A FORMER Whitgift student wants to bring some Grimsby talent to the top creative advertising agency she now works for.
As part of the Grimsby Telegraph's Your Life Your Future campaign, we are highlighting the opportunity for one young person to get their foot in the door with one of Britain's top advertising agencies.
Katie Evardson, 30, originally from Grimsby, manages the creative department at the Covent Garden office of Beattie McGuinness Bungay, and believes that upcoming online interviews could give someone from her hometown the chance to shine.
She is encouraging youngsters to interview via Skype to become an account executive with the agency, which is behind advertising campaigns for big clients, including McCain chips and Yorkshire Tea.
"I'm all about the north and we are looking for ambitious and creative people but know that a university graduate isn't necessarily the right person for the job," she said.
"Everyone is on an even keel and we will pick the successful candidate on their merit alone."
Katie grew up on the Wyber's Wood estate, left school at 16 and worked at restaurants and shops, including Capri and Ann Summers, in Freshney Place.
After travelling around Europe, she went back into education aged 21 and did an access to higher education course at Grimsby Institute so she could go to university.
From there, she went to Leeds Metropolitan Univesity to study events management and on her placement second year, she was offered a job in advertising, which she took. Katie has now been working for her current company for five years and thinks that others could enjoy the same opportunity.
She said: "There are a lot of young people struggling to get into work in the Grimsby area so I wanted to let people from my old town know there is opportunity out there.
"With university fees going up people are thinking twice before going and you don't need a degree for this – I never finished mine.
"This is a great place to work, people are really friendly and I would love to get someone else from Grimsby in the office."
Last year, more than 400 people applied for the Ad Scheme, with 30 going through to the second interview at the London office and ten reaching the final stage.
This year, the interview process will take place between 7am and 11pm on Thursday and candidates will be given a seven-minute slot on Skype.
To find out more about the company and the scheme, visit www.bmbagency.com
The Grimsby Telegraph's Your Life Your Future Campaign aims to get 200 people from the Grimsby Institute and North East Lincolnshire Council's Change programme in work experience placements to inspire and put them on the career ladder.
Articles appear regularly in the Grimsby Telegraph and you can catch up at www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk
