MONDAY 7 OCT 2013 10:55 AM

ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO CHOOSE CAREERS IN COMMS

Their latest joint project is the Careers in Public Relations guide, a document that seeks to introduce young people to PR as a viable and desirable career choice.

A joint effort reaching from Victoria to Russell Square has brought CIPR and PRCA members together to encourage new entrants into communications roles. The CIPR’s Diversity Working Group and the PRCA’s Diversity Network consistently combine their efforts in order to address the issues of diversity and access to PR professions.

Their latest joint project is the Careers in Public Relations guide, a document that seeks to introduce young people to PR as a viable and desirable career choice.

Andrew Marcus, deputy head of comms at the Museum of London and CIPR member, says, “Most of us working in public relations today had never considered this career when we were at school, let alone heard of the profession. In order for the long term success of the PR industry it's important that the brightest young minds are aware of public relations and are able to make the choices that will support their future careers.”

The guide offers a range of resources including vital statistics about communications, case studies of recent headline projects and Q&As with PR professionals discussing their skills and responsibilities. The guide should put a real-life face on PR. Previous such outreach documents were somewhat more informative and encouraging. The Careers in Public Relations guide offers a sense of personality and the characteristics of comms careers.

The PRCA’s communications director, Matt Cartmell, says the guide addresses a key issue in the industry, “Getting talented young people from every walk of life is a central problem for the industry. We believe that this careers guide is one step in the right direction, giving young people the opportunity to consider a career which they might never have thought of.”

Other programmes for young people include apprenticeships with PR consultancies and access to skills training and qualifications courses provided by either the PRCA, CIPR or external bodies like the PR Academy.