A week in the life of a Communications Assistant 

Lauren Bell, Communications Assistant, Newcastle University (Alumni Relations)

As a Communications Assistant with the Newcastle University Advancement team, Lauren took the skills and experience she gained from her placement year and degree in Business and applied her creative mind to producing content for community of over 230,000 alumni. It's hard to get a full picture of just what a communications role entails from a job description online, so check out this blog post which takes you through a week of Lauren's responsibilities as a Communications Assistant in Higher Education.

Got a question for Lauren? Connect on LinkedIn 

The Creative Freelancer: How to Succeed 

Melanie Shee, Shee's Creative 

Melanie Shee of Shee's Creative has spent almost 10 years working as a freelancer across the creative industries, supporting many creative business and freelancers along the way. If you’re thinking of setting up on your own or looking to build your portfolio career, this blog takes you through some key points to think about - from costing your services and market research, to the skills you will need and how to get further support.

Starting a business in a global pandemic? You ‘ken’ do it! 

Ross Palmer, Founder and Creative Consultant, We Are Ken

Ross Palmer started 2020 in his usual role of Creative Director and on the first Monday of Lockdown One in March, as the world was Googling ‘sourdough yeasts’, he was having a redundancy meeting over this new thing called ‘Zoom’. With no viable (and local) employment options to be found and no furlough on the horizon, Ross formed We Are Ken. A global pandemic may have provided the catalyst for his dream of setting up his business, but how has he managed to get work in? What has the last 12 months been like and what lessons has he learned?

Take a read through the blog for answers to all these questions and find more about the inspiring story of how Ken came to be. Bonus points are given to those who can name the songs from the section headers!

Find out more about Ross and We Are Ken @we_are_ken

How to build your portfolio with News Associates

A question on the lips of every aspiring journalist is how to build your portfolio to impress employers. What should you include? How should you present it? Find out all your answers in this Blog post from New Associates officially ranked as the UK’s number one NCTJ journalism school.

Connect and follow on social media @NewsAssociates

From History Graduate to Editorial Development Assistant: How to build a Career outside of your degree field at university

Zoë Crowther, Editorial Development Assistant, News Associates

Your degree provides excellent transferable skills and knowledge, but it's possible to carve out a career outside your chosen field of study. Learn more about how Newcastle University history graduate Zoe took on extracurricular activities to help take her first steps into the creative labour market after university and continues on her goal forging a career in marketing and journalism.

Graduating into the 2008 financial crash: lessons learnt

Scott Forbes, Marketing, Programming and Events Coordinator at Liberdade Community Development Trust (Gosforth Civic Theatre)

Graduating into a labour market recovering from the effects of three national lockdowns and Covid-19 is a daunting prospect for many, particular for those looking for opportunities in the creative industry which have been hit hard by this pandemic.

In this blog post, Scott Forbes, Newcastle University English Language graduate, shares his experience and the lessons he has learnt from gradating in 2008 and being faced with a recession and a financial crisis. Find out more about his journey to becoming Head of Marketing & Programming Coordinator at Gosforth Civil Theatre and his advice for success.

5 Reasons Why I Love Working for Gosforth Civic Theatre. A Case for Your Creative Career in Culture  

Scott Forbes, Marketing, Programming and Events Coordinator at Liberdade Community Development Trust (Gosforth Civic Theatre)

We are blessed with a vibrant cultural scene in the North East and especially Newcastle, where we're truly spoiled with unique and adored theatres, music venues, and cultural spaces. Scott Forbes has worked within that cultural landscape for the last six years, first at Sage Gateshead, and for the last three at Gosforth Civic Theatre.

In this blog post, find out more about his role as a Marketing & Programming Coordinator and the top 5 reasons why he loves his job!

Find out more about Gosforth Civic Theatre on YouTube. 

Breaking into TV: How I made it as a Boom Operator with ITV

Tom McVeigh, Boom Operator, ITV

Since completing a degree in Broadcast Media Production at Teesside University, Tom McVeigh has developed his career across film and TV working as a runner, sound assistant and now Boom Operator with ITV on the set of Coronation Street.

In this blog post, Tom has answered some questions about his route into this role and what top tips he would give to those looking to build a career in film and TV production. 

Ask me anything! On Instagram Q&A (all day)

Bis Stringer Horne, Freelance Comic Book Editor

Join us on our Instagram stories for a chance to ask question to Bis Stringer Horne who has spent the past 10 years forging a career within comic books and now works freelance as a Comic Book Editor across the UK and USA. Find out more about Bis and what they do. 

The life of a Creative Freelancer, premieres on YouTube at 11:00 

Meg Savage, Creative Freelancer, Musician, Podcast Host, & Senior Creative Strategist. Canny Creative Podcast and This is Creative Enterprise (TICE)

Working as a creative freelancer since the age of 18, Meg has many strings to her bow. Not only is she currently completing her MA in Arts, Business and Creativity, she is one half of pop duo Luna Blue, podcast co-host for Canny Creative, Senior Creative Strategist for This is Creative Enterprise and if that wasn't enough she also takes on freelance content generation requests and leads a local North East choir. With so many plates to keep spinning and demands on her time Meg has sat down with a coffee to give us her top tips for productivity and surviving a portfolio career. 

