Despite having the highest unemployment rates in the country, the West Midlands’ creative sector is fighting back with many businesses seeing an upturn in sales and employment opportunities, particularly for graduates.
One local company that is playing its role in generating jobs within the creative sector is Solihull-based Marshmallow Creative Ltd, which has recently taken on a graduate to help support the growing demand for the company’s services. Faye Priest, a Visual Graphic Design graduate from Birmingham City University was recently placed by Grad Central, a West Midlands dedicated recruitment service for graduates and businesses, in the role of junior graphic designer.
from left to right: Michelle Somerville, Faye Priest, Lucy Dinsdale and Pat Jackson
Lucy Dinsdale, project manager for Grad Central explained: “Two fifths of graduates who have signed up to Grad Central’s services are looking for roles within the creative sector, so it just goes to show there is a growing demand for an emerging industry that is constantly evolving and keeping us on our toes.
“As the government is also encouraging creative businesses to embrace a more ‘knowledge-based economy’ so that we have a closer interaction with technology and digitisation, graduates have an in-depth understanding of working with this medium, which is why this makes them the perfect candidates for all businesses across the region.”
Michelle Sommerville, managing director of Marshmallow Creative, commented: “As an innovative design business we are proud that we can offer graduates like Faye the opportunity to work with some of our clients such as The Walt Disney Company, which are often associated with London-based businesses, without having to move away from a creatively dynamic region like the West Midlands.
You cannot put a price on how valuable a graduate can be to your business, and despite all the doom and gloom of the credit crunch and how it is directly affecting the jobs market, it’s still possible to achieve great results with a graduate who can always bring something new and innovative to the table.”
Pat Jackson, director of skills for regional development agency, Advantage West Midlands, commented: “We should be embracing creative talent as a country, so we are delighted that the West Midlands is setting a benchmark to achieve this goal as a diverse region full of opportunities, and a rising number of graduate talent trained in sectors such as digital and online will broaden the scope for innovative business strategies.
“Grad Central is driving home the message of businesses investing in this generation young talent, highlighting the value of their up-to-date skills and sheer determination to succeed, despite the economic downturn.”
For further information or to register your details with Grad Central, visit www.grad-central.co.uk or phone 01675 461500.