Ubisoft supports new initiative for disadvantaged teens
Working with Commercial Break to allow teenagers a way into the communications industry
Publisher Ubisoft has signed up with Commercial Break, a scheme to help teenagers from under-privileged backgrounds break into the communications industry.
As part of the scheme, Ubisoft has invited a group of young people to devise a marketing campaign for one its upcoming releases.
"We are looking forward to working with Commercial Break. As a client, we are always looking for creativity and new ideas that challenge the status quo and we believe the participants will bring a fresh perspective, especially as many of them form part of our target audience and will be on the same wavelength as the consumers we are trying to reach," said Ubisoft's head of brand marketing Mark Slaughter.
"We are also committed to making a contribution to helping young, creative individuals get onto a career path that makes use of their talent. We hope these first experiences will inspire them to look at further career opportunities in the creative industries."
"We are committed to making a contribution to helping young, creative individuals get onto a career path that makes use of their talent"
Mark Slaughter, Ubisoft
Eight 18 to 19 year olds are taking part, and they were specially selected from a group of 30 applicants after a selection process that included a workshop and one-to-one interviews.
"We're thrilled to be working with Ubisoft," added Commercial Break co-founder James Hillhouse.
"Videogames are at the heart of creative entertainment for young people and this is a fantastic first project which can draw out the creative skills from the Commercial Break team. They can't wait to get started."
Once they've completed the task the hope is the participants will use the experience to find paid internships, with the continuing support of Commercial Break.
"The sad fact is that your background still largely dictates the opportunities that come your way. We want to make sure that creatively-talented young people, who just happen to be from under-privileged backgrounds, get the break they deserve. We really believe that the sort of young person involved in Commercial Break is going to bring a different kind of creativity to the industry."
Commercial break was launched in 2012.