ERIC 12/21/22 ERIC 12/21/22

Christmas Films that feature Creative Careers!🎅

For those of you getting in the christmas spirit this week... How many christmas films have you watched so far?👀

And out of how many of those, has a character had some form of creative job?

Potentially more than you realised?

We had the same realisation, so we thought we'd share a list of our favourites to inspire you (whether you've watched them already or not!)🎄

💝 Love Actually:

Juliet - Interior Designer
Billy - Musician
Joe - Artist Manager
Jamie - Writer
Harry - Manager of a design company
Karl - Creative Director of Harry & Sarah's Design Company

🧝 Elf:

Walter Hobbs - Children's book publisher

🏡 The Holiday:

Iris - Columnist
Amanda - Movie trailer producer
Arthur - Screenwriter
Graham - Book Editor
Miles - Hollywood film composer

And that's ONLY three films?! We love the representation across all of these christmas classics!

Next time you're watching a christmas film, why not take inspiration from some of the characters careers?👀 Life might be more like a movie than you realise...

ERIC 12/19/22 ERIC 12/19/22

Festive Creative Resources🎄

Creative Resources for the Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for family, friends, and, of course, creativity! If you're feeling stumped on what to fill your holiday season with, never fear—we've got you covered!

Here are some creative resources and activity suggestions to help get your Christmas or Hanukkah period off to a strong start! Whether you're starting a new side hustle, looking for ways to stay sharp at your current job, or just building on your skills these online resources will help you develop your creative skills!

Canva - Canva is a user-friendly graphic design website that offers templates for everything from social media posts to presentations to business cards. Whether you're a design pro or a total beginner, Canva has you covered. Plus, it's free to use!

Skillshare - Skillshare is an online learning platform with classes on everything from illustration to web development to copywriting. With over 25,000 courses available, there's something for everyone. You can sign up for a free trial to see if it's the right fit for you.

Sporcle - (This one is a bit more of a fun one!) Sporcle has SO many quizzes, so why not test your knowledge on the creative industries?

Dribble - Want to learn design but not sure where to start? Whether you're a new designer building your career or a creative professional looking to upskill, Dribble has pretty much everything you need to get you where you want to be!

Google Digital Garage - The Google Digital Garage is great if you want to learn about marketing and building a business online. If you've been thinking about doing it, why not start now?

What Kind of Designer Are You Quiz - Want to find out what kind of designer you are/might be? This is a good place to start

My Creative Type - Adobe Create have put together this fun little quiz (with great graphics) to figure out your creative personality!

Which Art, Design, or Technology Career Suits Your Interests - This short and sweet quiz will figure out which art, design or tech career is suited to your interests!

Hubspot Academy - HubSpot Academy is a worldwide website which provides free online training for inbound marketing, sales, and customer service professionals. They specialise in comprehensive certifications, singular topic courses, and bite-sized lessons for anyone looking to grow their career and business.

There are plenty of ways to brush up on your creative skills, no matter what your level of experience is. By taking advantage of online resources like Canva, Skillshare, and Dribble, you can hone your craft and stay ahead of the curve. So get out there and start learning!

The ERIC team wish everyone a joyful and restful festive period - our next blog post will be with you on the 28th December!

See you then👋🎄

ERIC 12/16/22 ERIC 12/16/22

Creative Industries News #2 📰

Hello! Welcome back to the ERIC Creative Industries News series📰

We've got another roundup ready for you today - check it out below👇

1) Saatchi & Saatchi to launch their free schools platform

Saatchi & Saatchi have recently announced their new free schools platform 'Upriser', which hopes to introduce, inspire and open up the creative industries to any student in the UK. The agency is calling on other businesses to give support, and will 'help match companies with partner schools across the UK as part of a sustained, long-term commitment to teach lessons, enrol in 1:1 mentoring programmes and offer tangible roads into work for the next generation of talent'.

If you want to check out this exciting news, read here

2) Burberry in partnership with Leeds 2023

Luxury fashion brand Burberry have announced their partnership with Leeds 2023 on the build up to the opening ceremony. Burberry and Leeds 2023 are massively supporting creative education, with new creative initiatives such as Smeaton300 – a creative events programme which will unite inventive minds across engineering, science, industry and the arts. The brand state that 'supporting creative education is a natural continuation of the brand's ongoing partnership with schools throughout the region' which has included industry-leading initiatives like the ‘Burberry Inspire’ programme, which brought students together with leading arts and cultural institutions - including Leeds Young Film, Northern Ballet and The Hepworth Wakefield - to empower young people to immerse themselves in the arts and uncover their creative potential.

Want to read more about this? Check it out here

3) 100 companies sign up for four day week with no loss of pay, after landmark study

We might be one step closer to a four day week! As reported on November 27th, a hundred UK companies have signed up for a permanent four-day working week for all their employees with no loss of pay. This is an incredible milestone on the way to fundamentally changing Britain's approach to the working week.

If you want to hear what some of the companies had to say about the change, check out the article here.

