Introducing: ASK TBM

What is Ask TBM?

Ask TBM Group is a new initiative we’ve launched here at the UK branches of Jelly & Think Artfully where young people can apply to take part in a 45 minute 1-1 session with anyone from the UK team.

Who is it for?

We’re looking to speak to preferably non-degree educated young people only from 15 + (with consent), we’d love to hear from young people who may be caregivers, pupil premium students at primary or secondary school and those who identify as part of the Global Majority.

What information are you asking people to provide?

Alongside the usual personal info i.e. name / age / preferred pronouns and your ethnicity we would also like to know your areas of interest, qualifications, skill level, how you would like to talk to us and what help you’d like too.

Who does it involve from TBM Group?

You could be speaking to absolutely anyone from either Think Artfully or Jelly (UK) with job roles ranging from Marketing to Project Manager / Executive Producer to Artist Agent .. you could even be speaking to me in Culture & Systems!

Why does Ask TBM exist? What is the goal or objective?

We have made a formal commitment to trying to better the industry we work in and close the gap for underrepresented communities. We’ve been really successful in our fairly ‘London-centric’ approach so far and would love to start widening the chat to people who might not be in London, who might not know about us or don’t know about the huge range of reliable careers available in the industry.

The goal is providing access and advice to those who might not have the same given access as others. We’re very keen here at TBM Group that you do not need to have been to one of the leading Arts Universities to get here and we want to help create a more confident environment when young people are making (sometimes) life altering decisions.

How does it align with TBM Group values?

Ask TBM Group has come directly out of our values and out of a need to commit to doing more and being better where we can. Our initial commitment was quite localised whilst we were working out all of the finer details, the safety issues and red tape around working with young people but we are now in a position to access and (hopefully) help many more talented hopefuls.

As a company we’ve had, and continue to have, lots of really important conversations about how we can better the work environment for our employees but also our audience and potential future workforce. We’ve been fortunate enough to have invaluable advice and close mentoring from Charities like Reach Out 2 Kids who have been fundamental to the success in our outreach efforts so far. Once this ball was rolling, it was hard to keep it on track and not snowball out of control, I think it’s important to not get ahead of yourself and think you can and fix everything.. you can’t

Like everything else at TBM Group, we like to do things effectively, with thought and with care.

How will you know if it's been successful?

Personally, even if we get a small number of sign ups and those young people feel like they’ve gotten something out of the session that they didn’t previously…I’d be happy. I don’t think success like this is necessarily quantifiable but it will be in the feedback I ask for from those who took part where we will see any success.

I think like everything in these efforts, success is measured and decided by those who are supposed to benefit from it.. so the young people will decide (no pressure)!

What is the long term vision? Is there a next phase?

The long term vision is that we’re able to cast this net even wider and eventually get more young people involved. For such a small ask on our side, the impact on young people’s lives could be huge so we would like everyone to have equal access to opportunities like this.

What's next? Launching the first of these sessions successfully, we want to know it’s; 1. being picked up and 2. worthwhile doing before we move on to anything more…marathon, not a sprint!

SIGN UP HERE!