About Discover! Creative Careers

Discover Creative Careers exists to inform and inspire young people about careers in the creative industries. It aims to showcase creative careers unknown to many and to explain what skills and qualifications they need to succeed in those careers when they leave school. 

With over £1million invested from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and additional support from Arts Council England, the 2023 - 2025 programme aims to reach young people from 77 target areas across England to pursue a career in the creative industries.

Through a hybrid programme of activities and resources, Discover Creative Careers informs young people directly about the opportunities in this world-leading sector through meaningful encounters with industry professionals, online tools, training and support for teachers, parents, guardians and careers professionals, employers and more. 

Discover, also known as the Creative Careers Programme, was kick-started with funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2018 and has been shaped and supported directly by creative businesses, institutions, trade bodies and individuals across England.  In 2020/21 the programme was developed further through funding from Arts Council England to develop a video programme used in schools during National Careers Week in March 2021.

For the  2023 - 2025 programme, we are funded to support and engage with schools and young people across 77 priority areas in England, identified as those facing the greatest disadvantage. Our online programme of activities such as our online insight sessions, video resources, lesson plans, training for careers professionals and virtual Discover! Creative Careers Week activities, delivered by Speakers for Schools, are open to everyone.

Find out more about the 77 priority areas.