4) Publishing company Hachette increase their starting salaries for entry-level roles alongside a £1,000 cost of living payment

An incredible piece of news that sets an example for other companies within the creative industries that may be able to do the same! Hachette have confirmed plans to increase starting salaries for entry-level roles, alongside providing a £1,000 cost of living payment as of January 2023. This decision was made as part of the organisation’s “holistic review” of salary and holiday entitlement. Due to this change, starting salaries for entry-level roles in publishing functions will increase to £26,500 per annum in London and £23,850 outside London.

Hear more about this here

5) Art hub Four Corners is opening their practical filmmaking course in January 2023

Four Corners art hub is opening up their applications for free film and TV training for residents of Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Waltham Forest. The hub is known for having alumni bag themselves jobs on the sets of Star Wars, Mission Impossible, Idris Elba's directorial debut Yardie and Disney's live action remake of Pinocchio.

If you want to read more on this story, you can check it out here

Top stories about the Creative Industries in 2022📰

ERIC 12/12/22 ERIC 12/12/22

Stepping Stone Jobs🪜

Career goals are hard to achieve without the skills and experience needed to push it in the direction you want. Having an idea of your dream career/dream industry is a good first step, but can leave you feeling helpless if you don’t know how to get there.

Enter stepping stone jobs...

What are stepping stone jobs, you may ask? They are roles you apply for/accept knowing that it is not your forever job, but can provide you with the necessary skills and experience to later bag your dream job. Stepping stone jobs can be a great way to boost your skills and gain experience to add to your CV/ portfolio, while moving up your personal career ladder. They are also the perfect way to figure out your dream career alongside picking up transferable skills to set up your future.

Applying for your first few jobs in a career that you love can be difficult, as even entry or junior level roles often require more experience than once realised. Thinking about the skills you want to acquire and the different roles that can provide you with the skills and experience you need for your future career can result in applying for a stepping stone job.

However, will this ‘pause’ in your career impact it negatively?

Taking a stepping stone job can be viewed as a backward step in your career and there can be a level of failure attached with not applying for a dream job or a job you truly want. Am I wasting my time? Will I get stuck in a dead end job? Am I just not good enough for my dream job? These are all questions that you might ask yourself when thinking about a stepping stone job.

The answer to these questions is no. Skills and experience are never wasted and most skills we learn in our early careers are transferable.

There is a stigma that we should only apply for/ work jobs we love. Although, that can be difficult if you don’t yet have the necessary skill or are still figuring out your dream job. Working a stepping stone job puts you in a position to keep gaining experience while constantly reflecting on the skills you have gained and what skills you need in order to facilitate career progression.

Ultimately, your career is what you make of it. How you decide to get your dream job is in your hands and there is no right or wrong way to do it!

Want to find a stepping stone job for yourself? Check out our current opportunities on the ERIC App

ERIC 12/7/22 ERIC 12/7/22

What is Influencer Marketing?🤳

You've probably heard the term "influencer marketing" thrown around a lot lately. But what is it, exactly? Influencer marketing is a form of marketing that relies on endorsements and product placement from influential people rather than traditional advertising techniques like print or television ads.

The goal of influencer marketing is to reach a large audience by using people with established followings on social media platforms like Instagram, or video platforms like Youtube. Marketers work with influencers to promote their products or brand in the hopes that their followers will see the endorsement and be motivated to purchase the product or try the service.

Types of influencers
There are two main types of influencers: macro-influencers and micro-influencers.

Macro-influencers are people with tens or even hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. They tend to be celebrities or well-known personalities with a large fan base.

Micro-influencers, on the other hand, are people with a smaller but more engaged following—usually between 1,000 and 100,000 followers. They may have niche audiences or specialise in particular categories like fashion, beauty, travel, or fitness.

Why has influencer marketing taken the advertising world by storm?

There are several reasons for influencer marketing's popularity.

First, social media has made it easier than ever before for brands to connect with influencers and for influencers to reach a large audience.

Second, thanks to social media "influencers" (people with large followings who can impact the purchasing decisions of others), companies can now target very specific demographics with their marketing campaigns.

And last but not least, consumers are now more likely to trust peer recommendations over traditional advertising techniques.

How to work with an influencer
If you're interested in working with an influencer to promote your product or brand, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

First, it's important to find an influencer who aligns well with your brand identity and whose audience is interested in the same kinds of products or services you offer.

Once you've found a good match, reach out to the influencer and explain what you're looking for. Be specific about what kind of content you would like them to create and how you would like them to promote your product—for example, through a photo or video post featuring the product in use, or by writing a review on their blog.

Finally, agree on compensation—typically, this takes the form of free products or monetary payment.

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Influencer marketing can be an effective way to reach new customers and promote your product or brand. By finding an influencer whose audience matches your target market and agreeing on compensation ahead of time, you can ensure that both you and the influencer are happy with the final result.

