AN INITIATIVE to help young adults with their future employability is under way at Bournemouth & Poole College.

The You Are The Media Creator Lab, supported by BCP Council, is a four-month programme designed as a link between education and the first years of employment.

The course is intended to help students build their personal profiles, create content, network, present and develop their LinkedIn skills to help with their own development and visibility in the marketplace.

Course leader Mark Masters said he recognised the range of ages and backgrounds among people joining You Are The Media, a marketing learning community, with an audience across the world.

He said: “Locally, we have people who joined as students at Bournemouth & Poole College and also Bournemouth University and now they have professional careers, they are still very much a part of this community.

“People need to have a place that is there for them whilst in education and also when they make that step into the professional world.

“What the YATM Creator Lab presents is an outlet for people to find their voice and to be recognised and known by others. It could be as a spokesperson for other young people at this turning point in their lives, it could be a future career they want to pursue, it could be a current hobby they want to progress into a business.

“It’s having the skills to create and build to help with confidence as well as awareness from others. It’s what leads to jobs and feeling a part of something too.”

Carina George, apprentice account manager from Bournemouth & Poole College, said: “A focus on development during and after college years is so important.

“This provides us with a solid foundation by bringing You Are The Media into the college space and creating a working programme that is centred on our students and apprentices. It’s placing them within a community that exists and almost becomes their departure lounge before they take off into their individual careers. It’s here to build confidence, it’s here to help them be seen by other professionals.”

Shahz Saleem, a level three Everytning IT (EVIT) student, said; “This is a great course where I have the foundations to help me build my professional profile and be a part of a growing community.”

The Creator Lab students are part of the morning activity for the next You Are The Media Online Offline in-person event at Lighthouse, Poole on Thursday April 21, and presenting on stage.

Details are at bit.ly/yatmapril