MullenLowe Launches Creative Internship Programme to Hire Fresh Talent in a Post-Covid World

MullenLowe’s creative department is on the hunt for Suckers! With adland notoriously hard to get into and Covid-19 changing the nature of work, MullenLowe acknowledges the extraordinary pressures on entry level talent today. MullenLowe has always believed in harnessing diverse, emerging talent so has therefore created this internship for creatives, Suckers, to ensure a broad range of people have the opportunity to get their foot in the door. 

MullenLowe are offering people, 18 or over, a month’s placement to work with the agency on a range of clients’ challenges. This will be an ongoing programme for the agency with the intention to replicate bi-annually at a minimum.

As we enter the UK’s largest recession this millenium, there’s never been a more apt time to inspire and support the younger generation and those looking to break into the industry than today. Some startling statistics:

- 65% of Gen-Z have seen their incomes reduce during the pandemic (Kantar)

- The number of UK internships available has fallen by 64% in the past 12 months as the Coronavirus pandemic has hit hiring hard (Glassdoor)

- Institute of Student Employers (ISE) says that the number of internships and placements available will also fall by 40%.

- The ISE research also shows that all types of entry-level roles have been reduced this year because of Coronavirus. Employers are hiring 32% fewer people onto apprentice or school leaver programmes than planned this year and graduate jobs have been cut by 12%.

Siobhan Brunwin, people director at MullenLowe Group UK, said: “At Mullenlowe Group UK we want to play our part in ensuring a new generation of creative talent get equal opportunities to enter our brilliant industry by removing as many barriers as possible. Adland’s got a reputation for being nepotistic, and with London often seen as crucial to succeeding in this industry we wanted to create a virtual placement to offer the opportunity up to the entirety of the phenomenal talent across the UK. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on businesses the availability of internships has fallen by 64%, meaning it’s even harder to enter work. We decided now was the perfect time to launch this programme. We whole-heartedly celebrate diversity and want to open our doors to those who may be struggling at this time, and who have a real passion for all things creative, not just those who have the funds or education to wander in.”

Senior creative at MullenLowe in London, Charlotte Khushi, added: “Getting a foot in the door in the creative industry is hard enough without a pandemic making it damn near impossible, being from minority backgrounds ourselves, my creative partner Lucy and I wanted to create a programme that opens up the industry. This is a search for talented people across the country that can be left behind at the best of times, be it for socioeconomic reasons, or not having the right network to succeed. Suckers is our commitment to putting a diverse range of creative thinkers on a level playing field.”

You can find the Sucker application here where it will be available to enter for three weeks.