Creating the future of digital media
The creative industries were worth an estimated £126bn in 2022, with over 2.4m jobs in the sector in 2023-24. This is set to increase over the coming years, with the government announcing £380m in targeted funding across the UK as part of its Creative Industries Sector Plan.
In order to tap into this growing sector, and to help develop a local pipeline of talent, Go Higher West Yorkshire (GHWY) organised a Go Higher in Digital Media Day for a group of Year 12-13 students.
Delivered in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), the event gave the young people insight into educational pathways into the sector. It also helped to raise awareness of its many and varied jobs, which include web design specialists, fashion designers and art directors.
Talks and hands-on workshops
The event, hosted at Production Park in South Elmsall, was supported and delivered by inspirational academics and staff from the Academy of Live Technology (ALT).
Students from three West Yorkshire colleges took part in a series of interactive workshops that explored digital media careers, progression pathways, entry requirements, and skills required to work in the sector. Activities included:
- In introduction to LED wall building, in which students found out more about the science of light detection. They were also able to handle equipment such as stage lighting and special FX equipment.
- An overview of the sector in which students learned about some of the transferable skills that are required to work in digital media and the Higher Education (HE) options that are available.
- A tour of Production Park, which includes purpose-built studio space and commercial facilities that create stages for some of the world’s biggest tours.
- An ALT insight that considered the use of virtual technologies in film and television, with students’ knowledge being tested with a team marketing assignment.
Increased knowledge and awareness
Preliminary analysis of learner survey results shows an increased understanding of what it is like to work in digital skills industries after attending the event (26.6% pre-event, increasing to 63.3% post-event).
Learners also reported an increased interest in HE after the event, with two students noting they were now ‘excited’ and ‘interested’ in continuing their education.
The event was well received by staff and academics at ALT. Grace Rafton, Outreach Officer at ALT, said: “The day broadened the horizons of live events for the young people and how they can progress into the sector.”
Deryk Jones, Entertainment Technology & Production Instructor at ALT, highlighted the need to recruit young to fill the skills gap left, “after freelancers moved into other jobs during Covid.”
Programme of events
GHWY delivered five Go Higher in… days in 2024-25. Guided by Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), they provided students with high quality and meaningful experiences of the workplace. They also offered insights into progression pathways, employer interactions, and real-life skills development.
Read the case studies of our events:
