Taking part in Creativity Works led to me interviewing some of Hollywood’s biggest stars

I was part of the Creativity Works cohort  in 2018. I was taking a gap year when I applied, and I wanted to explore more about the media industry and the distinct roles within it. I had never studied media before, but I had a passion for content curation (particularly videos) and presenting, so I was keen to get my foot through the door. It was super exciting when I saw a flyer for Creativity Works online – it was exactly what I was looking for! 

The programme gave me a well-rounded taster of the industry, and the many ways young people could build up their CVs and experience to get jobs within their chosen fields. It also gave me a sense of direction for my next steps and introduced me to new, like-minded people who I am still in regular contact with to this day. 

We got the opportunity to go on some amazing trips as part of the programme. We visited organisations like Sky News and BBC, to name a few – having talks with some of the top leaders from those companies is an experience I will never forget. As a young person, being in rooms like that and having access to such influential industry players really inspired my creativity.  

I really enjoyed going to Sky News and visiting the sports department. We met the presenter Hayley McQueen, and I felt so inspired by her. To this day, I still follow her on Instagram, and I love seeing her journey as a woman in football reporting – an industry I am working towards being in. 

My career has always been something hugely important to me, so these trips pushed me to work even harder in achieving my dream of working in one of these prestigious organisations. 

Four years on from the course, I am currently a Freelance Entertainment Journalist and Content Creator, working closely alongside brands such as MOBO Unsung and Nike. I have recently had the amazing opportunity to report with the London Marathon 2022 team.

My love and passion for presenting never left and I regularly get the opportunity to attend press junkets and red-carpet events, interviewing some of the biggest stars in Hollywood such as Lupita Nyong’o, Sandra Oh and Michael Ward. It is something I know I would love to do full time as a career, and I am working towards it every day!

Creativity Works was a great learning experience that allowed me to grow in confidence and knowledge of the media industry. I learnt about the multitude of different jobs there are within the industry and gained magnificent work experience when visiting the different companies. I also discovered the importance of networking and building up strong relations. 

Doing this course helped me to get a taste of what the working world would be like. My first full time position was a paid internship in a PR agency, where I was able to apply the skills, I had learnt through Creativity Works   to succeed in my placement – I have taken these with me into all my roles. 

My message to those considering taking part in Creativity Works is to apply! There is lots to learn and to gain from a course like this. Be open to trying the new opportunities it gives to you and really listen to the advice from the programme mentors.