Access All Arrows — Factory & SIREN

Established in 1997, Factory is a multi-award-winning sound design and audio facility based in London. SIREN is a music supervision company made up of award-winning music supervisors and producers who love music and the craft of storytelling through sound. They collaborate with a global network of composers, artists, musicians, labels and publishers to provide the strongest musical solutions.

We spoke to Factory's Managing Director, Lou Allen, and SIREN's Company Director/Music Supervisor, Siân Rogers, about how they're building real pathways to support the next generation of talent.

What’s the main reason for coming on board as a Sponsor for the Young Arrows?

LOU: Personally, I believe it’s our responsibility as senior professionals in the industry to encourage and support young people and to help them thrive and enjoy what they do. That’s exactly what the Young Arrows does. And it’s not just about a single night of recognition; the Young Arrows team work hard to ensure emerging talent is supported all year round. That’s a commitment that speaks to us at Factory & SIREN.

Do you have any plans for the future when it comes to supporting emerging talent?

LOU: We remain committed to supporting emerging talent through Young Arrows, and we proudly sponsor and attend the Shiny Awards – a vital platform for championing underrepresented talent in the industry. Big up Caroline Bottomley for her tireless work on this. Most recently, Factory and SIREN have partnered with Speakers for Schools which gave us the opportunity to engage with students aged 11 to 19 years old to inspire them to explore careers in audio post-production. I encourage all production and post-production companies to get involved in this, it’s easy, and lots of fun.

What advice would you give to anyone starting out in the industry? Or the best piece of advice you received early on in your career?

LOU: Firstly, be open to the different opportunities within the industry. There are a variety of careers to follow within agencies, production and postproduction and the first job you have might not be the right fit, and that’s OK. Also, if you can, get a mentor. Someone who understands industry nuances and can help you grow your network.

SIÂN: Find your tribe. Stay curious. Don’t be a dick

What do you think are the most important skills/qualities that young professionals need when starting out in the advertising industry?

LOU: Be inquisitive, show your passion and be kind.

What do the Young Arrows mean to you?

SIÂN: The Young Arrows are incredibly special. For me they encourage inclusion, innovation and an investment in the talent which will define the future of advertising.

What’s the role of the Young Arrows within the advertising industry?

SIÂN: The Young Arrows play a hugely important role within the advertising industry as it is the only awards dedicated exclusively to emerging talent. The space that The Young Arrows has created allows new talent to be celebrated and championed on their own terms and the fact it is free to enter promotes broader inclusion and diversity within the industry. The elevation of these next-gen voices, with the exposure and recognition Young Arrows gives to those winners and shortlisted, actively feeds the creative talent pipeline bringing in fresh perspectives.

Do you have any plans for the future when it comes to supporting emerging talent?

SIÂN: SIREN will continue to support Young Arrows and the brilliant work they are doing supporting emerging talent. We have recently partnered, alongside Factory, with Speakers for Schools which allows us to (hopefully) enlighten secondary school students about the range of jobs that exist within the audio world and the wider creative industry. In addition to this we are working with NFTS supporting the talent there who are about to come into the industry by sharing our first-hand knowledge of music supervision.

I am a board member for The UK & European Guild of Music Supervisors which is dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of the role of a music supervisor and creating educational resources for those coming into the industry. Finally, and a shameless plug, we host a podcast in collaboration with the AWFC called Equalised Sound where we bring together women, gender minorities and allies from all areas of the music industry to share their experiences and pass on learnings to the next generation coming through to hopefully help move towards gender parity in the industry.

Thank you to Factory & SIREN for sponsoring the Young Arrows Post Production Producer - Audio award.