Liberty Hive presents

First Flight

Back the next generation of advertising, media & marketing talent

Entry-level roles are disappearing, and the industry's future pipeline is disappearing with them. First Flight is building a founding cohort of 30 exceptional 18–23 year olds — and we're looking for employers to help us get them flying.

Hire tomorrow's talent, today

No cost to take part · Mentoring, workshops or work experience · As much or as little as you can give

Founding cohort of just 30
Workshop hosted at AMV BBDO
Cohort launches end of September

-19.2%

Fall in under-25s hired across IPA member agencies in the last year alone

Graduate schemes are shrinking and junior roles are vanishing. The industry keeps asking for experience it's no longer creating — and in a few years' time that gap becomes a hiring problem for all of us. First Flight is a practical way to start closing it.

How you can help

Three ways to back the cohort — none of them cost you a penny

Supporters shape the programme. Give an hour, a day, or a desk — whatever fits around the work you're already doing.

Mentor someone

Pair with one member of the cohort for a handful of conversations across the year. You'll be the industry contact they don't currently have.

Speak at the workshop

Take a session at the free 2-day workshop at AMV BBDO, curated by James Barnett of 300 Consultancy. Talk about the craft, the career, or the reality of the job.

Open a door

Offer work experience, a placement, or a first job. You get early sight of vetted, motivated talent before anyone else does.

“First Flight is more than a recruitment initiative. It's a community built around people with passion, curiosity and determination — with mentoring, real experience, and introductions that technology can't replace.”

Chris BraithwaiteCommercial Director, Liberty Hive

How it works

From registering interest to meeting the cohort

Register your interest
Tell us who you are and how you'd like to help. We'll send over the detail and answer any questions.
Takes two minutes
Pick your level of involvement
Mentoring, a workshop session, work experience, or simply early sight of the cohort. You choose what works around your workload.
Your call
Meet the founding 30
We introduce you to the cohort at the free 2-day workshop at AMV BBDO, curated by James Barnett of 300 Consultancy.
End of September
Stay connected
Keep visibility of the talent as they develop, with introductions when a role opens up on your side.
Ongoing

Questions

Before you commit

Who are Liberty Hive?

We're a talent platform built specifically for media, marketing, creative, finance, HR and ops - connecting you with candidates faster and more accurately than a traditional search, backed by real human expertise. Liberty Hive was founded by Kate Merritt and Laura Braithwaite, both industry experts who've worked in media and marketing themselves. First Flight is us putting that same insider knowledge to work earlier - building your entry-level pipeline before the shortage really bites.

Who are the candidates?

18–23 year olds who’ve applied and been selected for genuine motivation and drive to build a career in media, marketing or creative - not just anyone who’s applied for a job.

How much does it cost to hire from First Flight?

Half Liberty Hive’s typical placement fee for entry-level roles. Drop us a line or schedule a call for full details.

Is this a charity partnership?

No. First Flight is run at cost, with all revenue reinvested into the programme. It’s a genuine talent pipeline, not a donation.

How involved do we need to be?

As much or as little as you like. At minimum, we’ll bring you relevant candidates when roles arise. You’re also welcome to attend or sponsor workshops if you want more visibility with the cohort.

How do we get involved?

Something we haven't covered? Email contact@libertyhive.com and we'll come straight back to you.