Designers plug in to new scheme to help companies recruit new talent

DESIGN firm Milky Tea has praised an industry support scheme that helped it recruit a new digital artist.

The Parliament Street firm took on Chris Cragg through Northwest Vision and Media (NWVM)’s Plug-in placements project to help people win one-week to three-month on-the-job training placements in the industry.

The scheme sees NVWM market the posts, manage and sift and then fund half the trainee’s pay. It also puts together a development plan for the trainee and helps them find an industry mentor.

Milky Tea is a group of designers, 3-D visual effects artists, animators, and illustrators that was founded in 2005.

It took on Chris Cragg, 28, on a Plug-in placement and offered him a full-time job once the placement was complete.

He now works on the Lloyds TSB advertising campaign, producing 3-D illustrations and web animation.

Managing creative director Jonathan Holmes said: “We were keen to take on budding digital artists, but financial limitations made it difficult for us to justify this.

“We were referred to the Plug-In Placement scheme and, when Chris came on board, we were really impressed with the quality of his work. He has since developed his skills and become a well-respected and valued member of the team.

“Companies like ours thrive on having new talent working with them, so the Plug-in scheme offers an excellent opportunity to find that talent. We’ll certainly be looking into the possibility of taking on additional trainees through this scheme.”

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