Want to work in advertising or marketing? Kickstart your career today with the ERIC app📲

ERIC 12/5/22 ERIC 12/5/22

What creative jobs are in demand?🚨

5 Creative Jobs that are in demand

In today’s digital world, creativity is more important than ever. With so much content being produced on a daily basis, companies are always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to capture their audience’s attention. If you’re a creative thinker with an entrepreneurial spirit, there are plenty of opportunities out there for you. Here are 5 creative jobs that have been seen to be high in demand recently!

1. Social Media Executive/Manager - As a social media manager, you would be responsible for creating and executing a social media strategy for your company or client. This would involve coming up with creative content ideas, managing timelines and posting schedules, and engaging with followers. You would need to have strong writing and communication skills, as well as a working knowledge of various social media platforms.

2. Content Writer/Copywriter - A content writer is responsible for creating compelling and interesting content for their company or client’s website. This could include blog posts, articles, product descriptions, landing pages, etc. A good content writer should be able to write engaging copy that is SEO-friendly and appeals to their target audience.

3. Graphic Designer - Graphic designers create visual concepts that communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for various applications such as advertisements, brochures, magazines, and websites. A successful graphic designer should have strong creative skills and be proficient in industry-standard design software like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

4. User Experience (UX) Designer - A UX designer creates user-centered designs by taking into account the needs and wants of the users/customers. They conduct user research, create prototypes, and oversee the final user experience of the product or website they are designing. It’s important for UX designers to have an understanding of human behavior as well as excellent problem-solving skills.

5. Web Developer - As more and more businesses move their operations online, the demand for web developers who can create intuitive and user-friendly websites is also on the rise. If you have experience coding in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, now is a great time to put your skills to use and start your career as a web developer.

If you’re looking for a creative job that is in high demand right now, any of the roles listed above would be a great place to start your search! Companies are always on the lookout for talented individuals who can help them take their business to the next level with fresh ideas and new perspectives.

So if you’ve got a knack for creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit, don’t wait – start your search today!

Download the ERIC app now📲

ERIC 12/2/22 ERIC 12/2/22

Creative Industries News #1 - Week 48📰

Want to catch up with the latest creative industries news? You've come to the right place. Starting with this post, we'll be giving you a bi-weekly overview of what's been going on in the creative industries so that you can continually build on your commercial awareness*.

* Commercial awareness is generally defined as an understanding of the wider environment in which an organisation operates.

Week 48: Friday 2nd December

1) Ealing Studios to compete with worldwide creator spaces once again

An iconic space which has homed some of the best of British Film and TV a.k.a Bridget Jones and St Trinians' is set to receive a makeover to bring it back into the land of Hollywood and compete with the worlds largest studios.

Ealing Studios had plans approved by local councillors to transform it into the 'worlds most advanced studio'. The new plans will see a 14,000 sq-ft stage, alongside workshops and additional office space.

You can read more about this story here

2) A new report shows how the BBC boosts growth of creative industries across the UK

New research from Pricewaterhousecoopers has shown that a 15% increase in the BBC's local presence DOUBLES the rate of growth of the surrounding creative industries over time!

Sustained investment has been focused into creative hubs such as Salford, Cardiff, Glasgow, Belfast and Birmingham, and as a result have built regional talent pools and amplified the local creative economies.

The great news is that the BBC has further plans which will see an additional £700m invested outside of London by 2027/2028! This will result in around 4,750 new creative businesses and a whopping 45,000 additional jobs.

You can check out this article here

3) TV & Film Industries growing at incredible rate, but are challenged with a skills shortage

Robert Laycock, the CEO of Marlow Film Studios has said that the British Film Industry is currently going through 'once in a generation growth', with some amaing opportunities available for budding filmmakers.

As reported by multiple sources, around 20,000 new jobs will be needed in a few years time to keep track of the historic growth.

It was reported by Laycock that the studios where Star Wars, James Bond and Harry Potter films were made were experiencing a "skills shortage".

If you want to read more about this news, click this link:

4) Esports events increase backed by new partnership in North West

The National Student Esports (NSE) - the official body of university eSports and the Home of Skills & Technology (HOST) have partnered with the aim of changing the landscape of future tech, by connecting employers with the diverse talent available in the North West.

The NSE will be highlighting training and developing opportunities that are available through the Skills City digital Bootcamps facilitated by HOST.

Have a read of this news here

5) Emilia Clark addresses inequality in creative jobs

As a patron of arts charity Open Door, Emilia Clark spoke about the 'outrageous' fact that only 16% of people working in the Creative Industries come from a working class background.

She stated that “access to acting and backstage creative roles in the industry has, for too long, been a closed book for far too many people" and spoke about what Open Door are doing to tackle the inequality.

Want to hear more? Read here

Check back in on 16th December for your next rundown! Or if you want more timely updates, keep an eye on the ERIC socials📰

ERIC 11/28/22 ERIC 11/28/22

Marketing terms that you need to know📲

If you're new to the world of marketing, it can be tough to keep up with all of the jargon. To help you out, we've compiled a list of essential marketing terms that you need to know👀

Target Market: The group of consumers that a company intends to sell their products or services to. A target market can be defined by factors such as age, gender, location, interests, and income level.

