Reflect

A 2023 study by Ravensbourne University London (an institution which specialises in creative and digital industries) revealed that whilst many young people would like creative careers, they often lack the information they need to pursue them, and understand little about salaries, career pathways, or the range of jobs on offer. Among 1000 young adults aged 18-25 surveyed, 43% were interested in working in the creative industries (with 17% of these already working in the sector and a further 26% actively seeking employment). TV and film emerged as the most popular sectors, followed by design, fashion, music and games. However, in spite of their interest, less than a quarter of participants had received any guidance about pursuing a creative career path from their school, college or university. A lack of knowledge about roles, concerns over AI replacing jobs, and fears of low pay were cited as significant deterrents from creative career choices, with 42% feeling unable to pursue one.

Further compounding these common barriers is a stark inequality in access to creative industries, which was highlighted in recent research from the Sutton Trust. Younger adults from working-class backgrounds are four times less likely to work in the creative industries compared to their middle-class peers. Top selling musicians are six times more likely than the wider public to have attended private schools (43% vs 7%), and BAFTA nominated actors are five times more likely to have done so (35% vs 7%). Privately-educated students represent over half of music students at the most prestigious conservatoires, and at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, King's College London and Bath, more than half of creative students come from ‘upper middle class’ backgrounds.

Despite these challenges, the creative industries are absolutely thriving. It’s big business, employing well over 2 million people in the UK. In fact, here in the UK, the sector has been identified as a key driver of economic growth and employment by the government, and in 2023, under the then conservative leadership, “ambitious plans” were announced to grow the sector further. The UK’s creative industries are considered a global success story, growing at more than 1.5 times the rate of the wider economy over the past decade, and seeing employment boom at five times the rate of the rest of the economy since 2011, though the latest data indicates that growth might be slowing. In London, 1 in 5 jobs are in the creative sector. Extraordinarily, the creative industries contribute £109 billion to the UK economy annually, more than the automotive, life sciences, aerospace, oil and gas industries combined.

Even if young people aren’t destined for a career in the arts, whatever their ultimate job, the World Economic Forum’s most recent Future of Jobs Report highlights creativity as one of the key skills needed in the workplaces of the future, and a report published in July 2024 outlines the unique impact of creative degrees and creative pedagogy, evidencing the significant contribution that specialist creative institutions make to their regions, both culturally and economically.

For our young people, the numerous and varied jobs within the sector, many of which are personally satisfying and some of which are very lucrative, shouldn’t be overlooked. Andy Cook, vice chancellor at Ravensbourne has remarked that, “It’s important to let school leavers know that there are opportunities available in these sectors and to work with creative business to harness their talent”. So how can we motivate interested young people from all backgrounds to consider pursuing creative careers, and what practical support can we offer if they want to find out more?

Motivate

This is why representation and visibility in creative fields are so important - not just in terms of class or background, but also in diversity of thought, skills and experiences. When creative young people see others like them thriving in these careers, they might just gain the belief that they can follow a similar path. So at Tooled Up, we decided to play our own very small part by creating a resource for teens which showcases some inspiring individuals from a variety of creative fields. So far, over 30 designers, artists, photographers, broadcasters, actors, musicians, filmmakers and more, have given up some of their valuable time to let us know how they turned their passions into professions, and offer young people a bit of advice about things they wish they’d known when they were at school.

