Words by Smiley Team
Young people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who don't get the same opportunities as others their age are being given the chance to gain experience and work at Channel 4.
From 2022, the TV network is continuing and expanding its 4Skills programme, with a focus on reaching young people who don't get heard or have access to opportunities because of where they live or their upbringing.
“For us, none of that matters," says Alex Mahon, chief executive, Channel 4. "Everyone should have an equal chance to follow their dreams and have a job in the creative industries. It shouldn’t be about having certain qualifications but about passion and potential.
"There is no reason why a future chief executive of Channel 4, or any broadcaster for that matter, can’t have started their career through 4Skills”
[Read more about companies giving back to others on Smiley Movement]
4Skills launched in 2020 and is based in the broadcaster’s national HQ in Leeds. From 2022, it will invest £5 million every year for three years, supercharging its existing offer by creating 15,000 training, development and learning opportunities for young people across the UK.
For those wanting to get into broadcasting for the first time, 4Skills will be offering over 200 entry level roles in 2022. For people already working in the industry, 4Skills will work with like-minded organisations to offer training courses, funding for specific training funds, bursaries and placements as well as training days in Channel 4’s own regional offices in Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester.
And in terms of schools, 4Skills is designing a series of activities and sessions to raise awareness of careers in production and digital skills. Aimed primarily at Key Stage 3 pupils (11-14 year olds) in disadvantaged areas as well as SEND schools, the initiatives will be a combination of face-to-face and virtual events.
Channel 4 will also work with schools and colleges to offer 500 work experience opportunities of up to a week for students up to the age of 21. To ensure that no applicants are disadvantaged, Channel 4 will meet the costs for participants.
Sinead Rocks, managing director of Channel 4 Nations and Regions, leading 4Skills added: “4Skills will have a long-term and lasting impact on learning and skills provision for young people across the country and ultimately it is the audience that will benefit.
"The people that we train, develop and work with will contribute their own diversity of opinion and life experience to programme making, resulting in content that better reflects the whole of the UK.”
Find out more about the brilliant work 4Skills is doing to help young and disadvtanged people on its website.
