underagency: Concept Introduction

What is underagency?

underagency is Creative Nation's concept for a creative employment and development agency for early career creative talent.

Our model as we currently imagine it, creates a virtual space and supported agency environment with a ‘studio’ of participant members. They can access 'off the shelf' development opportunities; real world work experience, industry insight, mentoring and peer to peer support. This is designed to not only support their personal and professional development, but also to support new virtual/working styles.

Our delivery will combine in person and digital interaction. It will be led by the needs of early career creative talent as well as employers and organisations from across the region and the sectors.

Our age range is 18-30 years and we are initially focused on talent based in the East of England, working alongside our network of inter/national clients and professional talent.

With support from Arts Council England, we have invested in extensive R&D. This has enabled us to identify skills needs, gaps and opportunities across the region and the sectors. underagency is being designed in line with this insight.

For clarity:

Where we speak of 'early career talent' we mean those with less than 5 years of professional experience. This group is typically comprised of students who are about to graduate from college or recent graduates. But it could also include those without formal qualifications.They tend to fill general or technical entry-level roles but may also be freelance.

'Creative talent' are those who have the individual skills, ability and talent to imagine, create and make. They work primarily but not exclusively in the creative industries. They can include designers, illustrators, writers, musicians and filmmakers, amongst others.

We would really appreciate your input via this short survey. We are not asking for a commitment to contribute moving forward, although we sincerely hope we can work with you in the future of course!

Thankyou.

www.creative-nation.co.uk/underagency

Question Title

* 1. What do you/your organisation look for in new recruits? (You can choose more than one).

Specific skills for the position available

Transferable skills

Someone who will 'fit' within our culture

Someone with the potential to develop and grow with us

Someone who has achieved the experience criteria we set

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 2. How do you you/your organisation access early career creative talent now, if indeed you consciously do so? (You can choose more than one).

We draw them from local FE & HE with whom we have existing relationships

We target our recruitment via relevant press or other platforms

We use specialist recruitment services

We have our own dedicated scheme

We do not actively seek out early career talent

They come to us!

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. How do you measure your inclusivity and diversity at present? (You can choose more than one).

This is an HR function

We have explicit policy and protocols which apply across our organisation

Our board monitors this

We don't

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. Have you identified any skills gaps in terms of the early career talent that you have employed?

Yes

Question Title

* 5. If you answered yes, within which area/s have you identified gaps? (You can choose more than one).

Technical skills- those that enable them to best fulfil their role

Professional skills- time/project management, organisational

Presentation skills- communication, pitching

Financial skills- budgets, planning

Personal skills- confidence, motivation, attitude

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Could your organisation benefit from additional resource in order to best support early career talent?

Yes

If you answered yes, what might benefit you the most?

Question Title

* 7. What do you anticipate your organisation might prioritise in terms of recovery and recruitment post- covid? (You can choose more than one).

New skillsets

New direction

More flexible workers

New working methods

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 8. Would your organisation be willing to commit to training and development opportunities if they helped to address the new landscape post-covid; addressed skills gaps, your needs and the needs of the region moving forward?

Yes

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* 9. If yes, how might you be interested in contributing towards the development of underagency? (You can choose more than one).

Providing industry insight

Creating work experience opportunities

Delivering training/development activities

Creating live briefs

Accessing our talent for focus groups

Accessing our talent as a recruitment mechanism

Sponsoring elements of our offer

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 10. Please tell us about you!

Name

Company

City/Town

Email Address

Question Title

* 11. Are you happy for us to keep in touch?

Yes

underagency: Concept Introduction

What is underagency?

Question Title

* 1. What do you/your organisation look for in new recruits? (You can choose more than one).

Question Title

* 2. How do you you/your organisation access early career creative talent now, if indeed you consciously do so? (You can choose more than one).

Question Title

* 3. How do you measure your inclusivity and diversity at present? (You can choose more than one).

Question Title

* 4. Have you identified any skills gaps in terms of the early career talent that you have employed?

Question Title

* 5. If you answered yes, within which area/s have you identified gaps? (You can choose more than one).

Question Title

* 6. Could your organisation benefit from additional resource in order to best support early career talent?

Question Title

* 7. What do you anticipate your organisation might prioritise in terms of recovery and recruitment post- covid? (You can choose more than one).

Question Title

* 8. Would your organisation be willing to commit to training and development opportunities if they helped to address the new landscape post-covid; addressed skills gaps, your needs and the needs of the region moving forward?

Question Title

* 9. If yes, how might you be interested in contributing towards the development of underagency? (You can choose more than one).

Question Title

* 10. Please tell us about you!

Question Title

* 11. Are you happy for us to keep in touch?

Question Title

* 12. Is there anything else that you would like to share or have us consider?