Following a pilot program earlier this year, WPP is searching for 15 new candidates to join its Creative Tech Apprenticeship, a nine-month paid program designed to open doors to a career in advertising for highly creative individuals with a passion for technology. 

The majority of apprentices from the pilot program received job offers from WPP’s global production arm Hogarth.  

The new course will begin in November and participants will have the opportunity to work on live projects with WPP and some its largest clients and technology partners, including The Coca-Cola Company, L'Oréal, NVIDIA, Adobe and Epic Games.  

Classes will cover creative coding, game engines, virtual production, future machines, generative AI and other skills fundamental to the future of marketing, advertising and production, according to the company.  

A major focus is how these technologies can impact the individual, brands and society. Ethics, accessibility, and inclusion are central to the curriculum, per the company.  

And the focus on inclusion extends to the recruitment process-- neither a formal degree nor previous experience in the technology sector is required. 

Stephan Pretorius, Chief Technology Officer at WPP, stated: “In a rapidly changing world where consumers engage with brands across a multitude of platforms, we need teams who understand how to bring creative ideas to life using the latest developments.” The apprenticeship program, he added, is “designed to equip the next generation of talent with the skills they need to meet ambitious client briefs, using technology to bridge the gap between imagination and execution.”  

Classes will take place at the London offices of WPP’s production company, Hogarth.