Discover! Creative Careers Week 2023

13th - 17th November 2023

Discover! Creative Careers Week 2023 is the flagship event in our year-round programme that offers online and in-person activities and encounters with employers. Young people can hear directly about different sectors, job roles, career pathways and more, across the thriving creative industries. Supported by our suite of lesson plans and resources, Discover! week will help schools and colleges meet several Gatsby benchmarks. 

There are several ways to get involved:

Online

Speakers for Schools will be delivering the Discover! Creative Careers Week virtual programme where you can plan a week of activity and we’ll share planning tools, film resources and lesson plans to support the programme. If you haven’t already, please register to receive the resources.

In-person activities

We are funded to support schools/colleges in 77 priority areas, identified as those with the least access to creative industry encounters and opportunities. We are offering support to schools/colleges and employers in those areas to connect and arrange workplace visits and in-school careers activities during Discover! Creative Careers Week. If you are based outside the priority areas, you can still register your interest for in-person activities, but we cannot guarantee support to broker a connection with a local employer therefore we encourage you to make connections directly. Please register by 6th October. 

Coming soon

We also have a year-round programme of online activities and resources that all young people, schools/colleges, employers and careers professionals can access. Up next: Wednesday 27th September 11 – 11.45 am,  join our live industry panel discussing careers in advertising & marketing. Hear about apprenticeship pathways and receive a lesson plan to prepare your students for the session. Find out more and register.

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Virtual programme, delivered by Speakers for Schools

Speakers for Schools is a UK-wide youth charity that believes every young person should have the opportunity to succeed and reach their potential. They work with employers from across all industries to deliver a far-reaching programme of work experience, inspirational talks, workshops and more.

We've commissioned Speakers for Schools to deliver the brilliant virtual programme taking place during Discover! Creative Careers Week 2023 that features a range of different online events, delivered with employers from across the creative industries. Highlights include:

• SEND session with Leeds Museums and Galleries, Monday 13th November 1.30 - 2pm - designed for students with special educational needs and disabilities, this event will introduce the wide range of roles available in museums
• Pride Road Architects, Tuesday 14th November 11am - 12pm - perfect for students obsessed with Lego or Minecraft who love to build and create, this event will introduce the fascinating world of architecture
• Royal Opera House, Wednesday 15th November 10am - 12.30pm - this event will take your students 'backstage' and introduce them to theatre craft and production careers 
• Sky Studios, Thursday 16th November - learn more about careers in film and TV from Sky's brand-new studio based in Elstree and Borehamwood

Find out more about Speakers for Schools on their website. 

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FAQs

How will Discover! Creative Careers Week support us in reaching the Gatsby benchmarks? Through the industry-led activities and a suite of resources, engaging with Discover! Week will support schools to meet Gatsby Benchmarks 2 (Learning from career and labour marketing information), 4 (Linking curriculum learning to careers), 5 (Encounters with employers and employees) and 6 (Experiences of workplaces).

Will there be any specific resources or events available for SEND learners? Yes, Speakers for Schools will be offering a SEND-focussed online session and we are working with Careers for All to create further events and resources during the week and beyond, to ensure the week is accessible to everyone.

What age range is the event for? The Discover Creative Careers programme is for ages 11-18 and the Speakers for Schools virtual programme will have events and opportunities for all year groups. Individual employer-led opportunities may be targeted at a specific age range.

Is the event free? Yes engagement in both the online and in-person activities is free, however any travel costs or other expenses incurred will need to be covered by the school/college.

How do schools/colleges engage with local industry? If you are based in one of our 77 priority areas, we support you to connect with a local employer for an in-person activity.  If you're based outside these areas you can continue to register for guaranteed online activities and resources, but we cannot guarantee support to broker a connection with an employer for in-person activities. 

Will there be accompanying lesson plans? We are currently developing several new lesson plans aimed at introducing your learners to the various areas of the creative industries, we will share these and other film resources with all registered schools ahead of Discover! Week

What type of activities will my learners be able to engage with? Employers will be encouraged to lead interactive workshops, tours, talks and much more, giving students the hands-on careers experiences that is proven to make a difference to future decision-making. Online activities will include interactive workshops, inspiring talks, panel discussions and more. 

Who do I contact to find out more information? Please contact us on discover@screenskills.com to find out more.