Careers in the Creative Industries

While studying for her Bachelor of Education degree, Sonja realised that teaching wasn’t going to be for her in the long term – yet she loved writing the essays with their deadlines! After working as a teacher for six months, Sonja applied to do sub-editor’s training at Aberdeen Journals and was offered her first job as a journalist. After two weeks of intensive training, she was thrown into a busy news desk and learned from her mistakes. “I worked in the days before page layout on the computer cutting back stories. I went on to do a spell as features sub-editor, where I became one of the first to use the new Apple Mac computers.” Sonja worked on the Evening Express and Green Final, and every day was different, busy, noisy and lots of fun for her. After having children, Sonja returned to work the night shift at the Press and Journal, she was very busy, planning 60 pages a night. But it did take a year to get used to working until 3am! In 2016, while still working n...

Phil described his path to where he is now as ‘different to many others’. When he left school, he ended up working full time for Aberdeen Leisure at the Beach Leisure Centre and Ice Arena. He then managed to secure a job with Aberdeen Journals as an admin assistant and progressed through to become national sales manager for newspaper advertising. It was around this time that he went to visit one of his friends in Hertfordshire who had just become a football match director at Sky Sports. He went to a Luton Town football match which was being directed by his friend. Phil stood with the then floor manager of the broadcast, Nick Beaumont. Phil was curious to see what Nick's role was, so he watched him closely and picked up a basic understanding of the job.  Three days later, Phil went to another match where Nick took unwell just before the broadcast, so the radio and headphones were passed onto Phil and the rest is history. 24 years later Phil is still working as a floor manager ...

Shirley is a fantastic ambassador to the creative arts and their integration into young people’s lives.  Soon after leaving school, Shirley obtained a Bachelor of Education as well as studying Speech and Drama and gaining her Licentiate with Guildhall School. While working as a primary school teacher Shirley also taught speech and drama privately. After working as a teacher in schools for four years, eventually it got to the point where Shirley had to chose between one or the other. Time did not allow both and in 1992 the McGill School of Speech and Drama was founded! While teaching speech and drama through her own business, Shirley was asked to join Aberdeen Youth Music Theatre (AYMT) as their director.  When Shirley joined, the group was only three years into existence and had just 30 members.  Since then, it has grown to over 160 members with three sections; juniors, intermediates and seniors, all of which produce their own, independent shows. Shir...

When Steve was asked about his path from high school to where he is now, he told us that it was a winding one! He “had no idea" that he would go from working as a teenager at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, a Saturday at Debenhams and a six week stint at  Wimpy Burgers to being Group Managing Director today of seven national radio stations. In order to get to where he is now, Steve, after graduating from drama school, went to work in theatres and cruise ships as a stage manager. He then moved onto TV presenting in Newcastle. This lead to jobs in  radio stations all over the UK where he worked his way up from producer to marketing to commercial roles.               “I can’t say I mapped it out.” Listen To Absolute Radio Here Steve went on to tell us that the thing he loves the most about his job is the variety. “Although I set out to work in theatre and TV, radio oddly gives me a fix of everything. Audio, video and a...

Jenna Innes, born in Aberdeen, made to perform. She is a youth theatre actress turned West End performer!  When Jenna left school she went to work, full time, for Aberdeen City Council. 3 years later, in 2015, she made the life changing decision to audition for drama school and moved to London to start training at the  prestigious  performing arts school, MTA. Since graduating, Jenna has notable credits in the industry. In 2018 Jenna performed in the Aberdeen His Majesty’s Theatre Pantomime as Snow White before going on to join the cast of Les Miserable in London’s West End as understudy Eponine. Jenna’s most recent endeavour is with the currently touring production of Les Miserables where she holds the same role . J enna told us that the best part of her current job is; “Doing something I love every day, enjoying the work and working with a huge team of talented people” The professional performing industry is notoriously cut throat and ruthless, Jenna ...

Careers in the creative industries can come in many shapes and forms. Rhonda Scott is a premium example of how you can take things you love and make a living out of them. After leaving school in S5, Rhonda went to study Music Education with Drama at Aberdeen University. Whilst studying she also obtained her performance diploma in both piano and singing. In 1984, Rhonda started teaching music in secondary schools as well as being involved in many youth theatre projects. In 1995 Rhonda founded Ragamuffins and Leading Lights theatre groups, while also working for Aberdeen Youth Music Theatre (AYMT) as a musical director/choreographer. Continuing to teach in schools until August 2007, Rhonda decided to branch off and start up her own singing school. The Scott School of Singing, is where Rhonda and an array of other singing teachers from across Aberdeen teach and inspire people to peruse their talents in the creative arts!  Rhonda told us that the best part of her job is...