In March of this year, the government announced a new package of support for the future of the creative industry, a creative education boost to support young people in accessing high-quality arts education and enrichment activities, as well as opportunities in AI and tech. Reaching the highest level in the past 11 years, almost one million young people in the UK are currently not in education, employment, or training (NEET) something which we are actively tackling in our employability and skills programmes.
However, it is well known that disadvantaged young people face significant barriers to employment and career progression – and entering the creative industries is no exception. The announcement of the new education package, will give young people across the country greater access to high-quality arts education, broader creative opportunities and the chance to develop in-demand skills in AI and tech. Whilst the government’s announcement sets out promising plans for the future, in April, we celebrated what we are already doing in this space.
TikTok Creative Academy and Factory International: Creative Careers Festival 2.0
For the past three years, we have delivered the TikTok Creative Academy, which supports young people furthest from the job market into careers in the creative industries. On the 3rd of April, in partnership with Factory International, we brought together hundreds of talented young minds and industry leaders under one roof at the iconic Aviva Studios, Manchester, to grow skills, networks and to celebrate the impact of our work.
So far, TikTok Creative Academy has supported over 2,200 young people and are on our way to achieving 1,000 job outcomes. The success of the programme was reflected in the Creative Careers Festival which saw a fantastic turnout with over 500 people registering interest and attendance from a wealth of industry professionals who know what it is like to navigate the creative career sector in Manchester themselves.
The event included a speed mentoring, which was fiercely popular, with over 100 attendees taking part and 14 creative professionals offering bespoke advice in one-to-one sessions. There was also a pitching masterclass, delivered by Flematu Sessay, a British-Sierra Leonean interdisciplinary creative and cultural producer. She focused on helping attendees build confidence in articulating their work and personal stories across various formats, including job interviews, funding applications and creative pitches.
Factory International staff hosted a CV Clinic where tailored feedback and application advice were provided, which was especially valuable for attendees looking for paid opportunities in the short term. Yet, one of the most sought-after aspects of the event was the headshot studio, where two professional photographers provided free headshots to improve the professionalism and impact of attendees’ online presence and creative portfolios – something which many young creatives would struggle to afford themselves.
Finally, we ensured the event bridged the gap between young creatives looking for work and employers actively recruiting and offering work experience opportunities. Employers and training providers were invited to host stalls in a marketplace-style area, where attendees could meet and speak with over 20 creative organisations. We know this is a particularly impactful way of supporting young people, who often lack not only confidence, but also the network and knowledge to successfully navigate creative opportunities by engaging employers in the need to support the future of Manchester’s creative economy. As a result, the energy and atmosphere of the event were electric – it was busy, vibrant and full of exciting opportunities to explore.
TikTok Creative Academy Senior Service Manager, Hilda Dotsey, shares:
“At Catch22, we are acutely aware of the challenges that young creatives face when it comes to finding sustainable employment in the creative industries and we are about to mark the 1,000th person supported into work, training or further education through TikTok Creative Academy. With lack of industry insight and experience cited as one of the key barriers to quality creative careers, it is fantastic to be partnering with Factory International once more. This event, which celebrates our third year of delivering the programme, has opened up pathways for Manchester youth, linking up the next generation of creative talent with industry experts and Manchester’s top creative voices.”
The Creative Careers Festival is just a small part of the main employability and skills programme. TikTok Creative Academy offers tailored, wraparound support focusing on the creative industries which aligns with each young person’s interests, supporting the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and build an inclusive and thriving labour market where everyone has the opportunity of good work.
Many of the young people we support are passionate about digitally creative roles, such as social media management, running small online businesses, graphic design, photography and filmmaking. We encourage them to develop skills and confidence in tech and AI, explore how it’s shaping industries, and learn how to work alongside these advancements to enhance their skills and opportunities. Furthermore, our digital employability programmes are designed to provide opportunities for people from excluded groups to get working in specifically digital or tech enabled roles.
Whatever the industry a young person wants to get into, we work with them to realise their ambitions, set meaningful goals and provide the ongoing support and skills building they need to achieve, thus contributing to the governments long-term ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate and invest in the creative industries.
Find out more about Catch22’s digital employability programmes.