News
Sony Music Positive Influence Programme Shortlisted for Business Charity Award
The Business Charity Awards, set up to celebrate the achievements of partnerships between outstanding corporate and for not-for-profit organisations, have announced that Positive Influence has been shortlisted this year, with the ceremony due to take place on 10 May.
The pioneering talent and inclusion programme has been shortlisted for an award in the Charity Partnerships: Media & Entertainment category. Run by Sony Music UK in partnership with the UK charity Creative Mentor Network, Positive Influence has grown to include Sony Publishing, Sony PlayStation and Sony Pictures.
Since its inception in 2018, the mentoring scheme connects talented young people from the Creative Mentor Network community who are looking to break into the creative industries. Partnered with mentors, the young people are given the chance to develop new skills, experience the music industry, build connections, explore their career aspirations, and set goals and objectives. Each cohort runs for six months, with mentors receiving 10 hours of training; covering barriers to entry, mentoring and coaching, social and cultural capital, and diversity and inclusion.
Over the four years of partnership, Positive Influence has facilitated 105 mentoring pairs, aligning with Sony Music UK’s ambition to make the world of music more diverse and equitable for young people from all backgrounds. As well as increasing diverse hiring, the scheme trains today’s leaders as allies and advocates so that they can understand the hurdles and know how to support young people entering the industry.
The programmes are fully funded by Sony Music UK, covering training costs, events, and any additional needs for mentees. The business also provided volunteers from different company areas who received the training needed to support the Creative Mentor Network community.
Others shortlisted in this category include Britain Get Talking, Let Me Learn Campaign, New Horizon Youth Centre x Havas UK and The Empty Plate Emergency Appeal.