As a young person, entering the creative industries can be daunting. Relevant degree courses have sky-high fees and don’t promise success, while landing placements or full-time roles is often dependent on nepotistic relationships. And it’s well documented that young creatives from minority backgrounds are set to have an even harder time getting a place.

That’s why design and advertising experts D&AD is seeking applicants for its New Blood Shift programme, now in its third year. The free 12-week night school helps young creatives without qualifications break into the highly competitive creative industries, with last year’s course securing applicants places at Nike, BBC Creative, and the major digital agency AKQA, among others.

Anyone thinking of applying to New Blood Shift doesn’t need to worry about having a design portfolio, either. D&AD want to see creative work across all mediums, from campaign concepts to fine art to video or photographs – they’re open to pretty much anything.

Lisa Williams, an alum from 2017's programme who went on to a creative placement at the BBC, described the value of her experiences: “(Shift is) for people like me - without a degree but with a burning desire to create… It opened doors for me and gave me the platform I’d been yearning for… We were pushed to our creative limits, doing things we’d never thought possible.”

To expand on the programme and provide a taster of what it offers, D&AD are running an event today (August 8), where new ambassadors – including Nike brand specialist and radio presenter Shay Sade, and embroidery-based artist Hannah Hill – will talk about how they are innovating and disrupting within the creative industries.

Applicants for New Blood Shift simply have to be over 18, not have a degree, and not be enrolled at a university or art school. Hurry, though; the deadline is August 10.

You can apply for New Blood Shift here