Sparks Academy 2026

Calling all bright sparks!

Creativity is open to all

But the creative industry?

Not so much

That’s where we come in

Sparks is a new way to break into the creative industry for young people with no creative degree or previous industry experience. None. Zilch. Nada.

What is it? An open intern academy created by Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR) to help you find your feet in the creative business.

We know a bright spark can come from anywhere, so we’re not looking for the finished article. Instead, we’re looking for those who are curious about what this industry can offer them… and willing to take a chance to find out.

So, if you’ve ever even considered a career in the world of creativity, but didn’t know where to start, sparks is for you.

What makes a spark?

No degree? No experience? No problem. Instead, we’re looking for creative people who aren’t afraid to…

Be brave. Be tenacious. Be yourself.

That’s it. If you’re 18 or above and fit that criteria we want to hear from you.

Wait, what am I signing up for?

Sparks is a 15 week paid internship programme made to sharpen your skills and open new opportunities in the industry.

This isn’t a standard internship. We’ll be keeping you busy from day one with live briefs, specialist training and collaborative projects.

I’m in, how do I apply?

Right here. To apply we just need you to create a response to a question on https://jkr-sparks-academy.webflow.io/

Your responses can be in any format: words, film, sketches, audio, photography… whatever feels right.

We just want to see how your brain works, so we’ll be judging based on the brightness of your ideas – not how perfect your execution is.

The details

Applications close MONDAY 29th JUNE 5pm and successful applicants will be invited to interview by mid July.

Make it through that and you’ll be a spark, joining us for 15 paid* weeks of work, starting in 2nd September based at our vibrant studio in Shoreditch, London.

We are specifically encouraging underrepresented groups including those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBTQIA+, those that identify as deaf or disabled, and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds to apply.

Requirements

We are specifically looking for applicants WITHOUT a creative degree or similar creative qualification.

Please do not apply if you have a creative degree (we have other internships for those who already know this is their route, please keep your eyes peeled on our Linkedin page and main website)

Benefits

*Paid at London Living Wage

Work from our Shoreditch studio 4 days a week (5 day pw commitment)

Free tea /coffee, soft drinks, fruit and snacks daily.