Opportunities for Northern young people with two key hires

Yorkshire based PR and marketing agency, Loaded PR, has expanded its current team with the appointment of two young people from the north.

The fast-growing agency has appointed Rhys Westerby as digital marketing apprentice, and Peter Lessani as digital account executive through the Kickstart Scheme.

They are the second and third young people to join the expanding agency in the space of just three months after graduate Ella Wilkinson was appointed PR and social account executive in June.

In July 2021, the firm achieved its biggest turnover yet reporting a total revenue of £125K – a 104% YOY. As a result, founder Gemma Birbeck has committed to ensuring that the growth of the agency provides opportunities to young people looking to get into the industry.

Rhys Westerby, aged 19 from Farsley, has been offered an apprenticeship which is due to start mid-September. Throughout the 18-month course, Rhys will learn the practices and theory behind what it takes to have a career in marketing, in addition to working at Loaded PR full time.

Peter Lessani, a University of Westminster graduate aged 23, was hired through the government’s Kickstart scheme for an initial period of 6 months.

With a degree in Computer Science and Game Development, Peter has specialist knowledge in the tech and digital fields, making him the perfect candidate to work alongside Loaded PR’s array of tech and SaaS clients.

Commenting on his new role Peter said: “I’m incredibly excited to be working at Loaded PR. I’ve had previous experience in the tech industry and being able to take my knowledge and apply it to our client’s strategy is a new challenge I’m looking forward to tackling.”

Adding to this, Rhys said: “Having already started work in the Loaded PR office, I’m even more eager to start my apprenticeship. I’m ready to start my professional career and having the opportunity to learn on the job suits my learning style and gives me the chance to put my theoretical knowledge into practice with Loaded PR.”

The new appointments are a testament to company founder and director Gemma Birbeck’s commitment to giving young people in the region the opportunity to enter the thriving industry.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Rhys and Peter to the team, they both have a great set of skills which is already adding value to Loaded PR,” she said.

“I’m a massive advocate for education and giving young people the chance to succeed and learn is something I committed myself to when I started the agency. Professional development is so important, we never stop learning and I’m looking forward to seeing how our two new team members grow into their roles,” she added.