BIMM’s head of careers & employability, Mel Thornton, has told Music Week that links between the recruitment sector and the wider music industry are improving all the time.
Yesterday (March 21) we heard from PPL’s Kate Reilly about how music recruiters are fighting to increase diversity and equality across the business. Our special report on the sector, featured in the current issue of Music Week, out now, also reveals the strength of focus on collaboration in the industry.
In order to achieve its “ultimate goal” of ensuring its graduates fill the needs of the business, Thornton said, BIMM is in regular touch with its partners.
“We’re continually listening via a structured programme of advisory meetings with a range of contacts including label HRs, recruitment agencies, trade bodies and 60+ professionals working and performing across the industry,” Thornton said. “Essentially we’ve been asking, ‘What are your key objectives?’”
Thornton said the “enthusiasm from the industry for this work and willingness to get fully involved and answer this questions has been so encouraging.”
Music For Nations label head Julie Weir has been involved with the consultancy sessions, and has positive things to report.
Enthusiasm from the industry has been so encouraging
Mel Thornton, BIMM
“Sitting in on the industry consultancy sessions for the BIMM Music Business courses was incredibly eye-opening, as well as inspirational,” said Weir. “The team behind the college invite a cross section of their industry network to give feedback on the course structure, as well as bringing back former students, who are now in the industry.”
Weir said BIMM’s set-up results in “an impressively egalitarian panel with a diverse range of views and experience, which lends diversity and a specialist yet broad worldview to the course.”
Thornton pointed out that “diversity and inclusion” are “clear priorities” among recruiters, and praised internship schemes run by major labels and companies such as Spotify and CAA as “vital”.
“It feels like we’re moving in the right direction as these programmes gather pace,” she said.
Silvia Gargiulo, founder of recruitment firm BIY People & Talent also spoke highly of BIMM. “We work closely together on BIMM’s on Future Talent programme, which puts a real focus and emphasis on employability, by giving their students and alumni real world experience such as mock interviews, CV advice sessions and exposure to assessment centres,” she said.
Meanwhile, David Johnston, executive director at Handle Recruitment, explained that his company is also in close contact with BIMM.
“People are encouraged to go out and make connections and the industry wants to attract and nurture talented creatives. Handle partner with a number of progressive networking groups to connect with these people,” he said. “This year we are working closely with Urban Development, BIMM and UK Music and Young Guns Network.”
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