Leeds Arts University BA (Hons) Creative Advertising students have been invited to develop and pitch ideas to Homebase and earn the opportunity of a work placement at the DIY store’s creative agency, Atomic London.
The agency were responsible for Homebase’s Christmas advert last year and also count Cancer Research UK, Bathstore, Unilever, Madame Tussauds, Hilton and H Samuel among their well-known clients.
The initiative is part of Atomic’s Creative Roots scheme that aims to inspire, train and support new and diverse talent. Students are invited to enter the new competition in pairs. The creative duo that shows the best use of creative and strategic thinking that works well across brand and activation channels will be offered an eight-week paid work placement at Atomic, in the centre of one of the capital’s creative hotspots, Farringdon, with additional support for accommodation.
Sixteen creative duos will be given feedback on their ideas from Atomic creative partners, Dave Henderson and Guy Bradbury, before going head to head with their fellow students. The final pitch will be made to a panel that will include AAR managing partner Martin Jones.
Fabio Fragiacomo, MA Creative Advertising Course Leader at Leeds Arts University, said:
"Creative agencies are missing out on so much talent these days because the next generation of talent simply can’t afford to tour their book around London for up to two years before their work is recognised.
"The initiative by Atomic London gives teams essential face time with executive creative directors. It’s by far one of the most exciting briefs my students will work on all year – the one that guarantees a tangible outcome for the winning team and measurable experience for all."
Henderson and Bradbury said: "As a creative industry, we must support talent from every background if we want to truly represent our client’s brands, not just talent from privileged backgrounds.
"We’d love to see every executive creative director going back to their ‘creative roots’ to do the same and truly support the next generation of talent, giving them time and training at a grassroots level."
Following a beta initiative last year, creative advertising alumna Harriet Bradley was hired as junior strategist at Atomic.
