Discover Month Press Release

• This November, a raft of in-person and online events are available to 11-24 year-olds up and down the country as part of the UK Government-funded Discover Creative Careers.
• Support comes from world-leading creative and cultural organisations across the nations including V&A, BAFTA, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, British Vogue, One Dance UK, Bristol Beacon, Sky Studios Elstree, and Into Film.

For press enquiries please contact Rebecca Maxwell at press@wearecreative.uk

Today, 2 November 2026 marks the beginning of Discover Creative Careers Month (Discover Month); a major UK-wide initiative designed to showcase the variety of exciting jobs available in the creative industries, to young people aged 11-24. This year, Discover Month features in-person and online events specifically created to support young people wishing to learn more about creative careers.

Events include creative careers fairs taking place in Bristol and Wakefield, Explore Merch Making at Wales Millennium Centre, a Breaking Into Music event in Belfast, Unreal Engine Workshops in York and Scarborough, sessions on how to find work in the creative industries, and industry-specific sessions in which young people can discover what it’s like to work in creative sub-sectors such as gaming, music, performing and visual arts, film, advertising and marketing, publishing, crafts, fashion, architecture, and animation.

Alongside inspiring the next generation to explore the breadth of creative careers, Discover is helping young people take practical steps into employment, connecting them with employers offering paid traineeships and entry-level opportunities, supported by free recruitment services through Creative Access.

Discover Creative Careers is backed by ambassadors including writer, actor and comedian, Adil Ray; Mayor of West of England, Helen Godwin; award-winning actor, Vicky McClure; and actor, Catherine Tyldesley. These well-known leading lights of the creative industries have pledged to help amplify the programme, supporting it to reach as many young people as possible.

The UK’s creative industries are an industrial powerhouse, generating £146 billion in GVA. Discover Month will showcase this incredible sector to the future workforce, showing young people the many and varied career opportunities that can be found within it. During Discover Month, organisations and creatives from across the UK will help to demystify creative careers for young people, with event delivery from British Vogue, Create Wakefield, The V&A, illustrator, Cornelia Funke, Sky Studios Elstree, Lancashire Music Association, Futures For All, Creative Access, Brighton Dome, Shakespeare North Playhouse and many more.

The month will be supported by a communications campaign featuring relatable case studies of young people working in the creative industries to inspire and engage. With a focus on priority regions outside of London, the campaign will help young people recognise the varied creative career pathways and opportunities available to them closer to home. The campaign aims to dispel misconceptions, raise awareness of the breadth of sectors, and highlight how a range of skills and interests are suitable for careers in the likes of gaming, film and TV, music and advertising and marketing.

This year's Discover Month offers young people a huge range of opportunities to discover the impressive breadth that exists within creative careers, from specific job roles, to entire sub-sectors. Highlights include:

• Lights, Camera, Action: Your 3-Day Work Experience behind the scenes! (25-27 November, Hertfordshire, ages 16-19) (registration closed). 16-19 year-olds have been invited to go behind the scenes at Sky Studios Elstree and discover what it takes to bring film and TV productions to life at one of the UK’s newest state-of-the-art studios
• First Steps into the Music Industry (4 November, Burnley, ages 16-21). An opportunity to explore music careers at Lancashire Music Association’s free session for ages 16–21. Attendees can discover industry opportunities, develop projects, and connect with music professionals for advice and support.
• Explore Merch Making at Wales Millennium Centre (11-25 November, Cardiff, ages 11-15) The Printhaus x Platfform collab is back to offer 11-15 year-olds the chance to take part in a free hands-on course where they will learn how professional merchandise is designed and made. Over four sessions, young people will experiment with design, printing and heat transfer techniques, taking home an exclusive piece of limited edition Platfform merch they have designed.
• Upstart Festival (14 November, London, ages 16-26). An opportunity to explore fashion careers through talks, workshops, displays and networking at this festival for young people aged 16–26, run by the V&A and UKFT with support from the Adobe Foundation.
• From Stories to Sketches: the Creative Life of an Author and Illustrator (19 November, online, ages 11-19). 11-19 year-olds are invited to step into the creative world of bestselling author and illustrator Cornelia Funke, exploring how ideas become books and illustrations. Discover her creative journey, inspirations and what it’s like to build a career in writing and illustration.
• Breaking into Music (9 November, Belfast, ages 14-21) For ages 14-21, explore careers in the live music industry at this interactive Creative Industries Day in Northern Ireland. Run by Oh Yeah Music Centre as part of Sound of Belfast Festival, the event highlights career paths and opportunities across live music.
• Discover Creative Careers Fair (19 November, Bristol, ages 11-17) Taking place at The Bristol Beacon – and featuring a wide range of interactive sessions on the creative industries, live events, sound and lighting. Attendees can meet industry professionals, discover training and education pathways, and gain practical insights into the wide range of opportunities across the creative sector.
• Creative Careers Fair (25 November, Wakefield, ages 11-24) - Create Wakefield’s free Creative Careers Fair. It’s a chance to meet employers, cultural organisations and education providers, take part in interactive activities, enjoy live performances and access CV support, professional headshots and expert career advice.
• Unreal Engine workshops (16 November in York; 17 November in Scarborough all ages) - Two Unreal Engine workshops run by XR Stories. The workshops will teach attendees how to use Unreal Engine as a powerful tool for digital pre-visualisation across applications such as filmmaking, animation, and digital twinning.
• The Benefits of Investing in Early Career Talent (Wednesday 25 November, 12–1pm, online) Hosted by Creative Access, this free webinar will bring together employers and industry professionals to explore the benefits of investing in junior talent, building more inclusive talent pipelines and accessing free recruitment support to create paid early-career opportunities.
• Getting a Job Session (4 November, online, ages 16+) is a valuable opportunity for young people to get practical advice to strengthen job applications and prepare for a creative industry role. The session covers CVs, cover letters, portfolios and interviews, with guidance from the Creative Access recruitment team and opportunities to ask questions.

