Vision+Media, the support body for the north west's digital and creative industry, has unveiled a new marketing campaign to promote the virtues of work placements.

The 'Plug in' campaign, which is running for six weeks, aims to encourage more north west creative and digital businesses to get involved with Vision+Media's placement programmes.

The campaign consists of email, direct mail, print, online media and a social media element where companies can show their support for placements in their feeds and 'tag' other companies who ought to 'plug in'.

It has been planned by Vision+Media's own marketing team, with creative provided by freelance creative Ian Hogg.

To "dispel misconceptions" about placements and concentrate on their business benefits the campaign makes use of headlines including: "Some placements make the tea, ours make business sense".

Simon Alexander, head of marketing at Vision+Media, said: "We hope that this campaign will communicate the real benefits that our placements can offer, differentiating them from traditional work experience and intern programmes.”

“Naturally, the campaign trades on the main strengths of our training placements (versus other internships, placements and work experiences): the high percentage of Vision+Media placements that go on to employment; that we can cover up to half the costs, are truly unique selling points for us.”

The campaign is being backed by several creative agencies that have hosted a Vision+Media placement.

Fluid Creative MD Lee Turner said: "The reason we decided to get a placement is because we were growing as a business and were finding it increasingly difficult to find good quality developers.  Jeff Lloyd came to us via Vision+Media, who part funded his placement.

“From day one he was treated like one of the team, getting involved in client and internal projects.  At the end of the placement we offered Jeff a job. That was 12 months ago and I’m pleased to say that he’s still with us."

You an find out more about placements on Vision+Media's Plug in homepage.