Breakthrough – WPP’s pilot cadetship program in Australia and New Zealand

27 Oct 2022

WPP has launched an innovative new 12-month paid training program in Australia and New Zealand, the Breakthrough Cadetship, to provide emerging talent the opportunity to kickstart their career within WPP. The Breakthrough Cadetship is part of WPP’s talent transformation agenda enabling WPP to source the region’s brightest future-ready talent.

The inaugural program sees eight candidates experience four three-month rotations across WPP’s award-winning creative and production agencies Hogarth, VMLY&R, whiteGREY and Wunderman Thompson.

The program offers candidates the opportunity to develop skills in client servicing, branding, strategy, customer experience and production, with the opportunity for full-time permanent employment at the end of the program.

To unlock the next generation of talent, the Breakthrough Cadetship was designed for people with a passion for creativity and a curiosity to learn – formal qualifications and prior industry experience were not required as part of the selection process.

Candidates were selected after three rounds, with the final round consisting of an in-person immersion day at WPP’s Sydney Campus. The successful candidates bring with them a diversity of experience and skills, including electronics and engineering, zoology, digital health, start-up commerce, innovation and film production.

Commenting on the Breakthrough Cadetship, WPP’s Chief People Officer in Australia and New Zealand, Morag Eyles, said: “WPP’s purpose is to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities, therefore we need exceptional people to join us on this mission. With the Breakthrough Cadetship, we are developing a new pipeline of talent as part of our ambition to diversify how we work and the work we deliver. We are ecstatic to welcome the 2022 Breakthrough Cadets to WPP and look forward to growing together with them on their journey.”

WPP President in Australia and New Zealand, Rose Herceg, added: “At WPP, you can build a career for life; it is something we are proud to support through learning and development, mobility and open doors across our network of companies. We created this Cadetship to attract and develop the next generation of leadership within our industry, ensuring we maintain the skillsets needed as our clients’ creative transformation partner. I am delighted to welcome the first cohort of Breakthrough cadets and wish them well on their career pathway within WPP.”

To find out more about future programs or working at WPP, please contact our Talent Team at [email protected].