Brixton Finishing School (BFS) has launched a free virtual advertising course to support the progression of diverse talent in the advertising industry.
The eight-week AD-Cademy starting in February is open to people aged 18 to 25 and living in the UK.
Designed by former University of Technology Sydney lecturer Lachlan Williams, the course will equip participants with practical knowledge to enter the advertising, marketing, and digital industries.
Industry professionals will lead skills workshops and masterclasses as part of the course.
“Employability” workshops will provide participants with guidance on personal branding, CV writing, and interview tips.
People giving the classes include executives at businesses including creative advertising agency Ogilvy and fast-food chain KFC.
“Our mission has always been to break down barriers and give young people from working class, multicultural, and neurodiverse backgrounds a fairer chance to succeed,” BFS founder Ally Owen said.
“Whether you’re in Huddersfield or Bolton, you will have access to teachings from some of the stars of the creative and media industries.”
The launch follows an Ofsted report in October raising concerns about the pandemic’s impact on higher education.
Registration for the course is still open with 500 applications already in.
“We are excited about the potential of getting to better creative work through new perspectives and fresh ideas,” said Kate Wall, head of advertising, retail and home delivery at KFC. “We’d love it if more brands could jump on board to support BFS.”
BFS was launched in 2018 to address the need for better diversity in the advertising industry through training and work experience.
To register, prospective applicants should visit: https://brixtonfinishingschool.org/adcademy/
