AN internship programme that will look to push the boundaries of creativity and give SMEs cost-effective access to creative expertise has been unveiled.
Following in the footsteps of similar projects in the USA, Shift is aimed at giving young creative people an opportunity to gain work experience in an agency environment while offering companies the chance to utilise its services at lower cost to mainstream agencies. For more information please visit http://www.indiegogo.com/weareshift
Based in the North East, the Shift academy will involve rolling internships and placements for at least 10 aspiring designers, programmers, writers and producers along with several mentors. Its mission is to explore new working methods in branding, emerging technologies and multi-channel media.
The methods used by the initiative will be showcased at an event later in the year. The findings will be used to encourage innovation and become a catalyst for improving education, inspiring entrepreneurship and creating jobs. Tickets are available at http://www.indiegogo.com/weareshift and all proceeds will go towards running the programme and the event.
Shift is a welcome boost to the North’s graduates and students as it comes at a time when over 1 million young people are unemployed in the UK. The hope is for the internship to become a feeder for talent and become a blueprint for future programmes.
The company behind Shift is Newcastle-based design agency Studio Precept. Nick Johnson, design director, said: “The whole idea of the project is to give young people of all walks of life with a spark of creativity the opportunity to gain some hands-on real-life agency experience.
“We expect the programme will not only generate new ways of thinking but will also inspire other creative people and help these interns gain employment with us and other businesses in the North.”
Over the next few months, its team will be challenging traditional methods of creativity and encouraging cross-discipline collaboration to explore and uncover new ways of thinking that will be unveiled at the event.
The event will be a major draw for graduates and students as Shift will be taking applications for further placement opportunities and 6-12 month internships. It will be run as a mass workshop and streamed live across the web. In addition, white papers that document the team’s trails and tribulations will also be will also be available to purchase and will be shared with local colleges and universities.
For more information please visit http://www.indiegogo.com/weareshift and follow on twitter @weare_shift
