One of the UK’s leading commercial media businesses, Bauer Media UK is proving how effective the Kickstart scheme can be and that it is not only the interns who are learning valuable lessons from the initiative

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Secretary of State has released a video highlighting the experiences of young people taking part in the UK Government’s Kickstart scheme at Bauer Media UK.

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create paid internship opportunities for 16-to-24-year-olds who are at risk of long-term unemployment. The DCMS video focuses on unique experiences felt by many university graduates trying to break into the media industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ways in which the scheme has allowed a direct pathway into placements, and in many cases at Bauer Media UK, permanent employment.

Home to some of the biggest audio and publishing brands in the country, Bauer Media UK recognises the value in creating opportunities for young and diverse people to bring in new skills, innovate new approaches to work, as well as reflecting the make-up of their audience of over 25 million UK consumers. The Kickstart scheme has allowed young jobseekers the opportunity to develop their skills whilst working with Bauer’s world-class, multi-platform brands including KISS, Magic, Absolute Radio, Grazia, heat and Empire.Since adopting the scheme in late 2020, Bauer has already welcomed 42 kickstarts and, proving just how effective the scheme can be, 12 have secured full-time employment – in areas such as content writing, content optimisation and HR, and three more have secured freelance positions. Bauer is now offering an additional 40 positions for more Kickstarts, across areas such as broadcasting, journalism, communications, sales and marketing.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Equipping young people with the skills they need to succeed is a vital part of our plan for jobs as we build back better from the pandemic. I’m delighted that through the Government’s Kickstart Scheme Bauer Media are creating opportunities for young people across the country to get into careers in our thriving media industry.”

Dee Ford, Managing Director UK Audio, said: “At Bauer, we understand the importance of supporting and promoting diversity, both in our people and to our audiences, and that is why the Kickstart scheme has been such a great success for us here – allowing us to welcome an even greater pool of young talent. It is so wonderful to hear how valuable this opportunity has been for our Kickstarts, and in turn, it is proving extremely valuable to us to learn more ways we can attract and support young and diverse talent moving forward.”

Featured in the video is Bauer Media Audio UK Kickstart, Rehanne Peters, who after spending months searching for a job during the pandemic, came across a Kickstart opportunity at Bauer Media Audio’s Absolute Radio. Since joining the team, Rehanne has discovered her true passion for radio and is now pursuing an opportunity in production with Bauer.

Rehanne Peters, Story Telling Executive (Kickstart), said: “I have felt so lucky to be able to kickstart my career at Bauer after facing so many challenges job searching during the pandemic. It is so exciting to be given this opportunity, and to learn all the ways I can take it further with Bauer – the job is everything I wanted to do, and I felt like it was made for me. Working at Absolute Radio has been an amazing experience.”

Bauer Academy, the training division within Bauer Media UK, which runs the programme, has also increased its apprenticeship offering to allow Kickstarts to gain over 18-months of employment in the media business. Additionally, Kickstarts now have the opportunity to join a freelance talent pool, should a suitable opportunity not arise during their 6-month placement.

Applicants can find more information and ways to apply at the Bauer Media Careers Hub.

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More information:

Video on Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliverdowden/status/1413067132351434754?s=21

Video on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRD7C7rlQm1/?utm_medium=copy_link

Kickstart Scheme: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme

Careers Hub: https://careershub.bauermedia.co.uk/members/index.php

For further press information, please contact:  

Cat Martin – Bauer Media Communications Director (Audio) 

M: 07932 746 363 

Eloise Wilson – Bauer Media Senior Communications Executive 

M: 07510 925 154

About Bauer Media UK: 

Bauer Media UK reaches over 25 million UK consumers through a portfolio of world-class, multi-platform media and entertainment brands including heat, KISS, Grazia, Empire, Magic, Absolute Radio and the Hits Radio Network. These brands offer commercial partners access to highly engaged audiences, with creative solutions underpinned by insight and instinct. Bauer Media UK is part of the Bauer Media Group, one of the world’s largest privately-owned media businesses with media assets all over the globe.

About Bauer Academy:

Bauer Academy is a unique training provider owned by and located inside one of the world’s biggest media businesses, Bauer Media Group. We deliver Apprenticeship training to individuals already working in the media industry to develop their skills as well as young people wishing to gain media specific qualifications on entry to the industry. We are on the Register of Government Approved Apprenticeship Training Providers and deliver courses in a vocational learning style, offering work-based experience throughout.

Bauer Academy also proudly runs a number of community projects in partnership with various other businesses, with grants and funding including the Big Lottery, Princes Trust, European Social Fund and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. These projects help to create unique training projects for both private and public sector clients.