Competitor Analysis: The process of assessing the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors in order to gain an advantage in the marketplace.

Marketing Plan: A document that outlines the actions that will be taken in order to achieve marketing objectives. A marketing plan should include an overview of the current situation, objectives, strategies, tactics, budget, and timeline.

ROI: ROI stands for return on investment. It’s a metric that measures how much money you make in relation to how much money you spend on marketing.

Awareness: This term refers to how familiar people are with your brand. The goal of many marketing campaigns is to increase brand awareness so that more people are familiar with what you do and the products or services that you offer.

Engagement: Engagement is all about getting potential customers interested in your brand and interacting with your content. When people are engaged in your content, they’re more likely to remember your brand and consider using your products or services in the future.

Conversion: A conversion occurs when someone takes a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter. The goal of many marketing campaigns is to increase conversions so that more people take the desired action.

Lead: A lead is a potential customer who has shown some interest in your brand but has not yet taken the desired action. For example, someone who provides their email address in exchange for a free e-book would be considered a lead. Once you have a lead, it’s your job to nurture them until they’re ready to convert.

Funnel: The funnel is the path that leads potential customers from awareness all the way through to conversion. At the top of the funnel, you have people who are just becoming aware of your brand. As they interact with your content and learn more about what you do, they move down the funnel until they eventually take the desired action (convert).

Calls-to-Action: A call-to-action (CTA) is an element of your content that encourages people to take a specific action, such as signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase. A CTA can be something as simple as a button that says “Sign Up Now” or “Buy Now.”

A/B Testing: A/B testing is a marketing technique that allows you to compare two versions of a piece of content (like an email subject line) to see which performs better. The "A" version is the control, while the "B" version is the variable that you're testing. For example, you might send out two different email subject lines to a segment of your list and see which one gets more opens.

KPIs: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are metrics that help you measure whether you're achieving your business goals.

SEO: Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of optimising your website for Google's search algorithm so that you rank higher in search results for relevant keywords.

Marketing automation: Refers to software platforms and tools that allow businesses to automate their marketing tasks

Analytics: Analytics is essentially the discovery and communication of meaningful patterns in data. When referred to in the context of marketing, it’s looking at the data of one’s initiatives (website visitor reports, social, PPC, etc.), analysing the trends, and developing actionable insights to make better informed marketing decisions.

B2B: Business-to-business marketing refers to the marketing of products or services to other businesses and organisations.

B2C: B2C Marketing targets individual consumers as customers (business-to-consumer marketing) rather than targeting other companies as customers (B2B or business-to-business marketing).

Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors to a particular website who navigate away from the site after viewing only one page.

CTR: A ratio showing how often people who see your online content end up clicking it.

CMS: A Content Management System is software that helps users create, manage, and modify content on a website without the need for specialised technical knowledge.

Evergreen Content: Evergreen content is SEO content that is continually relevant and stays “fresh” for readers.

PPC: PPC stands for pay-per-click, a model of digital advertising where the advertiser pays a fee each time one of their ads is clicked.

Marketing is vital for any business that wants to succeed but it can be difficult to keep up with all of the jargon if you're new to the world of marketing!

Once you're using these terms in practical situations, they are much more likely to make sense and be applied in the correct manner.

Keep in mind that these are not ALL the terms that are used in Marketing, and that you will encounter more and learn more along your career journey.

If this article was helpful, then be sure to check back soon for more helpful tips and tricks!

If you want to upskill or find your first job in Marketing, download the ERIC app 💥

ERIC 11/21/22 ERIC 11/21/22

Everything you need to know about the TV Industry!

Today is World TV Day! (November 21st). So we’re here to run you through the basics of the TV Industry and what it’s all about.

The television industry is a broad and ever-changing field. There are many different types of jobs available in TV, from on-screen talent to behind-the-scenes technicians. In this blog post, we'll give you an overview of the TV industry in the UK and some of the most popular careers in TV!

📺 What is the TV Industry?
The television industry encompasses all aspects of television programming, broadcast, and production. This includes everything from traditional live shows and pre-recorded programming, to news and current affairs, documentaries, and adverts.

The UK has a long history of television broadcasting, dating back to 1936 when the BBC began regular broadcasts. Today, there are many different channels and networks available, both public and private. The most popular public broadcaster is the BBC, which is funded by a yearly licence fee paid by UK households. Other popular channels include ITV, Channel 4, and Sky.

💥 What Careers are Available in TV?
There are many different types of careers available in TV. Some people work in front of the camera as on-screen talent, while others work behind the scenes in roles such as writing, directing, producing, or editing. There are also many technical roles involved in broadcasting and production, such as camera operators, sound engineers, and make-up artists.

