Blog

Jo Taylor

I am Head of Learning & 4talent.

I have been at Channel 4 for 3 years previously I worked at Independent production companies and also at the BBC. During my 14 years in the industry I have had a variety of roles and realized that the industry is truly unique in enabling individuals to move around and having varied careers.
 
In my current role at Channel 4 I am responsible for the design and implementation of C4 talent management strategy, which has 2 facets internally for the business and externally for the creative and media industry. No 2 days are the same this week for instance I have had meeting detailing strategy for a new appraisal and 360 process and model we will be launching in the new year, meeting charities and community groups to get them involved in our WRL programme as well as team meetings and routines with my direct reports. I have 3 team members each having a specific specialism and together we form an integral part of the HR business function at C4.
 
I see my role as enabling talent to grow with our organisation through recruiting talented individuals which enhance our business but also having a programme of embedded learning tools for staff to develop within C4. External C4 has a strong heritage of nurturing and developing talent and it is my role to continue and build on this in the future. With the media industry changing at such a pace it is more important than ever to understand and have coherent talent strategy as these impact not only culture of organisation but also economic bottom lines.
 
Best
 
Jo x

Jo Taylor

Hi

Sorry I have not blogged for a while, the team and I have been busy preparing to host today a Teachers Event for 30 creative and media teachers to learn about the skills, experiences and attitudes that we are looking for in the media industry.

This week we have also run an assessment day for a Software Developer Interns within Channel 4, it was a great day and a real eye opener for me to work with a different area of our business. Looking forward to seeing how our intern take this opportunity starting in Seotember and drives forward in their career.

Clinton Harding onw of our alumni I am delighted to tell you has created a logo deisgn for a project that I am chairing called REACH, it is an amazing piece of design so congratulations Clinton and good luck with your new company.

Have a lovely weekend all and speak to you all soon

Jo x

Jo Taylor

Hi

On a rainy Tuesday after a glorious Bank Holiday! This week we have launched 3 really exciting oportunities on our site which I had to write and tell you more about.

In a day in the life we have a behind the scenes look at how a production like T4 gets to air. With exclusive beind the scenes films, filmed over 3 days you will be able to get a birds eye view of all the different roles and responsibilities that bring ideas to screen.

Today we have also luanched in 4talent extra a competition with the Shine Festival. This is your opportunity if you are aged between 16-19 to re create one of 6 iconic Channel 4 images for today, so check out and start sending us your images. Also in 4Talent extra we have launched the search for a 1 year internship in our Future Media and Technology departmet as a Software Developer. So again check this out.

Over the next few weeks we will be holdiong assessment centres for our Diversity Production Trainee Scheme. Do not worry igf you ahve not heard back from us yet we are this week letting all candidates know if they have been successful in moving forward, so do keep an eye out on your e-mail.

We are looking for new voices to blog for us on the site so if you are interested do get in touch with me and the team.

Have a great week and speak soon

Jo x

Jo Taylor

Hi

Today we have launched an exciting bursary with City University post grad course in TV & Current affairs Journalism to apply visit city.ac.uk/journalism.

Last week the 4Talent team where involved with assessment days for the Generation Next scheme we hope to let sucessful applicants know this week via e-mail so please keep checking. I am really excited that we have had over 200 applictaions for our Diversuty Production Trainee scheme, the team are working through reading all the applications as I speak to you so we hope again via e-mail to let you know if you have made throug to the next stage in June here at Channel 4.

We are looking for people who would like to blog for us ,we have a lot of alumni already blogging but if you would like to share your thoughts with the 4Talent alumni then do let us know by e-mailing us on wrl@channel4.co.uk.

Enjoy the sunshine this week and talk to you again soon!

Jo x

Jo Taylor

Diversity Production Scheme Applications Open

Last night we launched the Diversity Production Trainee Scheme for 2009. We have 12 amazing placements being offered across Drama, New Media and Production Management so check out 4Talent extra to learn more andstart applying.

Last week I had a week off in France aftera really hectic but brilliant Inspiration week. We will publish pictures from the event on flickr so will make sure we update you. We had some amazing speakers and the response form you all has been great. Anyone who wants to blog for us to do contact the team on wrl@channel4.co.uk.

This week we are going throgh applications for Generation Next and we will be holding the assessment days for this programme in early May so keep an eye out on your e-mail for interview details.

Have a great week and enjoy the sunshine!

