Breakfast meeting shows Apprentice value

The reputation of apprenticeships in the PR and digital media sectors is set to take a further step forward thanks to a Manchester event dedicated to the subject. The breakfast time seminar, called #PRTalent, will take place at the Skills Funding Agency’s HQ in Piccadilly Gate on November 20. The event is free to attend for PR agencies and businesses interested in taking on a PR or digital media apprentice.

Organised by the National Apprenticeships Service, one of the event’s highlights will be a panel discussion featuring current and former apprentices from Bentley and PR agencies Weber Shandwick and Tangerine.

There will also be a presentation from Richard Stone of Stone Junction PR, based in Stafford, and Sandy Lindsay from Tangerine PR, an agency that also owns and operates training provider the Juice Academy. The two PR industry professionals will combine forces to help the audience understand the benefits of recruiting an apprentice in a sector where, traditionally, a University degree has been an entry requirement.

Next on the bill will be Francis Ingham, the chief executive of the PRCA (Public Relations Consultants Association), who will explain why he believes that apprenticeships can provide foundation skills for the next generation of PR professionals.

Stone Junction and Tangerine PR both enjoyed success at the National Apprenticeship Awards 2014. Tangerine walked away with the newcomer SME of the year highly commended award while Stone Junction took the highly commended award in the small employer of the year category, both in the North West/Manchester regions.

“Apprentices are a huge part of the PR industry’s future,” explained Stone. “It’s vital that we encourage more young people into the profession. Asking them to work for free in post University internships, after struggling through three years of debt, isn’t sustainable. I think the next generation of newcomers to PR and digital marketing will be made up of a more balanced group of apprentices and graduates. This can only be good for consultancies and clients.”

Anyone interested in attending the event can register via EventBrite herehttp://bit.ly/PRTalent.