By Eleanor Manuel, Head of People and Culture
Last week, we proudly took part in Advertising Unlocked, the IPA’s nationwide initiative that opens agency doors to the next generation of talent.
On Wednesday 12 November, agencies across the UK welcomed students for a behind-the-scenes look into the world of advertising – from creative workshops and live briefs to office tours and career conversations.
It was our first year taking part, and we were genuinely blown away by the energy, curiosity, and creativity of the students we hosted from West London Free School. We gave them a live brief to work on in groups – and they absolutely delivered!
When I was at school, I had no idea that advertising, creative, or media were even career options. Coming from a traditional all-girls grammar school, the focus was purely academic rather than creative, so it’s incredible to see programmes like this giving students real exposure to careers they might never have known existed.
Throughout the day, our team ran sessions across different departments to share what they do, how they got there, and what a career in media can look like. Some journeys were linear, others a little more “squiggly” – all equally inspiring. From Client Management, AV, Digital, and Data to People & Culture, Marketing & New Business to Operations, the students got an insight into the huge variety agency life offers, and the breadth of skills, personalities, and perspectives that help TKF thrive.
Our main message for the students? Don’t stress about having it all figured out and focus on doing something you enjoy. Most of us didn’t know exactly what we wanted to do at their age, and things have a way of working out when you stay curious and open. We also emphasised that while university can be an incredible experience, it’s not the only route to success. Many of our brilliant people have taken different paths and are thriving in their careers.
A huge thank you to the brilliant students who joined us and threw themselves into every task with enthusiasm and creativity, and to our team for bringing the day to life.
We’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year!
