Vicky McClure and Nihal Arthanayake join creative industries leaders to back Discover Creative Careers, as programme announces badges for those inspiring next generation
Industry ambassadors including Penguin Random House, BAFTA, Crafts Council, and Into Games back new creative careers badge being issued to those advocating for widened access to creative careers and creative careers education for young people ahead of Discover Creative Careers Month in November.
Today, 9 September 2026, over 130 organisations and individuals have pledged their support for Discover Creative Careers – a DCMS-funded programme designed to break down barriers to progression in the UK’s creative industries.
As pupils across the country return to the classroom, creative leaders have joined the call for greater education on creative careers, and the creation of new opportunities and pathways for young people from all backgrounds.
Award-winning actor Vicky McClure MBE and acclaimed broadcaster, presenter, musician and author, Nihal Arthanayake are among the newly announced Discover Creative Careers Ambassadors using their voices to help open up pathways into creative careers for young people from under-represented backgrounds. They are joined by organisations including V&A, Penguin Random House, Scottish Youth Theatre, Gaming For All, Weber Shandwick, BBC and Hachette.
The programme is also supported by industry and outreach partners who have committed to using their profiles to connect creative organisations and freelancers with Discover Creative Careers. Industry partners include Creative Edinburgh, Arts Council Northern Ireland and ATG Entertainment. Outreach Partners include the National Saturday Club, ERIC, and the Premier League, with more to be confirmed.
Ambassadors and partners will support the mission of Discover Creative Careers to demystify career pathways and inspire the next generation of creative talent as the programme prepares for a refreshed Discover Creative Careers Month in November – a major UK-wide initiative taking place every year. Designed to showcase the wide variety of exciting jobs in the creative sector to 11-24 year-olds, this year’s activities are spread across the regions with the aim of amplifying opportunities across the nation.
With many more events yet to be confirmed, some examples of the upcoming activity are detailed below:
- A film industry careers event for year nine students on 6 November in North Yorkshire at The Station, Richmond
- A creative careers festival for 11-16 year-olds at Bristol Beacon on 9 November
- Careers event organised by Create Wakefield, Music Local and West Yorkshire Combined Authority in West Yorkshire on 25 November
- Futures For All Remote Insight Days and Broadcast Talks with organisations and individuals including British Vogue (11 November) Shakespeare North Playhouse (12 November), Into Film (13 November), and Print ReImagined (4 November).
- A series of Futures For All in-person talks with speakers including Jasmine Dotiwala, Broadcaster, Producer, Director and Columnist (4 November, London); Liz Evans, Managing Director, George (6 November, Yorkshire & Humber); and George Parker, Political Editor at the Financial Times (20 November, Southwest)
- Creative Access Creative SWAP, delivered with Westminster Jobcentre Plus, supporting 17 jobseekers through employability training and creative industry placements running throughout November.
- A Traineeships spotlight, helping young people discover paid routes into creative careers while demystifying traineeships for employers and encouraging more creative organisations – particularly smaller, independent employers outside London – to create starter opportunities.
- A special Discover Month series of Creative Access ‘Discover With’ webinars, connecting young people aged 16+ directly with creative professionals to explore different sectors, roles, skills and routes into the industry.
- Bookable creative careers and employability sessions for schools, colleges and youth groups, helping young people explore creative roles and build practical skills for applications, networking and interviews.
Further activity will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
For the first time, the work of ambassadors for the programme is being recognised with a formal accreditation: a badge spotlighting ambassadors’ efforts. There are two badges that can be issued: Champion badges and Leader badges.
The Champion badge recognises organisations or people who work with young people on the ground, as part of Discover Creative Careers, to open up pathways, share knowledge and inspire the next generation. Organisations already accredited with the Champion badge include BAFTA, THE HOUSE OF RADHA, and Shakespeare Playhouse North.
The Leader badge celebrates organisations or people who make strategic impact at local or national levels to improve policy, local infrastructure or opportunities for young people. The National Saturday Club, Premier League, Northern Ireland Arts Council and Creative Edinburgh are the first organisations to have been accredited with the Leader badge.
Creative Careers is delivered by the Creative Careers Collective – a national consortium comprising Futures For All (lead partner), Creative UK and Creative Access.
