How to get started in the creative industries

Did you know the creative industries are worth £118 billion every year and employ over 2 million people? You could be one of them. 

Whether you’re looking for a job or planning to start your own business, there are lots of things to think about. Here are some of the skills you’ll need to survive and thrive: 

Creativity – creativity, innovation and the ability to adapt are all necessary skills in today’s workplace.

Teamwork – working in a team with others, contributing to discussions, being aware of other people’s opinions, respecting other people, co-operating and negotiating.

Communication skills – ability to produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy, including listening and questioning.

Problem-solving – analysing facts and situations and applying creative thinking to develop solutions appropriate to the problem.

Commercial awareness – having the ability to think commercially i.e. what are the key objectives for businesses, who are their competitors, how can businesses keep their customers satisfied and loyal and what can they do to continue to innovate.

Organised – time management, meeting deadlines, setting personal goals, keeping a to-do list, and prioritising are all skills to demonstrate organisation.

Leadership skills – having the ability to motivate and lead others, being assertive, decision-making and being flexible when the situation changes.

Positive attitude – employers want staff who are excited about the prospect of working for them and who have positive ideas about what they can bring to the team and make a difference to the company.

Exercise

Brainstorm a list of your own employability skills and identify where and how you have gained your skills. This list will help you when you are applying for future roles or in interviews. 

Research roles and companies in the areas you’re most interested in and think about how your skills will fit. 

Be inspired by other young people’s stories and how they have gained essential skills on work placements, apprenticeships and trainee programmes in the creative sector.

Finally, write down three things you’ll do in the next week to get started.