Some career titles alongside these include:

1. Producer
2. Director
3. Writer
4. Camera Operator
5. Editor
6. Sound Engineer
7. Lighting Technician
8. Art Director
9. Set Designer
10. Costume Designer
11. Makeup Artist
12. Hair Stylist
13. Wardrobe Assistant
14. Casting Director
15. Location scout

If you're interested in working in TV, there are many different routes you can take. Many people study for qualifications at college or university, while others gain experience through internships or working their way up from entry-level roles. There are also plenty of short courses available if you want to learn specific skills for a particular role.

The TV industry is very competitive(as are many other industries!) and it can be difficult to find a job, even if you have all the right qualifications and experience.

Start by researching the different types of roles available and finding out what experience and qualifications they require. Then you could start applying for internships, work placements and courses, so that you can start building up your experience in the industry. Or you can look to apply into an entry-level role.

One of the most important things to remember - don’t give up – even if it feels like it’s taking forever to find a job, eventually your hard work will pay off and you will land your dream job in television!

The television industry offers a wide range of career opportunities for those with passion and creativity - there's something for everyone. So what are you waiting for? Start your journey today with ERIC!

👀 Find your chance to upskill or work in the industry with the ERIC app

ERIC 11/21/22 ERIC 11/21/22

Creative Careers in Tech💻

So, you're interested in tech, but you're more interested in having a creative career within tech... we've got just the thing for you!

Lets talk about tech within the creative industries...👨‍💻

Tech is changing how we do everything from producing art to distributing it. It's changing how we interact with each other and how we build communities. And it's changing the way we live our lives👀

And these changes are happening faster than ever before 🏃‍♂️💨 and they're happening in every industry. That's why you need to be thinking about tech now, if you want to stay ahead of the curve and ensure that your career is as successful as possible.

If you're looking for a job in tech, here's what you need to know about some of careers are available:

- Developer/Programmer: A developer writes code and programs software to create digital products and websites. They could be building an app, a video game or just designing a website, but overall a running trend is that developers use creativity to solve problems through technology.

- Graphic Designer: Graphic designers use their creativity to create images and typography that communicate specific messages through colour and design. Graphic designers can often be found creating logos, posters, marketing assets and websites, which mean they have to be equally as skilled in visualising ideas and concepts and implementing them effectively into their final designs.

- UX/UI Designer: UX designers focus on making interfaces easier for users by helping them create intuitive user experiences. UX designers work closely with developers and product managers to create interactive and flowing designs that enable users to guide themselves through the product without any confusion or frustration.

- Video Game Designer: Video game designers utilise their skills to assist at different stages in video console and game development. This includes areas such as animation, graphic design, story creation, computer coding, and much more. They frequently work with other talented designers to create virtual games that cater to their target audience.

- Digital Producer: A career as a digital producer entails the creation of digital material and assets that could include anything from gifs and social media content to advertisements and video content. Digital producers come up with concepts, cost estimates, and campaign ideas, whilst leading other creatives to deliver planned and targeted content.

- Animator - Animators bring objects, characters and scenes to life by sequencing frames and using special effects. Animators are needed for various types of media, including adverts, movies, website graphics, video games, TV shows and more! With Animation and technology going hand in hand, it's not a surprise that you'll need certain technical skills to succeed, however, it is advantageous for animators to have a strong creative process and naturally study the details of the world around them.

These are just some of the roles where creativity and tech/software are linked - depending on your skillset and your interests, there are lots of roles that are based around software and tech.

❓ If you're interested in finding out more about these roles and industries, check out our microsite and the ERIC app ❓

ERIC 11/18/22 ERIC 11/18/22

What routes are there into the Publishing industry?🤞

If you're reading this, you're probably wanting to know what the yellow brick road is to bagging yourself a job in the Publishing Industry!

Lets start with a list of routes:

Get yourself a degree: this could be English(the most common expected degree), Illustration or Graphic Design (for the designers out there!), Marketing or some form of publishing-related business.

Get some work experience: Practical experience in today's market always creates a good impression!

Complete an internship/placement: Internships and placements can be some of the most valuable experiences if you're wanting to learn whilst actively working in your chosen industry!

Get yourself into a graduate/traineeship scheme: Graduate schemes and traineeships are another very valuable form of experience, and a great way to network and build contacts.

Set yourself up as a freelancer: If you think you can offer good freelance services - potentially in copywriting or proofreading - doing some freelance work can really boost your standing in the Publishing industry, especially if you can get good client reviews and referrals!

Some tips if you're wanting to get into join one of these routes:

Be open to all departments: If you're a natural writer/proof reader, editorial may be your sought after department. However, don't cast off other departments, as even if you start in another area, that doesn't mean you can't work your way to where you want to be!

Show your passion and persistence for the craft: Impress people with your persistence for learning and upskilling. If you're at university - join the student newspaper, or the news team. If you're about to leave school, find some work experience, attend online webinars, do online courses, or set yourself up with an internship or traineeship scheme that will be ready and waiting once you've closed those exam papers.

