaving them unemployed or working in low skilled, unsecure jobs.
The 2018 Centre for Cities Cities Outlook Report, states that 3.6 million jobs are at risk of disappearing by 2030 and policymakers should prepare the workforce of the future, by giving younger generations entering the labour market the right set of skills and knowledge to succeed in the jobs of the future.
To address this issue, full-service marketing agency, Agent, launched Agent Academy as a solution to the issues faced by 18-25 year olds who find themselves, post-higher education, without the skills they need to start careers in the creative and digital industries. As a social enterprise, Agent Academy is focused on developing values-led, socially aware young leaders who will go on to make a positive impact in their places of work and in society.
Agent Academy participants have gone on to secure employment at leading businesses across the region including Delloitte, Capital FM, Shop Direct, Sony Music, Sky and Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse.
Zoe Wallace, director of Agent Academy, said: “Agent Academy has stepped up to the talent challenge faced by the creative and digital industry by giving young people the opportunity to upskill and then kick-start their careers. The programme, which is free to young people, must remain dynamic and industry relevant and that’s why we have over 150 industry leaders co-creating the content and mentoring our students.
“Our students are finishing our programmes work-ready, fully versed in how the industry works and what is expected from them, as a result, the demand we have from regional employers is exceptional.
“Our Northern Powerhouse programme, working across Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Regions, promises to be our biggest programme yet.”
During the 12-week programme, students learn, and are inspired by industry leaders, coached by Academy staff, whilst working on a real-life brief set by a client. They leave Agent Academy equipped with the skills, knowledge, contacts and networks to secure jobs in the creative, digital and tech industries.
Zoe added: “We have a lot to look forward to next year. Despite the skills challenges faced by our region’s employers we can see real potential to deliver value into the creative and digital economies across the North and bring even greater opportunities to the region’s young people. We hope to double the £2m worth of salaries created so far in the year to come – we have big ambitions for growth and an inherent belief in the young people we’re supporting”.
