So the exams are done, you’ve got your results, and the whole world is your oyster.
But no matter how well results day goes, the question of ‘What’s next?!’ can feel like a daunting one, and the jump from education to the world of work often feels absolutely massive.
It’s why The Digital Youth Hub has been created – a completely free six-week course that will ease the transition, give you some seriously useful skills to move forward with, and put you to the front of interview queues.
Through workshops, masterclasses and skills sessions, you’ll learn how to create content, build a digital CV and find out about ways to access Greater Manchester’s booming creative jobs market.
You can get a taste for industries like marketing, photography, web development, social media management, copywriting, podcasting and discover the employment opportunities available for young people equipped with creative digital skills.
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Each member of The Digital Youth Hub will have access to one-to-one sessions with a talent manager too, to help plan their next career steps.
The scheme comes from SharpFutures and the DWP and has been created specifically for 18-24 year olds who live in Greater Manchester and aren’t in full-time work or studies.
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The Digital Youth Hub consists of 3 elements: a physical place (at leading digital hub The Sharp Project) to create content, a virtual space to learn and be inspired and an online platform to develop and explore digital skills as you’re learning.
The Sharp Project
The Sharp Project itself, in Newton Heath, is home to more than 60 digital entrepreneurs and production companies specialising in digital content production, digital media and TV and film production – one of which is SharpFutures.
Towards the end of the 6 weeks Digital Youth Hub members will be interviewed to join the SharpFutures POD scheme, which provides a talent pool of people who can be booked to assist on exciting projects with clients such as the BBC and Channel 4.
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The Digital Youth Hub states: “There are a huge amount of job opportunities out there for young people that can create content, do social media marketing and understand how businesses use digital so we’ve designed a programme to help develop these skills”
“Confidence in using programmes such as: Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva and Google Docs puts you to the front of the interview queue. With additional knowledge and skills in social media management and content creation or project planning and budgeting again increasing your likelihood of employability.
“The Digital Youth Hub aims to give young people these digital life skills that will not only help them gain employment but make them a much more valuable staff member. Many of these skills are easily transferable so if they do change career paths or even decide to be their own boss, they are already a few steps ahead.”
Morrisons introduces new quiet hours to make stores less ‘overwhelming’ for shoppers
Emily Sergeant
Morrisons has decided to extend its popular ‘Quieter Hour’ across the UK to help make its stores less “overwhelming” for shoppers.
Introduced earlier this month to mark World Autism Acceptance Week, and in a bid to turn what can be a daunting task for many people into “a calmer and more enjoyable experience”, the supermarket chain has announced an extension to its already popular initiative by adding new ‘Quieter Hours’ during weekday afternoons.
In case you weren’t aware, Morrisons first introduced its Quieter Hour all the way back in July 2018, and has been welcoming people who may struggle supermarket shopping environments through its doors ever since.
The initiative – which initially took place between 9am and 10am on a Saturday, and for the first hour of trade on a Sunday – originally began as part of the National Autistic Society’s ‘Autism Hour campaign’, after it was found that some neurodiverse people, including those with autism, can find shopping in a supermarket “overwhelming”.
Morrisons has introduced new quiet hours to make stores less ‘overwhelming’ for shoppers / Credit: Morrisons
Supermarkets can lead many people to experience increased sensitivity to light and sound, such as loud music, bright lights, and busy environments, and in turn, this can cause anxiety or, in some of the worst cases, even physical pain.
But now, after the trial has proved to be so successful and well-received, Morrisons has made the decision to extended the initiative to weekdays too, as well as weekends – with ‘Quieter Hours’ now also running every week from Monday to Thursday between 2-3pm.
The company says the extension is all with the aim of “helping even more customers”.
During ‘Quieter Hours’, Morrisons stores operate lower levels of lighting, turn music and radios off, avoid making tannoy announcements, reduce movement of trolleys and baskets, and turn checkout beeps and other electrical noises down.
“The weekly shop can be a daunting task for those who may struggle with noises associated with it,” commented Charlotte Exell, who is the Business Sponsor of Ability at Morrisons.
“At Morrisons, we are always looking for more ways to support customers, and as the Quieter Hour is incredibly popular in our stores across the nation, we have listened to customers and will now help more shoppers in our extended times.”
Featured Image – Morrisons
Business
The BBC is looking for Manc entrepreneurs for a new series of The Apprentice
Emily Sergeant
Reckon you’ve got what it takes to be Lord Sugar’s next business partner?
The current 2024 season of The Apprentice might be coming to a close, but the show is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
In fact, there’s already a chance to apply for the next season of the hit TV show.
Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur with a business-savvy mind, someone who’s always just fancied themselves for doing well in the field, or you have a business idea that you think could be the next big thing, everyone is encouraged to apply for the new series – and the BBC is particularly calling on people from Greater Manchester.
Basically, as long as “you think you’ve got the talent and confidence to impress Britain’s toughest backer”, then the show’s producers are keen to hear from you.
A casting call on the BBC website reads: “Could you be his next investment? If you think you’ve got the talent and confidence to impress Britain’s toughest backer, the process starts here. The winning candidate will receive an investment and go into a 50:50 business with Lord Sugar. Fighting it out for his investment candidates will take part in twelve tough tasks to win one life-changing opportunity.”
There’s a few simple questions to answer as part of the initial process, but the two major ones where you’ll have your chance to set yourself apart from the rest are:
Why should you be Lord Sugar’s business partner?
What’s the most impressive thing you’ve ever done in business?
The BBC is looking for Manc entrepreneurs for a new season of The Apprentice / Credit: BBC
Applications are now open and close on 1 December 2024 at 23:59, with successful candidates set to be contacted for interviews in the new year.
Initial interviews will be taking place across the UK, and at least two dates have been pencilled for Manchester, Leeds, and/or Birmingham, with additional interviews to decide on the final candidates then set to follow in early 2025, and filming for the series due to takes place for 10 to 12 weeks from 7 April – 22 June 2025.
Daisy Jackson -
18th August 2022 
