Discover how Waltham Forest College is equipping young people to plan a rewarding career path in creative industries.

Scalable design content is fuelling the digital economy. However, the concept of a career in the digital arts can appear daunting and more than a little confusing; after all, isn’t working with technology all about coding and running lines of text? But if you’ve ever admired the design of a video game, the lustre of an image in a glossy magazine or the animation that plays out daily on our phones and social media accounts, then an exploration into the world of Digital Design could be the spark you need to find your passion in the ever-changing world of work.

The Creative Industries accounted for 2.2 million jobs and the overall creative economy employed 3.2 million in September 2020. In a landscape like the one we face today, the creative sector is an important source of growth in the global economy, and the digital creative trade has increased sharply in recent years and particularly in the context of COVID-19.

David Warburton, Deputy Head of Creative Industries at Waltham Forest College, is at the forefront of this drive for students to get involved in the wonderful world of digital technology, and his passion for the course he teaches is both obvious and inspiring.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: David Warburton, Deputy Head of Creative Industries at Waltham Forest CollegeDavid Warburton, Deputy Head of Creative Industries at Waltham Forest College

“It’s a case of building up their skill with many pathways to explore; they could become an illustrator, graphic designer, web developer, 3-D animator, game designer and video producer, just to name a few. There’s a wide range of skills that are highly sought after in these areas, and we prepare our students to meet those skills demands.”

So why choose Waltham Forest College to help you in your next step on the career ladder?

“We have introduced the latest industry-standard hardware and software, so our students are familiar with the platforms they’ll need to use in the future so that they’re one step ahead of the competition. This also allows our learners to develop employment ready skills that employers are specifically looking for in their future workforce”.

In 2021, 96% of students progressed onto a positive destination which included employment, apprentices or higher levels of study and according to National Statistics on the Creative Industries, Creative graduates earn on average, approximately £2,300 more a year when working in the Creative Industries compared with creative graduates working outside the Creative Industries.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

“It is pleasing to see many students progress onto different pathways, ones that they didn’t think of when they first entered the classroom. Students are empowered to develop industry skills from contextualisation, to creating scalable illustrations and graphics, is down to the culture of innovation and experimentation, which is an ideology of something we strive to embed in every single classroom.”

For courses information and enrolment dates and times, head over to the website www.waltham.ac.uk