From the Blog

We are excited to announce the launch of our new apprenticeship programme, offering career opportunities for people who didn’t go into higher education.

Absolute Beginners is an apprenticeship programme exclusively for school leavers or people who went into work instead of going to university. The programme kicks off this month by welcoming its first participant – Zoe Kerr – who joins Clearbox on a full-time, permanent contract.

Absolute Beginners has been created to remove barriers preventing people without a degree or diploma from working in the PR industry.

The year-long training programme will offer a mix of practical and theoretical learning, using a combination of on-the-job training and courses from industry bodies and leading figures. Training programmes range from writing content and pitching media stories to building assertiveness and developing skills in non-violent communications and resilience.

In addition to a salary and fully funded training programmes, our Absolute Beginners also receive the same comprehensive benefits package available to all Clearbox employees, which includes unlimited holidays, mental health training, health insurance and more.

Zoe, the programme’s first participant, has always had an interest in PR and marketing but didn’t want to go down the university route. After leaving school, she got in touch with Clearbox about work placement opportunities. After two weeks of working with the company, Zoe was offered a full-time, permanent contract and has inspired the launch of this programme.

Zoe said: “I just finished my A levels but decided to take a year to figure out what I wanted to do in the future. Just like many others, I didn’t think the uni route was for me and would rather gain experience while learning.

“It wasn’t until my last year of school I realised that there are a lot more options to further education than just university. I preferred the idea of an apprenticeship as it offers the chance to gain experience whilst in the learning process without waiting at least three years. I am so grateful for the opportunity Clearbox has given me and I can’t wait to learn and experience all that comes with it.”

Clearbox director John Megaughin added: “PR has long had an elitist problem when it comes to further education, and I think it’s unfair that people without a degree can sometimes be prevented from applying for jobs in the industry.

“We’ve created Absolute Beginners to try and break those barriers down by offering employment opportunities to people who didn’t go into higher education. Not everyone is able to go to university, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be an asset to the industry.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and Zoe’s attitude and ability has inspired me to get the programme up and running. I hope that over the next few years, Absolute Beginners can help more people enjoy a career in PR, regardless of their education background.”

In addition to Absolute Beginners, Clearbox will also continue its graduate programme, which has been recruiting and training university and college graduates since 2015. It’s another brilliant programme, if we do say so ourselves.

For further information on Absolute Beginners, or any other Clearbox programmes, contact john@clearboxcommunications.com.