Filmmaking: The Role of a Producer, premieres on YouTube at 11:00

Steve Bowden, Producer, Vita Nova Films

What does a film producer do? Steve Bowden, Senior Producer and Founder of Vita Nova Films, with almost 30 years experience in filmmaking, has over 50 audio visual projects including feature films, short films and television productions under his belt. Hear Steve take you through the realities of a producers role and what it take to get a film made!

Check out the Vita Nova slate and connect with Steve on LinkedIn

 Ask me anything! On Instagram Q&A (all day)

Steve Bowden, Producer, Vita Nova Films

Join Steve on our Instagram stories after the premiere of his YouTube video, for the chance to ask your questions about his career, filmmaking and the role entrepreneurship has played in his career. 

The Key to Success in a Creative Career: Networking and Personal Branding, premieres on YouTube at 11:00

Scott Goodacre, Founder and Director, Scott Digital

All ready and prepared to launch his new digital marketing business in March 2020, Coronavirus hit at just the wrong time for Scott Goodacre and his new venture, Scott Digital. After losing all the projects he'd lined up, Scott has managed to bounce back and make his new business a success. With a very busy 12 months under his belt, Scott is now ready to expand his team and take on new staff.

So what has been the key to success in a time of great turmoil in the marketing landscape? For Scott, it has been his network and personal brand. In this video, Scott will take you through his approach to securing new opportunities and common mistakes to watch out for. 

Ask me anything! On Instagram Q&A (all day)

Scott Goodacre, Founder and Director, Scott Digital

Join Scott on our Instagram stories after the premiere of his YouTube video to ask your questions about starting Scott Digital during the pandemic, the keys to his success over the past 12 months, networking for opportunities and developing your personal brand. Find out more about Scott Digital and connect on Twitter and Instagram. 

Ask me anything: The Responses, Instagram Stories

Steve Bowden, Producer, Vita Nova Films

On Tuesday you had the chance to ask Steve all about his career and filmmaking. Tune into to our stories at 1:00PM for his responses. 

Graduating into a challenging job market: Top tips from someone who has been their and done it, on Instagram

Rachel Pattinson, Centre for Doctoral Training (Digital Civics) Manager, Open Lab, Newcastle University 

Covid has had an impact on the creative industries and there is no denying that it presents a unique set of challenges to those graduating and looking to enter the work force. The 2008 cohort were presented with a similar challenge, exiting university at the peak of the financial crash. Rachel Pattinson is one of these graduates who is here to share her top tips for success.

Rachel was recently awarded a 2020 TechWomen100 award, has had a career that spans across tech, theatre, charities and has a passion for emerging technologies, social innovation and the creative industries. She is also a director and trustee of award-winning theatre and creative learning charity, Mortal Fools.

Want to connect with Rachel? Follow her on Twitter at @rachelalmost

In conversation with Lily Daniels, premieres on YouTube at 10:00

Lily Daniels, Participation & Engagement Officer at Seventeen Nineteen - Churches Conservation Trust

Newcastle University finalist Lander Velazquez Rodriguez sits down for a chat with Lily Daniels, Participation & Engagement Officer at 17Ninteen. Find out what Lily has to say about taking on a new job at the outset of a global pandemic, how Covid has affected her role and get tips for entering the heritage industry.

With an MA in Inclusive Arts Practice ,Lily also tell us a little more about the important of representation and inclusion in heritage. Head over for the YouTube premiere at 11:00 (or watch now below) and join in with the Facebook Live inclusion picnic at 12:00 on the 17Nineteen Facebook page. 

Scott Goodacre - Ask me anything: The Responses, Instagram Stories

Scott Goodacre, Founder and Director, Scott Digital

On Wednesday, you had the chance to ask Scott all about his experience starting a business during the pandemic and how to develop your network and personal brand.

Tune into to our Instagram stories at 11:00 for his responses. 

Bis Stringer Horne - Ask me anything: The Responses, Instagram Stories

Bis Stringer Horne, Freelance Comic Book Editor

On Monday you had the chance to ask Bis all about their career and the comic book industry.

Tune into to our stories at 13:00 for their responses. 

Meet the team behind Generator, premieres on YouTube at 11:00

Generator: Hannah Matterson, CEO; Mick Ross, CFO; Nick Sheffield, Creative & Digital Programme Manager; Sarah Barron, Admin & Events Coordinator; Alex Hill, Marketing Manager; Hannah Walkinshaw, Talent Development Manager

Sit down with Generator, a music and business support agency on a mission to create successful and sustainable creative and digital industries in the North East.

Join Newcastle University Music students, Pipa and Chyaro, currently on a work placement at Generator, as they interview the six person strong team responsible for delivering masterclasses, song writing residencies and networking events about their careers and how they came to work for Generator.