neverland brings together brand strategy & creative communications. They believe what you stand for is as important as how you tell people about it. They make campaigns that are popular, made to be seen and importantly work. They give people the freedom to believe anything is possible.

We spoke to Chief Creative Production Officer, Amy Coomber, about neverland's initiatives like the Flying Academy and opening doors for underrepresented voices to find their place in advertising...

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

Firstly, to help up-and-coming talent introduce themselves to the industry, but secondly, and more importantly for me, the Young Arrows show is a great reminder of the passion and energy that’s out there, and that it’s vital to be bringing young and emerging talent into our teams.

What are some of the challenges young people face starting off in the industry, and what can we do about these challenges?

Beyond the long running issues of geography and pay, I think our industry has lost the flexibility, support and time that was given to me when I came into production. People are expected to jump straight into roles and get everything right the first time.

We put a huge amount of effort to do the opposite at Neverland. Our junior team are given a clear plan for their growth and that they always have a safety net so they can fail and learn in a way that makes them want to come back stronger.

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

As an agency we run a scheme called The Neverland Flying Academy which helps people from underrepresented groups get their foot in the door of the industry through a 6-week paid internship.

Within production specifically we have a long running partnership with the London Screen Academy. Our team work with their faculty and students to help them get experience in advertising production. We’re always looking at ways to make that relationship stronger.

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?

Build your network and ask questions!

Thank you to neverland for sponsoring the Young Arrows Student Commercial of the Year award.