An advertising agency’s successful Stoke-on-Trent academy has unveiled a partnership with global media powerhouse LADbible Group.
VCCP’s Stoke Academy, which has been rebranded as The Challenger Academy and been awarded charity status, will be able to expand its ‘Best Summer Job Ever!’ internship thanks to the partnership.
The scheme, which is returning this summer after great success last year, offers young people the chance to win a paid placement working with top Stoke-on-Trent agencies VCCP Stoke, i-creation and Lesniak Swann.
There are 12 available placements with VCCP in the city and LADbible has agreed to financially support four of them as well as hosting the interns at LADbible London and Manchester to attend platform insight sessions, creative workshops, and production planning.
In the final week of the four-week internship, students will work on a mock brief for LADbible, and senior leaders from VCCP and LADbible will attend the final presentations and provide feedback to each team of interns.
Michael Lee, Chief Strategy Officer at VCCP and co-founder of The Challenger Academy, said: “At The Challenger Academy, we believe that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. That’s why we’re so grateful for the support of the LADbible Group to help us expand this year’s ‘Best Summer Job Ever!’ internship, enabling four more young people from Staffordshire to gain hands-on experience in the creative industries. This additional support not only helps shape a more inclusive industry but also unlocks fresh perspectives from diverse talent that drives innovation.”
LA Ronayne, Executive Creative Director at LADbible Group said: “We’re committed to helping young and emerging talent break into the creative industries and help shape the culture of tomorrow.
“Partnering with The Challenger Academy allows us to open doors, provide hands-on experience and the confidence needed to thrive. We know this initiative will help break down barriers and create meaningful opportunities for the next generation to make their mark.”
All three agencies involved with the ‘Best Summer Job Ever!’ are based at the Spode site in Stoke-on-Trent and work for a range of national and international companies.
The Challenger Academy has revealed that 80 per cent of those who graduated from the scheme have gone into employment in the creative industries many of them in Stoke-on-Trent, including Sophie Slim, who created The Challenger Academy’s new branding and logo.
University of Staffordshire graduate Sophie, a junior designer at VCCP’s global content production studio Girl&Bear, said: “‘The ‘Best Summer Job Ever!’ was a game-changer for me. It gave me the opportunity to gain creative, hands-on work experience in a real working environment. The skills training and career guidance I received have proven invaluable, helping me build the confidence not only to pursue a career in the creative industry but also to believe that I truly belong in this space.”
The internship is open to applicants aged 18 years or older, living in Staffordshire.
This year’s internship will run from 21 July until 15 August with 18 placements available across the three agencies.
To find out more, or to apply, click here.
