“Direct industry involvement is essential in breaking down misconceptions and barriers that often prevent young people from pursuing careers in the creative industries."
Overview
To mark Discover! Creative Careers Month 2025, DRPG hosted its largest-ever Sparks Live event at its global headquarters in Hartlebury, Worcestershire. DRPG is an award-winning global creative communications group, producing strategic film, digital, design, and live event solutions for brands and organisations across the world. With a long-standing commitment to nurturing emerging talent, the group places education, accessibility, and future skills at the heart of its work.
The 2025 Sparks Live event welcomed 180 young people to DRPG’s state-of-the-art production studios, immersing them in the breadth of opportunities available within the creative industries. Led by the company’s NextGen Board, the day provided students with rare access to industry professionals and real-world creative environments.
The programme featured a diverse range of hands-on sessions designed to showcase different creative disciplines. Students developed brand storytelling by building superhero personas in marketing, explored the complexities behind large-scale live event production, and collaborated on digital teamwork challenges. They also experimented with AI as a tool for enhancing creative processes, took part in practical scenic craft workshops, and experienced the fast-paced nature of film production by producing a live newsroom broadcast.
Each session mirrored real industry scenarios, encouraging collaboration, problem-solving, and confidence-building, while demonstrating how varied, inclusive, and exciting careers in the creative sector can be.
Number of young people reached: 180
Advice for similar companies/organisations
Organisations looking to support young people should prioritise creating experiences that are practical, immersive, and aligned with real industry challenges. Young people engage best when they can try things for themselves rather than observe from the sidelines.
Involving early-career employees or youth boards helps shape content that feels relevant, authentic, and accessible. Offering a variety of sessions ensures students gain a realistic understanding of the industry’s breadth.
Crucially, companies should ensure that initiatives like these are not isolated events. Providing pathways such as apprenticeships, placements, mentoring, or open days strengthens long-term impact and helps young people see a viable future within the sector.
Can you tell us why you believe it’s important for industry to get directly involved in inspiring and informing young people about careers in the creative industries through projects like Discover?
Direct industry involvement is essential in breaking down misconceptions and barriers that often prevent young people from pursuing careers in the creative industries. Many students are unaware of the wide range of roles available or the skills required, and industry-led initiatives play a vital role in making those pathways visible and understandable.
By participating in programmes like Discover!, creative organisations help inspire confidence, spark curiosity, and provide real insight into future career possibilities. Early engagement supports a more diverse and better-prepared talent pipeline, ensuring the long-term strength and innovation of the sector.
For companies like DRPG, this involvement is not only a responsibility but an investment, helping shape a future workforce that is skilled, imaginative, and representative of the world it serves.