Create Your Own Future

For the vast array of graduate talent currently entering the increasingly swamped job market, any job is a good job. However, if you are one of those graduates not willing to settle for the status quo and have a keen eye on the future and a desire to progress in the creative industry, knowing exactly how to get noticed and on the right career path has never been more important...or more difficult.

To aid in this process, HP has partnered with the D&AD   to launch its very own Graduate Academy on the 31st March, an initiative that will enable the next generation of talented graduates to break into the creative industry.   Starting with a five-day creative boot camp for the top 100 entrants and culminating in a paid work placement, at the UK’s best creative agencies, for the Academy’s 50 most talented pupils; the training will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for young aspiring creatives.

All successful entrants to this year’s D&AD Student Awards are automatically eligible for the scheme. Alternatively, final-year students and recent graduates can register their interest online under www.dandad.org/talent and have to answer a brief set by HP and D&AD. The best graduates will go on to take part in the training scheme, which will help them improve their skills before successful applicants then go on to industry placements. The deadline for entries to this competition will be 26 May, after which a panel of independent professionals will judge all entries.

One flourishing creative SMB that has benefitted from its own graduate scheme is award-winning B2B and B2C Marketing Agency DNX. Their joint MD Drew Nicholson and his team are on hand to show us what makes this outfit such an attractive placement for young creative talent...

For more information on the D&AD Graduate Academy, please go to dandad.org/talent