Young Talent Scheme

Launch Your Story

What started as our graduate scheme in 2019 has evolved into our Young Talent Scheme – because not all PR superstars need a degree. Each year we take on at least one rising star in the PR/marketing/comms world to join our team and learn from the PR experts.

Working with schools, colleges and universities across the northwest, each year the scheme attracts hundreds of applicants.

This time around we will take just 4-6 applicants forward to our assessment day before we choose one candidate.

The successful candidate will be given their unique personal development plan and get to work immediately with the rest of the team. And if there’s one thing for sure, our young talent isn’t doing the brew rounds and sorting the post out – we think it’s really important that they get stuck in from the start!

Supported by our experienced comms professionals, our young talent members learn skills across the entire PR and marketing spectrum, including:

• Social media
• Content creation
• Media relations
• Copywriting
• Client servicing
• Effective communication
• Stakeholder management
• Influencers
• Video campaigns

The year-long programme teaches essential skills to be a PR superstar. And at the end of it? Well, we hope you’ll stay and progress even further, of course!

Interested? We’d like to hear from anyone age 18 and over. In this role, we’re searching for someone who is curious, resilient, keen to progress, hungry to learn – and someone who is creative with lots of energy and ideas too! Our core values include honesty and integrity, teamwork and a positive mindset, so we’ll be looking for these during the application process.

Please note, this is an office-based role in Manchester city centre, where you will be working Monday-Friday, 9-5.30 pm. Please only apply if you are able to attend the office each day to work.

What is the selection process?

We will undertake a comprehensive selection process with two stages:

1. Website application – once you’ve answered the first five questions, your answers to the open-ended questions will be scored, using a score system we have internally. Unfortunately, due to the volume of applicants expected, we will not be able to provide individual feedback at this stage, but please be assured we will consider your answers carefully.

2. Assessment day – you will be invited for an assessment day, in person, with members of the Refresh team. During the day you’ll take part in lots of tasks with your fellow applicants and also have a chance to ask the Refresh team lots of questions too. We will contact everyone from the assessment day the following day to inform them of our decision.

Applications for 2024 have now closed.

If you have been shortlisted, we will contact you on 28th March 2024 and invite you to the assessment day, which will take place on 11th April 2024. We would like our new team member to join us as soon as possible after this date.