In a bid to raise awareness of careers in the creative industries, Warner Bros UK has launched a platform to promote the behind-the-scenes roles that bring the Harry Potter franchise to life. As many young people seek alternative career routes, the platform looks to fill the knowledge gap surrounding creative positions. We explore the insights behind this and how people's attitudes to work are changing.
A library of 100 interviews will form the backbone of the Imagine Creative Careers platform, exploring roles across film, theatre, game development, publishing, and touring exhibitions. Spotlighting industry experts, such as Chris Fisher, the illusions and magic associate of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and producer David Heyman, the interviews aim to inspire young people to consider a career in the creative industries.
“This is part of our ongoing commitment to attracting the next generation of young people from all backgrounds into our business,” says Warner Bros’ Josh Berger. “As one of the world’s best-loved and most expansive franchises, the Wizarding World is excellently placed to illustrate the depth and breadth of careers in the creative industries.”
Many young people are questioning the value of traditional and established career routes. The number of secondary school children who consider university to be important dropped by 21 percentage points between 2013 and 2019. And growing disillusionment with higher education, as well as changing career priorities, are driving younger people to rethink their professional prospects. Research by Barclays found that two-thirds of students felt pressure to go to university, but almost half (48%) actually ended up regretting their decision to go.
At a time when discussions of mental wellbeing are prominent within public discourse, large salaries and impressive qualifications are no longer front-of-mind for many people entering the job market. Increasingly, wellness and fulfillment rank as the top priorities when people are choosing a role, and 73% of Britons believe that someone should only stay at a job so long as they are happy.
However, despite the demand for alternative career options, there’s a lack of awareness around what these alternative roles entail. This is particularly the case when it comes to the creative industries: in a survey of 12- to 20-year-old Britons, 60% said they'd never received guidance on creative careers, and 25% were unable to name a single creative role. In addition to Warner Bros UK, a number of brands are looking to address this disparity. Burberry, for example, has launched an in-school programme to encourage British children to realise their artistic potential.
Lottie Hanwell is a junior behavioural analyst. She loves travelling, reading novels, dogs, and hosting dinner parties. A graduate of Engish Literature and Spanish, she’s adventured through Latin America where she developed a taste for Argentine Malbec and dodgy Reggaeton. Now settled back in London, she hopes to translate her fondness of people-watching to her role at Canvas8.
