For industry & employers
The future creative workforce is already here. Be part of it.
Whether you're a freelancer, creative business or industry organisation, discover the benefits of joining our national programme. Connect with emerging talent, raise your profile, access funding and help open doors to creative careers.
ON THIS PAGE:
DISCOVER CREATIVE CAREERS
Four ways to join the movement.
Promote your activities, gain recognition, access funding or connect with us. Get involved with the Discover Creative Careers.
AMPLIFICATION
Spotlight your events
Celebrate your work and reach more young people by showcasing your creative careers activities through the official channels of our national programme.
ACCREDITATION
Earn your badge
Show the world you're a changemaker, opening doors to creative careers for young people with a Discover Creative Careers Champion or Leader badge.
PARTICIPATION
Deliver an activity
Inspire the next generation of creative talent by sharing your skills and experience through Discover Creative Careers activities, with as little as an hour of your time.
FUNDING
Money for good
Make a difference in your community with Discover Creative Careers grants of up to £4,000 to create opportunities for underserved young people.
Something else in mind?
We want to hear from you
Have an idea, insight or opportunity to share? Connect with Discover Creative Careers and help us make creative careers more accessible to young people.
AMPLIFICATION: INCREASE YOUR VISIBILITY
Discover Creative Careers Amplification
Put your work in front of a powerful national audience of young people, educators and industry partners. Raise your profile while championing greater access to creative careers.
PROMOTE YOUR ACTIVITIES
Spotlight your events
Already running creative careers activities for 11–24-year-olds? Reach more young people by showcasing your events through our Events page, social media channels and monthly activity round-up.
SHOWCASE YOUR IMPACT
Share your success stories
Making a difference to young people's creative futures? Raise your profile by sharing your achievements through Discover Creative Careers year-round case studies and social media spotlights.
ACCREDITATION: TWO LEVELS OF RECOGNITION
Discover Creative Careers Accreditation
Gain recognition for making a difference with an industry-standard badge of distinction. Earn Champion status for inspiring young people through our programme activities, or Leader status for driving strategic change and opening up creative career pathways.
MEASURING IMPACT
What it's about
The Discover Creative Career badge is a DCC Collective accredited, high brand value asset that recognises those who are actively supporting creative careers education and access to creative careers pathways, particularly for young people who face barriers into the industry.
DELIVERING ON THE GROUND
Champion Badge
Join a growing movement to open up creative careers. Whatever your organisation's size or capacity, contribute to our programme activities and earn recognition for making a difference. Register your interest to work with us. Once you have delivered an activity with us, we can accredit you.
DELIVERING STRATEGIC IMPACT
Leader Badge
Leader accreditation celebrates industry individuals and organisations making significant strategic impact locally, regionally or nationally - improving policy, infrastructure or opportunities for young people to enter creative careers.
PARTICIPATION: MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Deliver a Discover Creative Careers activity
Whether you can spare one hour, one day or one year, your voluntary contribution can help make creative careers more accessible.
We'll work with you to deliver activities for 11–24-year-olds, online or in person, with opportunities to suit your capacity.
Please note, the link will take you to a registration page on Eventbrite. For information on how Eventbrite will process your data, read their privacy policy.
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1–2 HOUR CONTRIBUTION
Inspire future talent
Share your knowledge and experience.
Show young people a creative career they never knew existed. Bring your industry to life, raise aspirations and broaden horizons.
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4–8 HOUR CONTRIBUTION
Open doors to industry
Bring your industry to life.
Give young people the chance to meet professionals, build skills and experience the people, places and opportunities behind your industry.
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2 DAYS–12 MONTHS CONTRIBUTION
Build the talent pipeline
Invest in future talent.
Offer traineeships, placements and supported opportunities that help young people take their first steps into the creative workforce.
FUNDING: GOOD IDEAS DESERVE TO BE BACKED
Access Discover Creative Careers funding
Bring creative careers opportunities to underserved young people in your community. Apply for grants of up to £4,000 to deliver local activities that break down barriers to the creative industries. Applications open 20 October–30 November 2026.
MAXIMUM GRANT
£4,000
DEADLINE TO APPLY
30 November 2026
PROJECT DELIVERY
Jan - March 2027
BRING YOUR IDEAS TO LIFE
About our grants
Spotted a gap in creative careers opportunities in your community? We're backing hyperlocal ideas that respond to young people's needs, build skills, create connections and open up meaningful pathways into the industry.
YOUR GUIDE TO GETTING FUNDED
Resources and support
Want the best chance of success? Explore our grant guidance, watch the video guide, join an information webinar and find answers to frequently asked questions before you apply.
APPLY FOR FUNDING
Applications
Got an idea worth backing? Create an account on the Creative UK application portal and submit your proposal by 30 November 2026. Tell us about your proposed activities, local need and budget. Funding decisions are expected in early December.
DELIVERED BY
Stay in the loop
Creative careers are for everyone
We are building a new UK-wide platform, connecting young people, supporters and employers with creative careers. Register your interest in the Discover Creative Careers programme.