Be personal about finding experience or applying for jobs: When you're searching for publishers or agencies who could potentially have you join their ranks, DO.YOUR.HOMEWORK. Make sure you're clued up about their work, what authors they might represent, which genres they focus on. The more tailored the approach, the possibility of a better outcome. The great part about this is, if you're passionate about fiction, you can apply to places who deal with fiction! It's a win win, just make sure you're prepared.

Make sure your paperwork is up to date: If you're applying to opportunities that require a CV, make sure you've got it in the correct format, and that you're advertising the best version of yourself. There are lots of resources and people out there that can help you give your CV a refresh, why not go and have a browse?

One thing we need to dispel, is the fact that you DO NOT need an English degree to work in Publishing. Lots of publishers have dropped their requirement for their staff to have formal qualifications in subjects like English. Practical experience and understanding of the industry is hugely valued nowadays, so if you can show that, you're in with a good shot.

So now you've got all the information, there's a good potential you'll want to know where to get some of these opportunities...

We've got you - head to the ERIC app to check out opportunities in the Publishing industry👀👏

ERIC 11/16/22 ERIC 11/16/22

What career paths are available in Publishing?🖌

Publishing is a vast industry, with SO many exciting and varied roles available for everyone. Jobs in publishing can be found at different types of publishing companies and other organisations.

So let’s break it down, what areas/departments are you able to work in within Publishing?

- Agenting
- Audio
- Audience and digital development
- Marketing & Communications
- Design
- Editorial
- Production
- Publicity
- Rights
- Sales

That's a general overview of possible areas, but lets get more specific with role titles...

- Artist or Illustrator
- Assistant editor
- Audio assistant
- Audio publisher
- Commissioning editor
- Communications assistant
- Designer
- Digital marketing assistant
- Editorial assistant
- Literary agent
- Literary agent assistant
- Marketing assistant
- Press assistant
- Production assistant
- Commissioning editor
- Publicist
- Publicity Manager
- Rights assistant
- Rights executive
- Sales assistant
- Account manager

So, you can see from this list that there are SO many roles available in Publishing, and a lot of these can be joined at entry level.

If you want to know the routes into these roles, you can read our next Work in Publishing Week blog post on Friday which will be 'Routes into Publishing'.

To explore publishing more and find opportunities, download the ERIC app.

ERIC 11/14/22 ERIC 11/14/22

A brief introduction to the world of Publishing!📚

This week is Work In Publishing Week! WIPW is a national week that hopes to to inspire people aged 16+ to consider a career in publishing. ERIC will be getting involved by sharing opportunities in the Publishing Industry, and exclusive insider information about working in the the sector from industry professionals👀

If you're interested in the Publishing industry, or are looking to work in the sector, this week will be full of great tips, tricks and insight for how to bag yourself a spot in the industry.

So, what is Publishing?
Traditionally, 'publishing' was seen as printing material to make it available for the public to view. Originally it was focused on the creation and distribution of books, newspapers, music and magazines.

In more recent times, the increased use of the internet and electronic media has significantly widened the scope of the publishing industry. Now, a huge amount of websites, emails, computer games and software and blogs are published each day around the world.

Some cool things about the Publishing Industry...

👉 The UK publishing industry has a turnover of £6bn, with export income accounting for almost 60% of revenues.
👉 The UK is the largest exporter of books in the world.
👉 The publishing industry directly employs 29,000 people in the UK and supports more than 70,000 jobs.

(International Publishing Association)

There are many varied roles available in Publishing, and the great part about it is that you don't even have to be an avid reader (but it can help if you are!).

We're going to talk more about the different careers in Publishing in our blog post on Wednesday... but for now, if you're interested in Publishing and what it's all about, you can check out the links below to find out more and delve a bit deeper!

A brief rundown of what Publishing is:
https://www.publishers.org.uk/about-publishing/

Why choose the UK Publishing industry:
https://www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk/site-content/industries-publishing-publishing-why-the-uk

Fun stats about the Publishing Industry:
https://www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk/facts-figures/publishing

We recommend you turn your notifications on to keep up to date! We hope the week will be insightful and interesting for anyone interested in Publishing!👏

You can find all of the links you need for our socials, website and app here

ERIC 11/11/22 ERIC 11/11/22

Work in Publishing Week with ERIC

We've got some exciting news (if you're interested in the Publishing Industry) 🥳

It's Work in Publishing Week next week! From the 14th - 18th, the ERIC team will be supporting the campaign by helping to showcase the many amazing career opportunities that are available in Publishing, alongside championing industry professionals from a diverse range of backgrounds.

So, if it's Publishing you're interested in, then stay tuned because we'll be sharing resources to help give you an overview of the Publishing industry, and how you can get into it!

Here's a quick rundown of what you can expect from us next week…

- Guides on; What Publishing is, the different careers in Publishing, and routes into the Publishing industry

- Blog posts about the ins and outs of the industry - Opportunities in the Publishing industry on Monday & Friday

- Industry insiders from some very special guests!

