These networking events – created by young people – should be on your new-year-new-me list if you are looking to kickstart your career within the media and creative sector.
With research figures showing the UK’s creative sector contributing more than £100 billion per year to the economy and employing around 2 million people, there is no denying the big impact it has on our daily lives.
Whether you are thinking about switching jobs or just starting to build your personal portfolio – check out our top five networking events that can help you break into the media and creative sector:
ERIC Festival
ERIC is a radical career service supporting diverse young people – aged 16 to 25 – into the creative and digital industries using immersive careers fair and online content offering tips and insight into surviving within the sector.
With over 30,000 members using the free careers platform, ERIC targets roles within Theatre and Performing Arts, Broadcast Media, Music, Publishing, Fashion, Film, and Advertising and Marketing.
Founders of ERIC, Samantha Hornsby and Mae Yip, launched this free modern-day job fair event in 2017 to teach young people on how to break into the creative job market
The ERIC festival takes place every month and attendees are treated to an evening of LIVE music and performances, workshops, youth-led talks, and networking.
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SocialFIXT
This digital job listing platform was launched by Mercedes Benson in 2017 to connect the creative industry with talent from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community. The social enterprise is fixed on solving the lack of diversity within the creative sector and making it more accessible.
SocialFIXT also runs a series of bi-monthly networking events – #FIXTSERIES – which takes a step further by connecting members offline through workshops to share ideas and opportunities to develop their creative skills and secure their money bag. Its networking event also offers panel-led discussions and debates on several topics including, gender equality and knowing the value of your skills.
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We Are Black Journos
We Are Black Journos was launched in 2018 by Hannah Ajala – a freelance broadcast journalist at the BBC – as an event and networking platform spotlighting and connecting Black journalists working within the British print, digital and broadcasting industry.
Aimed at making visible the black journalists working within the UK mainstream media industry, We Are Black Journos (WABJ) is also a community for journalists and it is led by journalists to support its media members and those new to the world of journalism.
Hannah Ajala’s vision for this networking group is to ‘create a safe space’ where Black journalists can connect and share ideas to grow in an industry lacking in diversity.
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Puds And Co Bingo Mixer
Puds And Co Bingo Mixer, run by social marketing agency Puds And Co, is an exclusive event for freelancers and small business owners to socialise and grow their professional network. With a focus on engagement and community, attendees share their career experiences and connect with other members over a game of bingo.
The Puds And Co agency was founded by Elizabeth Puddicombe in 2018 and she also hosts a regular podcast featuring interviews with freelancers and founders discussing and offering tips on how to use social media for personal branding.
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Black Professionals (BYP) Network
The Black Professionals (BYP) network is a technology startup connecting corporate businesses with Black professionals looking for job roles, mentoring and peer-to-peer collaboration.
Known as the ‘LinkedIn for black professionals, the BYP network was founded in 2016 by Kike Oniwinde – a former Great Britain Javelin Thrower – and she wants to tackle diversity issues facing companies struggling to recruit black talent.
Members can use its free app to access job boards, create their own career profile, connect with other BYP members from across the business sector, and get invites to regular recruitment fairs, conferences and other creative social events.
Post By – Adele Duah Amponsah
Images (including main image) – courtesy of ERIC | BYP Network | We Are Black Journos | Puds And Co | SocialFIXT
Updated – 27th November 2019
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