The full range of bookable events can be explored at: https://discovercreative.careers/discover-month/events

Beyond Discover Creative Careers Month, the programme is also focused on turning inspiration into opportunity. Discover Creative Careers is working with employers across the UK’s creative industries to create 550 paid early-career opportunities over three years. Employers can access free, end-to-end recruitment support, including vacancy promotion, candidate sourcing, shortlisting and interview support, to help them recruit young people into paid roles and traineeships. The programme also offers opportunities for employers to get involved through industry events, webinars, and work experience.

Creative employers can learn how to get involved with Discover by offering work experience and traineeships here: https://discovercreative.careers/industry/build-the-talent-pipeline.

Speaking about Discover Creative Careers Month, Creative Industries Minister, Ian Murray MP, said:

“All young people, regardless of their background, deserve a shot at kick-starting a career in our world-class creative industries - whether that's working in front of the camera, behind the scenes of a video game or calling the shots in a concert venue. Backed by Government funding, this Discover Creative Careers Month will help introduce many more young people to the wide variety of career paths that are open to them.”

Speaking about the programme, writer, actor and comedian, Adil Ray said:

“It’s so important that we are all heard to understand one another. It’s important that our story is told. Your story. For many, the opportunity of being creative and building a career feels a million miles away. And I get that. That’s why this initiative will help to make a real difference. And it begins with you. This is your chance to tell your story, chase your dream and to be taken seriously. For me, supporting Discover Creative Careers means ensuring that the opportunity for any young person who wants to find their feet in a creative career is open to everyone and benefits us all.”

Actor, Catherine Tyldesley added:

“I want all young people to know that having a job in the creative industries is possible, no matter where they grew up or what their parents do. Creativity is the lifeblood of this country - our artistic output is famous all across the world - and that is made possible by the hugely talented people that put in the work. It is so important that we ensure our young people feel not only inspired, but also able to follow their passions. Discover Creative Careers is a brilliant gateway for young people wanting to discover what is out there in terms of job roles, career pathways and gaining work experience and I'm thrilled to be an ambassador.”

Nick Brook, CEO, Futures For All (lead Creative Careers Collective partner) said:

“The creative industries are one of the UK's greatest success stories – but unpaid internships, and a lack of visible entry points mean young people are often locked out of it.

For too many, getting a foot in the door comes down to ‘who you know’, which means we all lose out on the ideas and experiences that enrich lives, culture and society.

Closing that gap is exactly what Futures For All was built to do. As the UK's leading social mobility charity, we believe opportunity shouldn’t be limited to those who already have a way in.

Discover Creative Careers Month brings careers fairs, industry sessions and work experience together this November, with events to show young people where to start, giving the next generation the tools they need to compete on the world stage.”

Mel Rodrigues, CEO, Creative Access (Creative Careers Collective partner), said:

“Every young person should have the chance to build a career in the creative industries, regardless of their background or who they know. Discover Creative Careers Month is a brilliant opportunity to open young people's eyes to the extraordinary range of roles available, but it's just as important that we help them take the next step.

That's why we're working with employers across the sector to create paid traineeships, open up recruitment opportunities, and provide practical support to help young people get their foot in the door. Our webinar, The Benefits of Investing in Early Career Talent, on 25 November, will explore the value of investing in early-career talent and how employers can help build a stronger, more inclusive creative workforce. Because opening doors to creative careers isn't just good for young people – it's good for our industry too.”