- Lots of resources that means you can explore the industry at your own pace

If you want to know where you can find all of these things:

Our Instagram:

👉 Special guest videos on Monday, Wednesday and Friday!

👉 Publishing Opportunities

Our blog:

👉 Breakdowns of the world of Publishing

Our Twitter:

👉 Sharing resources so you can explore the industry in your own time

Our App:

👉 Guides that will provide a full breakdown of different areas of the industry

Follow our socials, download the app and reshare for your friends/students/colleagues!

ERIC 11/9/22 ERIC 11/9/22

Get Into Book Publishing x ERIC Competition T&Cs

By entering this free prize draw, you agree to accept and be bound by these terms and conditions.

All entry instructions form part of the terms & conditions of this prize draw.

1. No purchase is necessary to enter this competition.

2. This free prize draw is open to anyone aged between 18 and 25 who is a resident of the UK or the Republic of Ireland, except for employees of the Promoters (ERIC and Get Into Book Publishing), its subsidiary companies and their families.

3. Entries must be received by 23:59 GMT on 13th November 2022. Entries that are illegible, incomplete, corrupted, or which fail to be received by the closing date for any reason, will not be counted. Automatically generated entries or entries via agents or third parties are invalid and shall not be counted.

4. Only one entry per person per social media platform.

5. To enter on Twitter, you must Retweet @theericapp’s competition post and follow @theericapp and @getintobooks.

6. To enter on Instagram, you must share @theericapp’s competition post to your Stories, tag @theericapp and follow @theericapp on Instagram.

6. All valid entries will be entered into a prize draw which will take place on 14th November 2022. The first entry drawn at random by an independent person will be the winner of the main prize. Entrants who do not win the main prize may be contacted by ERIC via Direct Message and offered a discount code on Get Into Book Publishing’s ‘Transferable Skills for Publishing’ course.

7. The prize is 1 place on Get Into Book Publishing’s ‘Transferable Skills for Publishing’ course, taking place on the 19th and 20th November 2022. The prize is non-transferable and no cash alternative will be offered.

8. Events may occur which render the awarding of the prize impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the promoter and the promoter may, at its absolute discretion, vary, amend, suspend or withdraw the prize with or without notice.

9. The winners will be notified by Direct Message on the relevant platform (Twitter if the entrant entered via Twitter, Instagram if the entrant entered via Instagram) within 1 working day of the closing date. The winners must claim their prize within 24 hours of the promoter (ERIC) sending notification. If the prize is unclaimed after this time, it will lapse and the promoter reserves the right to offer the unclaimed prize to a substitute winner selected in accordance with these rules.

10. The winner agrees to the promoter’s use of their name and Instagram and/or Twitter handle in relation to the promoter’s publicity material.

11. Promoter will use any data submitted by entrants only for the purposes of running this prize draw unless otherwise stated in the entry details. By entering this prize draw, all entrants consent to the use of their personal data by the promoter for the purposes of the administration of this prize draw and any other purposes to which the entrant has consented.

12. Promoter may disqualify any entrant whose entry does not comply with these terms and conditions (in promoter’s sole opinion) or who, in promoter’s sole determination, has acted in a manner that is fraudulent, dishonest, or unjust to other entrants including, without limitation, tampering with the operation of the competition, manipulating or rigging votes, hacking, deceiving, cheating or by harassing or threatening other entrants, the panel or a representative of the promoter.

13. The promoter’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into in relation to the competition.

14. These terms and conditions are subject to English Law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

ERIC 11/7/22 ERIC 11/7/22

Do you need a degree to work in the creative industries?

The short answer to this is no, you don't!

There are so many opportunities out there that scale from training programmes and short courses, to entry level jobs and long term placements that need no degree or prior experience. The creative industries have rapidly become largely welcoming to those without a degree who hold relevant experience.

If you still want to study whilst actively working in the creative industries:

- Apprenticeships
- Internships
- Training schemes
- Learning at work scheme (complete a degree alongside your job)
- Traineeship

What you can do without a degree:

- Find and secure an entry level role
- Apply for and secure a training scheme (e.g. The John Schofield Trust Mentoring Scheme for Journalism or First Artist Managements' C.A.M.P. scheme)
- Complete an internship
- Complete an apprenticeship
- Complete a work experience placement
- Complete a traineeship
- Start your own business
- Work as a freelancer
- Complete any type of course (whether that be online or in person, short or long)

A lot of companies are now committed to hiring based on training, which expands their pool of talent that they can dip into and acquire, so realistically it's a win win both for the company and for the applicants!

Companies who hire with no degree necessary:
Apple
Google
Penguin Random House
Christie's Auction House
Warner Music
Sony
The Tate
Channel 4

And many more👏

If you want to find apprenticeships, internships, courses, training schemes or entry level roles, ERIC is the place to be!

🚨 Check it out on the app store now 🚨

ERIC 11/2/22 ERIC 11/2/22

What jobs can you do in Creative Writing?

