A sound decision with Dv8 Sussex

Training up and coming producers, film makers, designers & promoters, Dv8 Sussex offers young people the chance to get a foot in the door to a job in a creative industry

Looking back across the last decade is, for Dv8 Sussex, like lifting the lid on a series of Russian dolls. In its earliest incarnation in 2003, young people from across Sussex would huddle together in a small room above an internet café in Brighton, learning about event promotions and putting on club nights in Brighton. Dv8 then went on to offer courses in radio, music, video and fashion, in many weird and wonderful locations including Sussex Cricket Club, Metway Recording Studios, Brighton Youth Centre and a even a double decker bus, before finding its current homes in Brighton and Bexhill. Dv8 has grown, and on its journey has inspired the creative development of thousands of young people across Sussex.

So what’s it all about? “We believe that all young people have a huge potential to succeed. When you give them the opportunity to learn new skills that they can put into practice in the real world they can achieve great things.” So says Dv8 Sussex’s director, Dan Wallman. “Our courses provide the qualifications young people need, coupled with the experience to show they know how to use those skills. Work experience is the key to getting your first job, so we create our own; we give young people job titles, roles and responsibilities and put them in charge of their own projects. The best way to learn something is by doing it.”

The story of Dv8’s beginnings in 1999 explains how a group of young people paved the way for a creative future for others. Emerging from a housing estate in East London, they had an idea to manage their own community music festival and magazine. The event itself was a huge success and the magazine started being produced regularly. And the beauty of it? It was all accredited. An idea to create a community festival became an opportunity for young people to get trained and qualified in delivering live events, and soon the ripple effect would mean that young people began to flock to Dv8 for training. The courses were being delivered by practising industry professionals, and with that came real projects with real outcomes.

“Tickets started selling for events, songs popped up on iTunes and fashion lines were introduced”

Tickets started selling for events, songs popped up on iTunes, fashion lines were introduced – all created and delivered by young people.

When Dan Wallman started Dv8 Sussex in 2003, the vision continued to be about creating a supportive and aspirational environment where young people would feel empowered to make informed choices about their future. Dv8 now works with hundreds of young people every year, from 14 year olds who are part of the school curriculum, to 16-18 year olds on year long programmes at Levels 1,2 and 3 and now, apprentices up to 23 years of age who are starting their careers in marketing or live events.

According to the young people who pass through its doors, Dv8’s formula is a successful one. Janis took the Performance Upload course, and stated that: “If I could, I would study there for rest of my life”.

Jarrod is about to enter Level 3 Music Production at Dv8, and says: “Dv8 courses are personal and fine-tuned to the individual students, the teachers help you one-to-one in music production as well as helping you further yourself as a professional.”

Nicola has just completed Level 2 Fashion: “I love Dv8 because of the sense of family within the college, everyone comes together where possible. Doing the fashion course has helped me progress and receive an unconditional offer from Northbrook College.”

And there are scores upon scores of testimonials echoing these sentiments; Dv8 has been the right choice for many young people across Sussex.

Dv8 now comprises of two thriving and busy centres in Brighton and Bexhill, offering a range of training programmes in music, fashion, digital media, live events and apprenticeships, combining accredited skills training with employability, work experience and mentoring. Those who deliver the courses are not just trained teachers, they’re also touring musicians, DJs, filmmakers, choreographers, TV producers, journalists, event co-ordinators, fashion designers, digital media experts and music industry professionals.

Dv8 offers young people the chance to be part of one-to-one mentoring projects with practising industry professionals fully trained and ready to guide them in the early stages of their professional development. With intentionally small class sizes, the Dv8 learning experience is about tailoring creative courses to the individual learner, and making sure that everyone has the chance to fulfil their potential.

Interviews are now taking places for courses starting in September. All courses are FREE for people aged 16-23. Visit www.dv8sussex.com for more information.