From countless rejections, to BBC apprenticeship: John’s story of resilience and perseverance

Focused and driven, John knew he wanted a career in media. But cracking this brutally competitive industry was tough – even with his big and bold ambitions. He didn’t have much industry experience, and after countless unsuccessful applications, his confidence began to dip.

That’s when John was referred to the Change Project. The team quickly stepped in to support John with career sessions and coaching, helping him build the skills he needed to move into his dream line of work. He got hands-on experience of audio engineering, filming and editing, and even interviewed people for a short film about Shaw Trust’s work. Finally, things were starting to look up.

Encouraged by his progress, and with the support of his Change Project mentor, John joined a specialist training course with Set Ready, a training programme for screen production talent. Here, he learned about set etiquette and working as a location marshall – an exciting role which helps with the day-to-day running of the film site. John also shared his story with Evan Davis on BBC Radio 4’s afternoon news show, PM, in a segment about young people being “too picky” over jobs. In the face of a tough line of questioning on national radio, John was calm and professional, while showing his unwavering passion and commitment to working in media.

With new skills and growing confidence, John applied for the BBC’s highly competitive film technician degree apprenticeship. He’s now thriving in his studies, and a bright future in film is firmly within reach. John’s story shows what young people can achieve with enough determination, ambition and hard work – and when they’re given a chance to shine.

Almost 1 million UK young people are ‘Not in Employment, Education, or Training’. Labelled ‘NEETs’, we know them by the things they’re not doing: like finding work or attending school. They’re at risk of becoming the #NotGeneration. 

This story is just one voice in our #NotGeneration campaign, and shows what can happen when we support young people into work. Through specialist youth employment support – such as resilience training and job coaching – we’re helping young people move towards a brighter future.