Record number of graduates accepted to the TCC’s graduate trainee program

The Communications Council today announced a record numberof positions for its Graduate Trainee Program, the leading industry trainingprogram for aspiring advertising talent. Forty  graduates have been selected for the 2011 programme. 

Theywill go on to complete nine month contracts in participating agencies acrossthe industry. Selected grads from all academic disciplines will be introducedto account management, strategic planning, digital and other areas of themarketing communications business.

303 Advertising, AJF Advertising, Badjar Ogilvy, BMF Advertising, Clemenger , DDB , Droga5, Happy Soldiers, H&T, Host,  Leo Burnett , Lavender*,  M&C Saatchi, Three Drunk Monkeys, OBM Advertising, Saatchi & Saatchi Healthcare, Pulse Marketing, and Whybin\TBWA will all take up successful candidates.

“It is great to see so many agencies get behind the program.In as far as it is a barometer for the industry’s health, the record number ofplacements is a sure sign that our sector is on the up,” said Daniel Leesong, CEOof the Communications Council. “We consider educating entrants in our sector asa vital part of the organisation’s mission, and this program goes a good waytowards the hands-on experience that many agencies are seeking in theiremployees.”

All selected Sydney and Melbourne graduates will complete afive-day live-in Summer AdSchool course at the Sydney University Village earlynext year, which will teach them the basics of the business and will seeindustry speakers share their insights.

Throughout their nine month placement, there will also be aformal program of monthly meetings with talks from inspirational speakers andexperienced industry leaders at participating agencies.

Matthew Melhuish Head of Australian Agencies Photon Groupsaid “Our industry sits at a unique point, the junction between four majorsocietal forces: the business world, the creative arts, the media and consumersociety. It is very dynamic, always changing and never dull. No one understandsit all and what worked yesterday probably won’t work tomorrow. This traineeprogramme offers the very best head start anyone could ever have in thisfascinating industry. I was a trainee many years ago and I am still verygrateful for the amazing opportunities it offered me. The intelligence, passionand dynamism of the trainees BMF have had through the program in recent yearsis simply outstanding – they are some of the best people in the industrytoday.”

Now in its 27th year, the Graduate Trainee Program hasdelivered some 350 ad graduates, including a number of successful alumni amongwhich, Steve Anastasiadis, General Manager, Saatchi & Saatchi, MichaelConnaghan, CEO and Executive Director STW Group, James Graham, ManagingDirector, McCann Worldgroup, Melbourne, and Martin Trevaskis, Editor, CampaignBrief, Perth.