Emily Cloke, CEO, Creative UK (Creative Careers Collective partner), said:

“I'm absolutely thrilled to see the return of Discover Creative Careers Month, especially given this year's events roster, which does a great job of representing the diversity of exciting careers that are available within the creative sector. Our hope is that this month will open young people's eyes to the wonderful opportunities presented by a job in the creative industries. There is so much more to this industry than many people know, and ensuring that young people from all backgrounds can see a way into it is a hugely important mission, and one we are proud to help deliver.”

Further supporting quotes from Discover Creative Careers Ambassadors:

Helen Godwin, Mayor of West of England said:

“Young people need to know that creative careers are for them, whatever their background. It doesn't matter where you grew up, or whether you live in a city or a rural area, if you've got the creativity within you, you can find a career that suits in the West of England.”

Yasmin Jones-Henry, journalist and cultural placemaking strategist said:

“I’m excited to be able to support the Discover Creative Careers campaign. As a creative entrepreneur and writer working across fashion, architecture, craft and urban design, I’m a strong advocate for appreciating the power of transferrable skills. I’d also encourage NextGen navigating a disruptive jobs market to recognise the best careers never manifest in a straight line. My career started at the Financial Times a decade ago, selling subscriptions to the macroeconomic databases… the point is, take the opportunities as they come, maximise your exposure to learning new skills and build your own network!”

Notes to editors:

About Discover Creative Careers:

Discover Creative Careers is an industry-led, government-funded programme, providing young people aged 11-24 with the support, skills and knowledge they need to build lasting careers in the creative industries. Funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the programme aims to break down existing barriers to entry for young people from underrepresented backgrounds, whilst supporting industry, parents and carers, careers advisers and educators to build new pathways to the sector. Discover Creative Careers is delivered by the Creative Careers Collective – a national consortium comprising Futures For All, Creative UK and Creative Access. Together, the collective combines complementary strengths in education, industry engagement, digital delivery and social mobility to deliver an inclusive national careers service for young people.

About Discover Creative Careers Month

Discover Creative Careers Month is a major UK-wide initiative taking place every November which is designed to showcase creative industries jobs to young people aged 11-24. 2026's Discover Month includes a range of events, both online and in-person, including creative career fairs, industry insights sessions and practical support, delivered by industry leaders and experts from the worlds of film, TV, gaming, design, music, publishing, architecture and much more.

About Futures For All:

Futures For All is a social mobility charity and the UK's largest provider of work experience programmes. Our mission is to ensure that every young person has a fair opportunity to explore their potential, regardless of their background.

We are committed to levelling the playing field by providing high-quality, impactful experiences of the world of work to students in state schools and colleges across the UK. Through our Speakers for Schools programme, we help demystify career pathways, build confidence and raise aspirations. Our Work Experience Finder platform enables employers to engage meaningfully with young people, particularly those who are often the hardest to reach, creating opportunities that can shape futures and broaden horizons.

About Creative UK:

Creative UK is the national membership body for the cultural and creative industries. We exist to champion creativity in its widest form – representing world-leading organisations from sectors as diverse as advertising, animation, architecture, broadcasting, crafts, design, digital, education, fashion, games, heritage, museums, music, performing arts, photography, publishing, theatre, TV, visual art and more.

We are an independent not-for-profit, which uses the insight and experience of our members to help shape relevant government policy and advocate for meaningful change.

Change that will benefit UK businesses, citizens and communities. Our vision is a world where creativity is valued and recognised as the driving force for our future. We’re so passionate about this that we put our money where our mouth is: through our own landmark investment funds, we’ve directly invested millions of pounds into creative businesses over the last decade. Our team is based across the UK, and we work closely with Local and Combined Authorities to support creative talent, whilst delivering hands-on support – spanning business diagnostics, mentoring and investment readiness.

About Creative Access:

As an independent non-profit, Creative Access’ mission is simple: to see the UK’s creative economy reflect the society it serves. We are the UK’s leading inclusivity organisation in the creative industries. Since 2012, we have been driving change across the sector by creating pathways for under-represented groups and helping organisations build more inclusive cultures.

Working across publishing, media, TV, film, theatre, music and the wider creative economy, we deliver recruitment, mentoring, training, consultancy and career development programmes. Our work supports individuals at every stage of their careers and helps organisations attract and retain diverse talent.

Creative Access is a trusted voice on representation in the creative industries, producing research which champions equitable opportunities and informs industry action.