If you’re reading this, there may be a good potential that you're interested in creative writing and want a job in the industry! Or you might want to start building your skills to go into a particular role. You might even have a creative writing degree, but you're not sure what jobs are out there for you.

There are so many careers that you could go into! Creative writing careers can include writing fiction and nonfiction books, screenplays, magazine articles and blog posts, among many other exciting options.

We're here to give you an insight into some of the career paths you could start exploring! Check out the short list below that feature just some of the roles you could go into that use creative writing skills:

1. Author
2. Freelance writer
3. Copywriter
4. Journalist
5. Social Media Specialist
6. Email Marketing Specialist
7. Ghostwriter
8. Screenwriter
9. Editorial Assistant
10. Lexicographer
11. Marketing executive

As a creative writer, you could establish yourself in a few different ways. You could work freelance, doing work for companies, agencies or for individuals, you could work within a company as a full time employee, or you could establish yourself as self-employed and write for yourself.

If freelancing could be up your street, then why not have a read of one of our other blog posts ‘What freelance work can I do in the Creative Industries?’ which covers freelance roles, communities for the self employed and websites where you could start to explore how you could share your services!

Find that blog post here

So, if you're interested in kickstarting your career in creative writing, why not go and check out the opportunities on our app that relate to these roles?👀

Download on IOS and Android now

ERIC 10/31/22 ERIC 10/31/22

World Animation Day!👾

So, how did International Animation Day come about? In 2002, the International Animated Film Association (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation) created this 'unofficial' holiday to commemorate the day when animation had its first public appearance.

This was October 28, 1892, at the Grévin Museum in Paris, when Charles-Émile Reynaud and his Théâtre Optique presented his first production, “Pantomimes Lumineuses.” It was a collection of three cartoons, ‘Pauvre Pierrot,’ ‘Un bon bock,’ and ‘Le Clown Et Ses Chiens.’

Animation started with the french, and has developed into an incredible industry that has kept us all entertained for many decades. The UK Animation industry truly has set itself apart, with popular features including Shaun the Sheep, Peppa Pig, Danger Mouse, Early Man and Ethel & Earnest.

There are lots of roles available in the Animation industry! Whether you want to work in production, distribution or development, there's room for many different types of creatives.

Roles in Animation:

Producer
Production Coordinator
Runner
Concept Artist
Writer
Art Director
Background designer
Character designer
Head of story
Modeller/model maker
Storyboard artist
Rigger
Layout artist
Lighting artist
Animator
Compositor
Composer
Edit assistant
Sound designer
Marketing executive

And now you're probably thinking, that's great, but how do I get to these roles? A good majority of the roles available do require some experience, but don't despair, if you've got no experience then you can start right at the beginning, possibly with an organisation like Aardman Academy, who have courses that will build your animation knowledge.

Sometimes some companies have trainee roles available as well, which usually request some experience in tech programmes such as the adobe suite (photoshop, indesign etc). If this has piqued your interest in the animation industry, check out our microsite which has a full run down of the animation industry!👏

ERIC 10/25/22 ERIC 10/25/22

Creative resources for half term learning

We’ve made a list of some great creative industries resources that are perfect for students, parents and teachers!

Want to explore the creative industries over half term?

Or maybe you’re a teacher who wants to bring some creative industry exploration into your classroom.

We’ve got a list below of some great creative industry resources that are perfect for students, parents and teachers! Why not have a nosey?

ERIC School Resources Hub
- https://www.meet-eric.com/explore-the-creative-industries
- Help your students to explore the creative industries during the half term week!
Artsmark classroom activities & creativity hub
- https://www.artsmark.org.uk/celebrate-artsmark
- Artsmark Celebration Week takes place from 7-11th November and aims to celebrate the importance of community in young people’s lives! - If you want to get your class involved, why not check out these awesome classroom activities & creativity hub?
Discover! Creative Careers
- https://discovercreative.careers/students-and-parents/
- Discover has a great Creative Careers hub that is open to students, parents and teachers to explore a variety of different roles within the 16 creative industries!
Future Goals
- https://futuregoals.co.uk/engage/educators-and-advisers/creative-toolkit/
- Burberry and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership in partnership with Future Goals have created a toolkit full of creative industries teaching resources!
Create Industries Council
- https://www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk/facts-figures
- Creative Industries Council share lots of important information and stats about the goings on in the creative industries at the moment!
Creative UK
- https://www.wearecreative.uk/
- Creative UK takes a deeper look at creative enterprise and investment opportunities in the UK creative industries.
Freelance UK
- https://www.freelanceuk.com/
- Freelance UK is a great resource for anyone who wants to work freelance. With lots of resources, you can start to explore what it’s like to work freelance in the creative industries and what you need to know.
Creative Industry Quiz
- https://www.wonderwhat.co.uk/
- Wonder What is an image-based quiz for young people to see what creative industry they're most suited to!
Unboxed Learning Programme
- https://unboxed2022.uk/learning-programme
- UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK houses a free UK-wide learning programme on themes that bring together STEM and the arts.