WPP partners with The One Club for Creativity to bring the ONE School initiative for Black creatives to the UK
October 06 2022 - 8:30AM
Business Wire
Funded by WPP’s Racial Equity Programme, ONE
School will unlock the potential of the next generation of Black
creatives so that they can build a top career in
advertising
WPP (NYSE: WPP) has partnered with The One Club for Creativity
to launch ONE School UK, a free 16-week online portfolio programme
designed to open doors to a career in advertising for talented
UK-based Black creatives.
ONE School launched in the US in 2020 as a free alternative to
ad schools to provide new career opportunities for creative Black
individuals and make agency and brand creative departments more
diverse. The results-oriented school has already made a tangible
difference: an 80% hire rate at top agencies and brands for its 128
graduates to date, 65% of whom are women.
The virtual ONE School UK will welcome its first cohort in March
2023. Black creatives from all walks of life are encouraged to
apply for one of just 15 sought-after places. No prior knowledge of
advertising is required. It will be run by Ez Blaine, founding
Creative Partner at Uncommon Experience Studio in London. Born in
Hackney and raised in North London, Blaine ran ONE School West
while living in Los Angeles. He previously held creative leadership
positions at brands and agencies including ChowNow, Apple, Sonos
and WPP’s AKQA.
Ez Blaine, ONE School UK lead, said: “As a Black creative
from the UK, it’s very meaningful to me to return here and help
bring new Black talent into the creative industry. Our choice of
Black lecturers and mentors helps close the gap and exposes
students to creative leaders who they can relate to, allowing them
to see a pathway for themselves into the industry. This is about
teaching students to stand out for their Blackness, be 100%
authentic to who they are and understand the value that
brings.”
The partnership aligns with WPP’s set of anti-racism commitments
made in 2020, which aim to advance racial equity and support Black
and minority ethnic talent. It will form part of WPP’s Racial
Equity Programme which – managed by WPP’s Dr. Stacie Graham – is a
three-year, $30 million commitment to fund inclusion programmes
within the company and to support external organisations.
Rob Reilly, Chief Creative Officer, WPP, said: “We’re
committed to fostering a culture that delivers extraordinary work
for our clients – work that’s authentic and reflective of the
diverse world in which we live. This means making sure that all
types of people, from all backgrounds, with different opinions and
voices, are involved in the creative process from strategy to
execution. Partnering with the One Club for Creativity to bring ONE
School to the UK is a privilege and we’re excited to see what it
can achieve, not only for our business but the industry at
large.”
ONE School teaches students how to navigate the industry as a
Black person. Courses are taught by Black tutors – including some
from WPP agencies – and are designed to help students bring their
authentic voice into their work.
Karen Blackett OBE, President of WPP in the UK, said:
“We’re proud to partner with an organisation that shares our
commitment to taking meaningful action to support, build and grow
the Black creative community. Not only is this partnership –
spearheaded by the wonderful Dr Stacie Graham via WPP’s Racial
Equity Programme – about positively impacting under-represented
talent, it’s also about recognising that, without diversity, our
industry simply won’t thrive. The ONE School has been described as
one of the biggest social change programmes in the history of the
US ad industry. I can’t wait to see what it can do here in the
UK.”
The US programme was co-founded with The One Club by Spotify
Creative Director Oriel Davis-Lyons, who worked with industry
veteran and One Club Head of Creative Development Bob Isherwood to
develop the school shortly after the death of George Floyd. The
initiative aims to ensure that the high cost of portfolio schools
does not get in the way of giving world-class Black creative talent
a route into the industry.
Black creatives wanting to make the leap into advertising can
find more details about ONE School UK, including information on how
to apply, at https://oneschooluk.org.
About One Club for Creativity
The One Club for Creativity, producer of The One Show, ADC
Annual Awards, Type Directors Club Typography, Lettering, and
Typeface Design awards, TDC Ascenders, Young Guns and Creative
Week, is the world’s foremost non-profit organization whose mission
is to support and celebrate the global creative community. Revenue
generated from entries to its global awards shows goes back into
the industry to fund programming under the organization’s four
pillars: Education, Inclusion & Diversity, Gender Equality, and
Creative Development.
About ONE School UK
ONE School UK is an intensive portfolio programme where students
work through 10 briefs tailored to UK culture that are designed to
get them thinking beyond traditional advertising. The focus is on
developing the conceptual thinking skills needed to come up with
big, modern, exciting ideas at the intersection of advertising,
culture and technology.
About WPP
WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of
creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients
and communities. For more information, visit www.wpp.com.
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Further information Susie Metnaoui, WPP +44 (0)7557 591
879 susie.metnaoui@wpp.com
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