Leading recruitment firm FBI Talent Co. kicks off new ‘Launch’ initiative, powered by Akcelo

The winning Student team will kick start their career with a paid 3 month internship with an agency partner for each quarterly programme. The winning Professional creative team will be awarded $10,000 in prize money, as well as securing their places in the incredible LIAisons ‘Virtual Coaching’ programme.

Launch is a new talent programme providing both student and emerging creative teams in Sydney and Melbourne the opportunity to further showcase their thinking, as well as obtain invaluable education, training and coaching.

As a free-to-enter quarterly initiative, FBI Talent Co. will award the winning professional team with $10,000 in prize money, as well as ongoing career mentorship to the top professional and student teams. For the inaugural programme, the winning student team will receive a paid 3 month (minimum) internship with world-class brand experience and innovation company Akcelo, in its Sydney or Melbourne office. The winning professional team will also receive placement in London International Awards’ 2024 Creative LIAisons program.

Each quarterly programme will see a different agency partner providing the creative briefs; importantly creating a regular system for student teams to get started in the industry. The juries for both student and professional briefs will be made up of a selection of creative leaders both from Australia and internationally.

Says Michael Kean, CEO at FBI Talent Co.: “Australian agency creative departments are increasingly becoming top heavy and with overseas markets finally opening up after the last 3 years, the reality is that we’ll be losing a lot of mid-senior talent in the next 12-18 months. As an industry it’s critical we focus on entry level and young talent getting into the industry; most importantly setting them up to succeed. A big part of Launch is the requirement to enter as a team; it’s simply easier for agencies to consider hiring young talent who already have a working rhythm and are job ready. We’re thrilled to have Akcelo as our first agency partner, as well as partnering with the LIA Creative LIAisons team.”

Akcelo has created two briefs to kick start the Launch programme, each focused on challenging traditional forms of creativity, allowing up-and-coming talent to flex their creative problem-solving muscle.

Says Louise McQuat, global creative director, Akcelo: “We believe in the power of fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. Through the Launch programme, we’re not just scouting for new talent; we’re investing in the future of creative excellence. Our partnership with FBI Talent Co. is a testament to our commitment to nurturing the next wave of creative leaders and innovators who will redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in brand experience and innovation.”

Says Aden Hepburn, CEO, Akcelo: “More opportunities for new talent to break through, is something the local industry desperately needs. We are honoured to be kicking off this great initiative in partnership with FBI Talent Co.”

Launch has also announced a partnership with London International Awards, which will see the winning professional team secure their spot in the incredible 2024 Creative LIAisons global, virtual coaching programme. This educational initiative is designed to develop, educate, inspire and nurture emerging talent. The program offers young industry professionals an extremely rare opportunity to have real time, one-to-one coaching with three established industry leaders from around the globe. These e-mentoring sessions are bespoke and customized to the mentee, covering all disciplines with emphasis on skill development, elevating ideas and booting creative confidence to fast-track careers.

Says Laurissa Levy, director, LIA Creative LIAisons: “LIA strongly believes in mentoring, so we are pleased to be able to partner with FBI Talent Co. to offer two places to the LIA Creative LIAisons Virtual Program. Since we started this virtual program in 2021, more than 500 young creatives have benefitted from this very intimate one-to-one e-mentorship/e-coaching sessions. It’s something that no organization or agency is offering. Where else would young talent have the opportunity to have face time with not just one, but three top creative people in the world? Over the past few years, we have heard first-hand how invaluable this program has been. The mentees have made real connections with their mentors and real strides in their creative journeys. You can’t put a price on that. We look forward to welcoming the selected young creatives in the AUNZ region to our 2024 Virtual Program cohort.  You are the rising stars and it’s our pleasure to support you and invest in the future of our industry.”

For the Launch programme, Student teams are eligible so long as they are not currently employed in a creative capacity within an agency; for the Professional stream, any creative team can make a submission if both individuals are under the age of 30.

Supporting young creative talent has always been an important part of FBI Talent Co.’s history. Kean co-founded the YoungGuns International Advertising awards in 2001 and in the late 1990s FBI created Launchpad, the first creative internship programme for the Australian industry.

Launch is now open. For more information and to access the briefs, visit https://launch.fbitalent.co/