Jo x

Jo Taylor

Next Monday we open up applications for Generation next

Hi

Next Monday we open up applications for Generation next. This year we have 7 placements which will run for 10 weeks here at Channel 4 from 13 July through to 18 September. The placements will be across a wide range of department swith the emphasis this year on our business areas such as Strategy and Corporate events. On Monday I will tweet the link on twitter as well as post of our face book pages.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for the 4Talent team in 2 weeks we welcome 120 young people aged between 14-19 to Channel 4 for Inspiration week and we are just finalising all the details with our partners like Pinewood, the Guardian, Microsoft etc. We would love any of those of you that attend to blog about your time with us so if you ware interested in doing this then please e-mail wrl@channel4.co.uk.

I hope you are enjoying the new content on our 4Talent site, and it is giving you lots of ideas of different routes, skills and experiences that you need to work in the media industry. In next few weeks we will posting a behind the camera look at the Day in the life of a production so keep checking back.

Look forward to hearing from you soon

Jo x

JO TAYLOR

Jo Taylor

Hi

I am so excited writing this blog as yesterday 4Talent was awarded a highly commended prize as the Best Work Experience provider New placement schemes at the National Council for Work experience for our Generation next programme.

Talking of this programme applications open in a couple of weeks- 30 March so watch this space for more information. This year we are focusing on our business areas at Channel 4 like Strategy, corporate events. The placements are going to be 10 weeks so look forward to receiving your applications.

The next few weeks are manic for us here at 4talent we are finalising all the applications and planning workshops and master classes for inspiration week on 6-9 April as well as  gearing up for the Work experience open day at the end of April.

You can follow all our daily news on twitter as well as join our alumni groups on face book and linked in.

See you soon

Jo x

JO TAYLOR

Jo Taylor

Hi
I am sitting on a train going up to a day of meetings in Leeds and I thought what a great idea to write my third blog. This week has all been about us preparing for Inspiration week open days. We have some fantastic media professionals coming in to talk to those of you attending across advertsing, presenting, producering and directin. Do not worry if you have missed out this yea we will make sure that we take lots of notes and photos so you can keep up to date.

This week I have also got addicted to twitter I do not know how many if you have tried it but for all those twiitters out there  we have a 4Talent account now called 4Talentwrl so anyone on it do follow us and keep across what we get up to happy twittering!

Remember you have a few more weeks to get your work experience forms into us for the April open day, and keep an eye out as we will be announcing the applications opening for our Diversity Production Trainee Scheme and Generation Next programme in March and April.

Speak to you soon

Jo x

JO TAYLOR - HEAD OF 4LEARNING AND 4TALENT

Jo Taylor

Hi

Last week we ran our first work experience open day at Channel 4. 150 young people from across London aged between 14-19 has the opportunity to spend a day with us, to speak to many of our departments and independent production companies who are offering work experience placements this year as well as partake in a variety of master classes. We filmed many of you during the day of thank you, and in the next few weeks we will be posting this film on our site so keep checking back!

I hope you all enjoyed it and remember we have another open day in April so if you want to come along please contact us on wrl@channel4.co.uk and we will send you an open day form for you to fill in and get signed by your school.

It was incredibly exciting to see so many of you here at Channel 4 and I am thrilled that applications have already started flooding in for the placements. Do remember that applications close on Friday 13 February for those of you that attended the January open day.

Good luck!

Jo x

JO TAYLOR - HEAD OF 4LEARNING AND 4TALENT

Jo Taylor

Hi, welcome to 4Talent, I am Jo Taylor Head of Learning and 4Talent and it is my role to hopefully inspire you to work in the media industry. When I started in the media 13 years ago there were very limited routes, it has always been really competitive but now there are many more routes which I am sure can seem really daunting at times. I started as a Production manager at the BBC, and I looked after all the logistics of getting programmes on air, it involved managing the budgets, organising shoots for directors, booking editing, it was really fun and is one option in which you may decide to go but is not the only option.

I have launched this site today to give you ideas, opportunities and experiences to work with us at 4Talent and also connect you to the wider media industry. You do not have to work on screen, there are some great jobs behind the scenes, like production managers, advertising, sales and press etc. So whatever your interest we are here to help you find your way in.

I look forward to talking to you more over the next few months and hopefully seeing some of you at our Work experience and Inspiration week open days in February and April! These opportunities will give you a real insight into the skills and experiences you need to work in the media.

Jo x