If you’re an innovative thinker, an effective communicator with an understanding of digital technologies, a career in media and creative could be for you.
Generating £111.7 billion revenue each year and employing over 2 million people across the UK, the media and creative industry is one that keeps on growing with 1 in 8 UK businesses being in the sector. The constant shift in the technological world is creating a constant flow of new job opportunities and Stockport is no exception.
There’s a whole host of large and small media organisations based in our borough and across Greater Manchester which could see you work in a variety of settings, from film sets to a news outlets head office – the possibilities are endless and no two days are ever the same with creativity championed!
Featured Stockport Employer
Hear from Inness, Creative Director at Instilled – a website design and branding agency – based in Hazel Grove, sharing his career story about working in the Graphic Design & Media/Creative sector. Inness has 20 years of hands-on design experience working as Creative Director for design and marketing agencies in London, Edinburgh and Manchester before establishing his own design agency in 2009. He has been the creative lead for clients such as McDonald’s, The London Clinic, Historic Royal Palaces and Elsevier.
Instilled design and develop brands across digital and traditional media platforms. They specialise in WordPress – a free and open-source content management system that almost half of all websites are built on – which was actually co-founded by Stockport’s own Mike Little! Find out more about Instilled below.
Labour Market Information
Like with many industries, new and more sophisticated technologies are leading companies to invest in new ways to understand and communicate with their customers. From video advertising to virtual reality, social media and mobile devices for example are often cheaper and more instant ways to deliver brand messaging.
Traditionally the majority of jobs were based in London and the South, but since Media City relocated to Salford Quays in 2007 the North West has become a regional creative hub and led to new jobs being created and more businesses emerging. Here in Stockport, there’s a diverse range of large, mid-sized and micro marketing firms and consultancies who are always on the look out for bright sparks to launch their career.
That being said, the marketing, advertising and PR sector is still a candidate driven market, with good applicants being in-demand. Digital marketing continues to be the most sought after skill-set, although employers tend to look for a diverse mix – from strong analytical skills to interpret customer insights through to design skills to create engaging content. With a high proportion of SMEs and Micro-businesses based in Stockport, that’s perhaps even more important so you can offer future employers the full suite of skills to work across different clients, campaigns and business areas to support their growth and success.
Starting Salary
£11.44 per hour or £18,000
per annum
Typical Salary Range
£22-70,000+
per annum
Working Hours
37 to 39 hours per week, between 8am and 6pm
LMI Infographic from GMACS
GMACS have produced a range of helpful infographics to summarise careers in the Creative & Culture sector and the current employment landscape in Greater Manchester. According to the stats, the most in-demand roles are as a Digital Marketing Specialist, Events Organiser or Software Developer and you may find yourself working for BBC or ITV Studios, N Brown Group or Crowd Imperium Games.
You can view the full infographic and click on the links for more information by selecting the button below to view as a PDF.
