Connecting young people to the creative industry
Discover! Creative Careers Month is an industry-led initiative designed to provide young people aged 11-18 with encounters and experiences of the creative industries through in-school, workplace and online opportunities. There are several ways for schools and colleges to get involved.
The Schools and Colleges Toolkit
This is your go-to guide for getting involved in Discover! Creative Careers Month. It includes an overview of the creative industries, industry-led lesson plans aligned with Gatsby Benchmarks, and practical ways to participate through the online Opportunity Finder. You’ll also find tips for hosting events, health and safety guidance for visits, and a personal planner template to help students make the most of their experience.
Opportunity Finder
The Discover! Creative Careers Opportunity Finder lists free careers events and activities submitted directly by the industry for activities taking place across the year and during Discover! Creative Careers Month. Schools and colleges can search for relevant events and directly contact the host company through an online form.
Virtual events
Schools can also tune into a series of inspiring virtual talks as part of Discover! Creative Careers Month, delivered by Futures for All through Speakers for Schools. Sessions explore a wide range of creative pathways, from Exploring Sound Careers with That’s Disruptive Production Company, to Architectural Technology – The Science Behind Buildings with CIAT, and Dance Your Future: Exciting Careers On and Beyond the Stage with One Dance UK. These talks offer students unique insights into diverse roles and opportunities across the creative industries.
Explore the virtual programme >
Mary Rose, Discover! Creative Careers Programme Lead says:
It’s fantastic to see schools embracing opportunities to connect their students with the creative industries. When young people can meet professionals, try out real activities and see what’s possible, it helps them understand that creative careers are open to everyone, not just a select few. These experiences can be genuinely life-changing and help to raise aspirations right across the country.
Quotes from young people who have taken part previously:
“By having that interaction with professional media creatives, we’re getting a chance to see what we can become.”
“I thought architecture was just designing buildings and landscapes, but there’s a lot more to it than I originally thought.”
Quotes from teachers who have taken part previously:
“We can talk about routes into the workplace but being able to see and hear from industry was really good for the students – it’s made them work a little bit harder! A really worthwhile experience.”
“With our students being neurodiverse, we found that lots of them have natural talents and abilities for the arts, so we think it’s really valuable for them to see how successful other professionals are within the sector.”
There are so many brilliant opportunities throughout Discover! Creative Careers and beyond. Head over to the website, book onto events and sign up for their updates for Discover! 2026.
We’d love to hear how getting involved with Discover! Creative Careers Month has helped build connections with the creative industry for your students. Share your story here.
