Channel 4 seeks young creative talent in Sunderland

Do you know a budding young videographer who wants to learn a life skill that could one day see them shoot weddings for a living? Channel 4 has announced its national talent search Channel 4 Pop Up, which will take place in Sunderland on Thursday 1st of November at the National Glass Centre.

The initiative has been set up to attract diverse groups of young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds right across the UK to a career in the media.

The day will include practical workshops, networking, challenges and the chance for young people to meet industry specialists.

The Channel 4 Pop Up programme is reaching even deeper into communities to find 16-24-year-olds who may not be sure if a career in the media is for them – or those with creative talents but with no identifiable route into the industry. It also aims to tackle the increasing skills gaps within the creative industries as well as the growth in 'bedroom creatives'.

Channel 4 Pop Up events aim to provide sustainable career opportunities and career progression for young people from the surrounding areas. Each event will provide networking opportunities with local creative industries and skills workshops designed to improve attendees' employability in TV and film – all leading towards industry work experience opportunities.

Now in its fourth year, the Pop Ups have visited 18 cities across the UK and are heading to Sunderland & Nottingham to wrap up their 2018 roadshow.

Applications are now open to attend the Channel 4 Pop Up at the National Glass Centre via https://jobs.channel4.com/pages/event_apply.aspx?preview=preview&jobId=4929&Type=3

At each Channel 4 Pop Up event, details of an annual industry related challenge will 'Pop Up' to encourage young people to compete to win a visit to Channel 4 Head Office. The ultimate ambition will be to create a Pop-Up alumni that will connect diverse entry talent to the industry whilst providing virtual networking opportunities for young people across the UK.

Channel 4's 4Talent team has partnered with specialist agency MyKindaFuture to work with local creative companies, public services, social support partners and charity organisations to proactively seek groups of diverse young talent to participate in the C4 Pop-Up programme.

Laura Boswell, Industry Talent Specialist, Channel 4 said: “The Channel 4 Pop Ups really help to cement our core values with young people – that Channel 4 is an inclusive place to work, where we welcome diversity, new ideas and alternative points of view. The Pop Ups enable Channel 4 to delve deeper into a variety of communities across the UK, searching for hidden talent and the 'unusual suspects', connecting with people who may not have considered a career in the media industry before. Channel 4's 360° Diversity Charter was put in place to broaden representation at all levels across the media industry; 4Talent works hard to create a pipeline of young people, so there is a constant flow of diverse talent entering and developing within the sector.”