Sky Sports and Department of Education Opens Transfer Window for Industry Professionals

The Department for Education (DFE) is running a new national TV campaign, ‘Teach in Further Education’ with Sky, tapping into the excitement around the football transfer window. Featuring Sky Sports presenter, Mike Wedderburn the campaign is calling on industry professionals to transfer their industry skills to further education (FE) teaching.

Created in partnership with Sky Media, the advertising sales arm of Sky, the campaign creative is inspired by the football Transfer Window, which sees footballers transferring from club to club. Similarly, the Teach in FE campaign features stories of those who have made the move from industry into FE teaching, cleverly incorporating the theme of ‘transfer your skills’, delivered in the iconic breaking news format synonymous with Sky Sports News.

This multi-platform partnership spans various Sky platforms including TV both in home and in pubs via Sky Sports, Sky AdVance, digital video, and social activations across Facebook and Instagram. The campaign warms-up from 26th of January, with pre-roll content featured on Sky Sports’ Website and App building up to the Transfer Deadline Day. The TV ad will then take centre stage on Sky Sports from the 1st of February.

The campaign features Engineering Lecturer, Rosa Wells; Construction Skills and Bricklaying Lecturer, Dean Carpenter; and Civil Engineering Lecturer, Hassan Ahmed, who have all used their first-hand experience and passion to inspire pupils.

Rosa Wells, Engineering Lecturer, University College Birmingham said, “I’m proud to be supporting this campaign and raising awareness for the opportunities the further education sector offers to industry professionals. The work further education teachers and colleges do helps build communities, support businesses, and inspire the next pipeline of talent.”

Sky Sports Presenter Mike Wedderburn who is supporting the campaign said, “Industry professionals have a real opportunity to inspire the next generation by teaching in Further Education. The role can be really flexible with opportunities to teach full time, part time and on an ad hoc basis alongside your current job. There’s a wide range of courses from healthcare to construction, whatever your industry, there’s likely a job in FE to match.”

Sarah Jones, director of planning at Sky Media said, “It’s great to work with the Department for Education to tap into the buzz around Transfer Deadline Day in a really creative way. The 'Transfer Your Skills’ campaign is the perfect contextual opportunity to encourage people from different careers to consider teaching in a relatable and engaging way.”