Amazon Announces 1,000 New U.K. Apprenticeships for 2021 – Global Bulletin

Jamie Lang
·4-min read

In today’s Global Bulletin, Amazon begins filling 1,000 apprenticeships coming to the U.K. in 2021, ViacomCBS Networks International appoints Anna Priest as senior VP and chief marketing officer in the U.K., NL Film fills out its leadership teams and Viddsee begins streaming spoof series “AI Love K-Drama” in Singapore.

APPRENTICESHIP

Amazon has launched a recruitment drive to fill 1,000 new full-time apprenticeship positions across the U.K. over the coming year. Paid apprenticeships will be available in 25 fields including engineering, broadcast production, creative design, IT, heal, safety and the environment. Two new broadcast production assistants will be recruited as part of the apprentices scheme and will join the Amazon Prime Video U.K. Originals team, working with Dan Grabiner on unscripted and Johnny Lewsley and Lydia Hampson on scripted.

More from Variety

Of the 1,000 positions, 100 are degree-level with 500 more going to current Amazon employees to both retrain in their current position and teach them new skills that are useful for continuing to grow their careers at Amazon or elsewhere.

Pay for the apprenticeships begins at a minimum hourly wage of £10.80 ($14.79) in the London area and £9.70 ($13.28) in other parts of the country, with degree-level positions reaching £30,000 ($41,000) per year. The apprenticeships also come with benefits packages including medical and life insurance, income protection, subsidized meals, an employee discount and access to the company’s pension plan. Programs can run 14 months up to four years.

Amazon currently employs more than 40,000 people across the U.K. and added 10,000 new permanent jobs in 2020.

“An Amazon apprenticeship offers an exciting career path, creating opportunities within our local communities across the UK and helping our own employees retrain and gain new skills at a time when investing in people and jobs has never been more important,” added John Boumphrey, U.K. country manager at Amazon.

APPOINTMENT

ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) has appointed Anna Priest as senior VP, chief marketing officer for its U.K. business, based on of London. Priest will oversee VCN U.K.’s branding and marketing and handle the formation and implementation of brand vision and strategy across the company’s U.K. channel portfolio. She will report to VCN U.K. director of programs Ben Frow.

Tasked with pushing forward VCN’s One ViacomCBS narrative, Priest will head a multidisciplinary team including creative, PR, media planning, social media and marketing.

Priest joins VCN from BBC Studios, where she was a brand strategy and marketing consultant responsible for restructuring the brands and marketing division, developing the company’s operational model and heading the marketing strategy for the “Top Gear” reboot.

*****

Banijay’s NL Film has detailed is senior leadership team, to be headed by Sabine Brian as managing director and Diederik van Rooijen as creative director.

Van Rooijen, an award-winning director of film and TV projects including NL Film’s popular series “Penoza,” will pick up joint responsibility for the development and sales of new drama series and films when he begins his new role in March. He will work closely with Brian, who is being promoted from her previous role as producer at NL Film and will lead the day-to-day operations at the company alongside business director Ronald Versteeg.

Former creative director Kaja Wolffers is stepping down to pursue a new role at Amazon Prime Video.

STREAMING

Viddsee, a Singapore-based short form video platform, has begun airing an original series “AI Love K-Drama.” The five-part show is a satirical comedy about the rise of data-driven filmmaking, and its story revolves around an idealistic actress, who clashes with her overly-controlling director, who is in fact an AI-powered robot programmed to create the ultimate Korean drama.

It was written and created by film producer Huang Junxiang (“Ramen Teh,” “Tiong Bahru Social Club”) together with playwright and improv comedian Luke Somasundram, with production by Viddsee Studios and Zhao Wei Films. The cast is led by Michelle Wong, who first came into spotlight as one of the finalists in Mediacorp’s “The 5 Search,” veteran theater actor Yong Ser Pin (“Wet Season”) and Goh Guat Kian (“Tiong Bahru Social Club”).

Best of Variety

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories