Since its launch in 2019 The Brooklyn Brothers Night School has been a resounding success, with 80% of graduates securing careers in creative areas from advertising to production and social inclusion. Now, the scheme enters its third year as the agency continues to uphold its commitment to helping young people from ethnically-diverse backgrounds into the creative industries.

With only 13% of UK advertising agency employees identifying as from Black, Asian or minority backgrounds, there is a desperate need for greater diversity in creative industries. Yet the way the industry currently operates means there are several barriers to entry for people from diverse backgrounds. The traditional internship model can be unattainable for those with day jobs or hard to come by for those without contacts in the industry. The Night School programme addresses this issue with an opportunity to receive free training facilitated by guest tutors from a wide range of creative industry sectors, including music, fashion, journalism and film production.

The free training and mentoring programme combines in-person workshop sessions with online collaboration. Alumni from previous years will return to pay it forward and lead on this year’s curriculum, collaborating with guest experts from across various fields to share their collective wisdom with the new intake. Students from both previous years of Night School have partnered with The Brooklyn Brothers to help build the programme for 2022 as those who attended in 2020 can share their advice for maximising on a remote learning programme. 

After the experience, following graduation, each student is paired with a mentor to help them take the next steps in their creative career. Throughout the process, every student develops a personal manifesto, designed to encapsulate their individual creative ambition.

“Night School taught me that I can be in this space - I can be in the creative industries. It helped me to not only embrace my strengths as a creative individual but to start exploring how I can use them for good in my career and in the wider world.” added Juliana Onyenani, a Night School graduate who is now Junior Creative at The Brooklyn Brothers.

The scheme is open to all 18–25-year-olds that are looking to unlock their potential and open doors to a future career in the creative industries. No experience or qualifications are required, but access to central London for the live sessions is key.

Entries for Night School are now open for all 18-25-year-olds. Please click here to find out more.