Guest Blog by Andrew Thomas: Care in the Creative Community


It would seem topical, in the week that we see a young filmmaker winning the “Young Apprentice” on BBC1, that we think about the influx of younger adults entering the creative industries and what impact that has upon us all as managers.

Although it could be argued that we have always seen bright, young, dynamic and enthusiastic individuals entering the industry at grass-roots, it is likely with the focus now on alternative routes into industry, beyond the vanilla bachelor level degree, that we are going to see much younger workers as apprentices, and high-level apprentices coming into the workplace.

So what? you might think. Well I think there are a number of potential benefits and pitfalls in this increasingly likely occurrence. On the plus side, seeing the raw energy and can-do spirit of eighteen and nineteen year-olds is liberating. These “digital natives” are quick to embrace the opportunities of digital and multi-platform. Let’s face it, they were born into the digital age and see no barriers, or silos within which to hide. They are keen to experience everything and not be shackled by anyone or anything. No job is too small or too trivial to warrant less than total commitment. Their influence is fresh and enabling and permeates right through an organisation.

I spent some time with a chief executive from one of our larger agencies last week. She was eulogising about the energy and positive impact her first cohort of apprentices were having on the company. In a way, it is humbling how those with supposedly limited knowledge, and even less experience, can alter how we think about what we do, through the clarity of their thought process and complete lack of bias.

However, what happens if we don’t nurture this young and fragile school or college leaver? What about the individual, who may not have the robustness of someone who has left home and had to fend for themselves whilst way at university? 

Thrown into an agency where many of their allocated mentors are accidental leaders and managers, and perhaps barely out of college or university themselves, they can easily be misunderstood or in some extreme circumstances even crushed under foot. How do we make sure this doesn’t happen and we end up with a trail of talented broken young things with a sense of injustice and a jaundiced view of our industry?

Perhaps at this time of festive cheer and goodwill to all men…and women, we should consider these three gifts for these young apprentices.
- Firstly, understanding, that those who have not yet left home perhaps deserve a special sense of nurturing in our creative workplace.
- Secondly, the gift of time. Time to listen and provide a clear, consistent sense of expectation.
- And thirdly, empathy. Remember what you were like at that age and the commitment this young person in your charge is making to you and your business.
 
Andrew Thomas
@thegreenfield

In case you missed it, here is Andrew Thomas's previous blog post:

Is there a difference between – winning and not losing a pitch?





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