Channel 4 launches new iteration of Content Creatives Scheme to help young creatives progress in the industry

Channel 4’s training and development arm, 4Skills, has today announced Content Creatives+, a new development scheme designed to help young digital creatives in the North of England progress in the industry.

The scheme builds on the 4Skills’ programme, Content Creatives, which has provided hands-on practical training in creative digital techniques to more than 100 people since its launch in 2021. The programme has helped young people from lower-socio economic backgrounds secure their first entry-level creative roles and develop their skills through dedicated work placements with dozens of creative agencies and organisations across the North of England. Many participants have gone on to secure full-time employment.

Content Creatives+ will support several alumni of the original programme, with 4Skills offering them fully paid placements with Leeds and Manchester based businesses for a minimum of two months. Building on the learnings of the foundations programme of Content Creatives, this intervention aims to support people to progress in their careers, identifying and addressing barriers to employment for young people from underrepresented groups.

The scheme is supported by freelance creative recruiting agency, We Are The Allies, who are supporting in identifying suitable opportunities, and social enterprise SharpFutures, who are supporting participants during their time on the scheme.

Businesses hosting the placements include NewGen, MOB, and SocialChain.

Charlotte Michael, Senior Portfolio Lead, Nations & Regions at Channel 4, said:

“We’re excited to help our fantastic alumni to take the next step in their careers, through meaningful work placements allowing them to build on the foundational knowledge they’ve gained. This scheme will help those who may have stepped away from the sector to reconnect and enable all to grow their skills further.”

Ismaeel Afzal, who has begun a placement in the scheme, said:

“I graduated from the Channel 4 Content Creatives programme in 2025, having learnt a huge amount and I’ve been really excited to develop my creative career. I have been looking for roles so this paid placement with NewGen is an amazing opportunity. I’ve really enjoyed my first two weeks of placement and I’m learning so much from the NewGen team and the client work they do.”

Tom Clarke, Head of Creative at SharpFutures, said:

“We are very excited to working with Channel 4 on this programme – supporting a group of our Content Creatives alumni from the last 5 years into placements with some of the North’s very best creative agencies is a huge opportunity for each participant and continues Channel 4’s support of developing talent in the region. I’m sure each participant’s professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication will make their placements a hugely positive experience for everyone involved.”

Pavan Ward, CEO at We are The Allies, said:

“At We are The Allies, we’re on a mission to connect the UK’s best creative talent with leading agencies and brands. Our partnership with Channel 4 and Sharp Futures is about mentoring and developing the next generation of creatives, and with over 400 clients across the UK, we’re well placed to help emerging talent find the right opportunities to build lasting careers in the industry.”