Aspiring advertising creatives will today pitch their ideas to a panel of industry heavyweights, following an intensive two-week bootcamp from advertising giant M&C Saatchi.
Folkestone is hosting a national first as a one-of-a-kind ‘pop up’ agency sees the great and good of advertising lend inspiration, training and support to young hopefuls, in a two-week crash aimed at setting them on course for success in the creative communications industry.
‘The Lab’ provides expert tuition to twelve 18 to 24 year olds, handpicked from a large crop of hopeful applicants on the strength of their answers to several questions designed to illustrate their creativethinking. Participants hail from Folkestone and beyond and range from artists, aspiring actors and photographers and creative graduates.
The lucky twelve are receiving training and advicefrom world-class industry practitioners, delivered through:
Creative Training
Work experience and group sessions
Pitch preparation and presentation
Formed into two teams, the twelve have been tasked with developing a fresh brand campaign for Church & Dwight’s famous toothpaste, Arm and Hammer. The two-weeks will draw to a close on Friday 20th July, culminating in an apprentice-style pitch to an expert judging panel, giving the participants the chance to use the skills they have learned and showcase the brand campaigns they have created. Judges include:
Tom Firth (M&C Saatchi – Business Director)
Helenor Rogers (Church and Dwight – Arm and Hammer Marketing Director)
Dan McCormack (M&C Saatchi – Art Director)
Bridget McCann (M&C Saatchi – Strategy Director)
Damian Collins (MP Folkestone and Hythe)
Hosted by the Creative Foundation, the scheme has been championed by local MP and ex M&C Saatchi employee, Damian Collins, and brings together a number of local businesses, including: Church and Dwight, Saga, Screen South, Holiday Extras, Create.co, Film Factory, Creative Foundation, Paula Carr Diabetes Trust, K College and Academy FM, all of whom have been involved and supported the project.
Damian Collins, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, said:
“I am delighted that M&C Saatchi accepted my invitation to lead this project which is giving great work experience to local young people who want to work in the creative industries. These opportunities are normally only available to people who are able to access them in London and this could be a life changing experience for those taking part.
I hope that the M&C Saatchi Lab will be a model for creative businesses to reach out toyoung people with a passion to work in this industry. This project has also had fantastic support from local businesses and new companies in Folkestone’s emerging creative and digital cluster.”