Sky expands apprenticeship scheme to attract brightest school leavers

12-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Sky is giving talented young people from across the country the chance to start a career in the television industry with the launch of a newly expanded apprenticeship scheme. Applications are open from now and over the coming weeks for the 98 apprenticeship places available under the scheme.

Successful applicants will receive training and support to develop valuable skills in areas such as broadcast operations, creative services and marketing. The expansion of Sky’s apprenticeship scheme to these new areas builds on the success of its apprenticeships in Technology, Engineering and Customer Service, which have already helped over 300 young people to kick start their working life.

The company, which is one of the UK’s most significant employers in technology, media and entertainment, is expanding the scheme thanks to highly positive feedback from last year’s participants.

Deborah Baker, Director for People, Sky, said: “We’re giving bright and hardworking school leavers the opportunity to get their foot in the door of the media industry. This is the most varied apprenticeship programme we have offered to date and we know that young people will bring enthusiasm and fresh ideas to Sky.”

“As a business, we know that investing in youth and creating opportunities at a junior level is essential to our future growth. We look forward to welcoming the successful candidates in the summer.”

Sky has also announced six new places on its Fast Forward programme (see details here), in this its third year, which offers Year 13 (age 18) students from local schools near Sky’s Osterley headquarters the chance to gain full time paid employment at Sky for one year after leaving school. The programme, offers placements within different areas of the business including Sky Sports, Sky News, Sky Creative, Sky Entertainment and Broadcast Operations.

Deborah Baker continued: “It is important to Sky that local people benefit from our success as a business.  We hope that the Fast Forward and apprenticeship schemes will give young people a route into an exciting and rewarding career, as well as helping to ensure we have a diverse workforce that is representative of the local community.”

The following apprenticeships are currently open for applications:

• Marketing & Creative:  5 vacancies, Osterley, West London (3 marketing places only available to Hounslow residents)
• Technology (Broadcast Service):  2 vacancies, Osterley, West London
• Technology (Customer Information Systems):  8 vacancies, Livingston; 5 vacancies, Osterley, West London
• Broadcast Operations:  2 vacancies, Osterley, West London
• Technology (Sky Network Services):  6 vacancies, Slough, Osterley and Central London

Deadline for applications:  10th March 2013.  For full details visit: www.workforsky.com/apprentices

Applications will be open for the following programmes over the coming weeks:

• Customer Operations:  50 vacancies, Nationwide
• Home Service & Supply:  20 vacancies, Nationwide

For full details visit: www.workforsky.com/apprentices

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For more information:

Clara Eldridge, Sky Corporate Communications
Email: clara.eldridge@bskyb.com

About Sky :

Sky entertains and excites more than 10.7 million homes through the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky 1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Living pushes ahead with fresh and innovative entertainment formats; Sky Arts is the UK’s only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Atlantic is the home to HBO and other iconic drama and comedy, Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; Sky News remains a pioneer in television news; and Sky Movies is leading the way in High Definition and on-demand.

Sky also works with dozens of other broadcasters on the satellite platform, as well as online and on mobile through the ground-breaking Sky Go service.  Sky has also led the UK into the age of high definition television, launched Europe’s first 3DTV channel, Sky 3D, and offers customer even more flexibility and choice through Sky Anytime+, its internet-delivered video on demand service.   Since launching Sky Broadband and Sky Talk in 2006, the company has also been the UK’s fastest-growing home communications provider.

Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates, not least by increasing participation in, and access to, the arts, supporting grassroots sports, and taking positive action on the environment.

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