I’ve really enjoyed learning about their journeys, successes and challenges. I’ve also shown the draft to my own children, who told me it was ‘very interesting’ - high praise indeed! My daughter was particularly taken with Claire Kitchener’s profile. Claire is a freelance embroidery and embellishment designer who often works on fantasy productions. She created embroidery designs for the Harry Potter films and characters including Dumbledore, Bellatrix, Lucius Malfoy and the Death Eater army all wear costumes featuring her work (very cool). Claire explains that she had some great creative role models at home and that her parents and grandparents set her up with the determination and self belief needed to work as a freelance designer. My son zoomed in on Seb Blach’s entry. Seb (pictured at the top of this article) is a location sound recordist and commercial drone pilot working on natural history and adventure documentaries. He’s frequently found recording sound in jungles and rainforests, has jumped out of helicopters, abseiled with Bear Grylls, and chased Steve Backshall around as he leaps out of boats and onto crocodiles. Seb describes how whilst the time spent on planes and in vans can be tiring and relentless, the access that he has to remote places and magical experiences are things that a solo traveller simply wouldn’t be able to organise, regardless of their budget. We were also intrigued to learn more about special effects (trying to imagine exactly how much food colouring was required to make 32 tonnes of fake toxic sludge) and felt inspired by investigative journalists. Reading about people’s experiences sparked conversations around how you might go about composing a piece of music for a video game, the role of a conductor in a musical, what it might be like to go on tour, and exactly what kind of voice would make a great voiceover artist.

Almost without exception, the people I spoke to highlighted certain challenges like irregular schedules and a lack of job stability. Working in the creative sector is hard, with often long hours and no guarantee of success. It’s not for everyone. But many of our contributors have also found ways to adapt, such as diversifying their skills or creating additional income streams. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve learned that the creative industries hold immense potential for those willing to embrace their challenges and opportunities. By showcasing inspiring stories, breaking down barriers, and providing practical advice, we can empower young people to pursue their passions and contribute to a sector that enriches all our lives. Creativity shouldn’t just belong to the fortunate few - it’s a path that can and should be open to everyone.

Support

Firstly, keep an eye out for the work of Abi Meats. A year or so ago, Abi self-published a book for children and young people called I Want to Be a Creative. Whilst her own print run is currently out of stock, the book is due to be published by Hachette during the summer. It will be packed with insights from 50 real life creative mentors, who explain how they discovered their talent and provide practical advice about how to do what they do. It will also feature lots of fun exercises to help young people explore their own creativity through different lenses. Abi is also soon launching a Patreon page where she hopes to foster meaningful connections between young people and the creative industries. Abi told me, “Creativity remains essential for teaching empathy, critical thinking, and collaboration. Growing up, my arts education transformed my life. Yet today, many students lack access to these opportunities or the awareness of the careers they can lead to. Through my Patreon, I am funding projects to provide creative resources to schools and make my book and its related content accessible to all. My vision is to bridge the gap between education and industry, sparking conversations and initiatives that prepare young people for a more equitable, creative future.” Watch this space!

Secondly, check out ERIC. It’s a free app designed to help young people break into the creative industries and become work-ready. ERIC has partnered with hundreds of creative employers, charities and training providers across the UK and can help with finding local & remote entry-level schemes, programmes and initiatives. You can also find some great information on the Ravensbourne University website and UCL’s website, and Warwick University offers some practical tips on finding work in creative industries.

Creativity is far more than an individual talent. It’s a powerful force that shapes our culture, economy and humanity. Creative industries, and just being creative, can offer young people a wealth of opportunity, inspiration and challenge. It’s vital that we continue breaking down barriers and help to make these pathways accessible to everyone, building an environment where creativity is nurtured and celebrated.

With young children, foster their natural sense of curiosity about the world. Dr Marina Bazhydai, who researches curiosity, wonder and creativity in children, notes that, "Playfulness, open-mindedness, thinking ‘outside the box’ describe a desirable and highly regarded state that children naturally engage in and most adults desperately crave." Nurture it! Creativity thrives in judgement-free, playful environments where children are given space to come up with ideas themselves. And with older children, whether your teen dreams of becoming the next big film director, designing costumes for fantasy worlds, or innovating in fields we can’t yet imagine, the key is ensuring they feel empowered, informed and supported to explore their potential. By connecting young people with inspiring role models, demystifying creative career paths, and emphasising the value of creative education, we can equip the next generation with the confidence to turn their passion into purpose.