Ian Murray, Minister of State from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), said:
“The UK’s creative industries are one of our greatest strengths, generating billions for our economy and telling our stories to the world. But for these sectors to thrive, we need bright young talent from all backgrounds to be breaking into them. That’s exactly what Discover Creative Careers is trying to achieve, and seeing organisations, ambassadors and industry leaders getting behind it is fantastic.”
Speaking about the programme, Nihal Arthanayake said:
“Being a creative doesn’t just mean being an actor, a singer or a director, there are a vast array of careers that will harness, uplift and expand your creativity in ways that you cannot even imagine now. I started off as a rapper, then worked in PR, went on to become a music journalist, a BBC Radio 1 DJ, a speech broadcaster and an author. I had no plan, I just rolled with the creative opportunities. And you can too!”
Vicky McClure MBE added:
“It’s imperative that creative careers are accessible to everyone from every type of background. Here in the UK, we are lucky enough to have creative industries that inspire the rest of the world and so much of that comes from the diversity that exists within them. Discover Creative Careers is doing the essential job of improving talent pipelines for young people from under-represented backgrounds. We have to keep on with the work of showing young people – and industry – that the creative industries are for everyone.”
Nick Brook, CEO, Futures For All (lead Creative Careers Collective partner) said:
“The UK’s creative industries are among the most dynamic and exciting sectors globally to work in, yet too many young people struggle to access the experiences, networks and opportunities that can help build careers within them. For the first time, we’re able to formally recognise the people and organisations helping to close that gap.
At Futures For All, we see every day what’s possible when someone gives their time to speak to young people, or a company opens its doors for work experience. The Discover Creative Careers badge celebrates that effort. Recognising this work is how we get more of it, and build stronger pathways into the creative sector for the next generation.”
Mel Rodrigues, CEO, Creative Access (Creative Careers Collective partner), said:
“The future of the creative industries depends on the talent we inspire and support today. It’s vitally important as an industry to make sure young people understand the incredible range of careers available to them and can see a realistic route into those careers. Discover Creative Careers is doing vital work to bring that visibility and access to young people across the country. We hope the new badges will also shine a light on the people and organisations already making a difference, while encouraging many more across the industry to become champions for the next generation.”
Emily Cloke, CEO, Creative UK (Creative Careers Collective partner), said:
“Supporting the pipeline of talent coming into the creative industries is so vital. The UK’s world-leading creative industries are immensely empowered by the diversity of voices that exists within them and it is the responsibility of all of us working within the creative sector to ensure that young people from any background can find a route in. The new formal creative career badges will help to amplify those individuals and organisations going the extra mile to help open up pathways. In turn, we hope that this will help our amazing sector to continue to grow and thrive.”
Supporting quotes from Discover Creative Careers Ambassadors:
Declan Cassidy, CEO, Into Games and Discover Creative Careers Champion said:
“The creative industries are one of the UK’s great success stories, and video games sit right at the heart of them. Yet too many young people never see these careers as something for them, simply because of where they grew up or what their family can afford. That is why Discover Creative Careers matters. At Into Games, we are proud to support it for the third year in a row; its work is an essential part of making creative careers something visible for every young person, no matter their background.”
Josie Verghese, Freelance Journalist & Media Literacy Educator and Discover Creative Careers Champion said:
“I had no clue what working in media would and could be until I was in it. Originally joining the BBC as a PA it was seeing the industry from the inside and my curiosity in other career options that lead to me having a job as a journalist for 20 years.
And it is why you can’t shut me up from sharing my story, talking about the range of roles in broadcasting and the skills the media industry needs now and is likely to in the future – doing more of this with Discover Creative Careers will hopefully engage a whole new generation of creative producers and production professionals!”
Amy Smith, Global Director Recruitment and Outreach, Framestore and Discover Creative Careers Champion said:
“Discover Creative Careers is a vital part of our talent pipeline. So often young people express interest in careers in the creative industries but don’t think they can actually achieve them, either through a lack of awareness, support, or clear routes and pathways. The Discover Creative Careers programme provides insight, opportunity and the stepping stones that enable all young people to find the best next step into their dream career.”
Melise Djemal, Education Manager, Crafts Council and Discover Creative Careers Champion said:
“A career in craft is an extremely fulfilling one, but so many young people never get to see craft as a real option . At Crafts Council we’re all about opening up craft to young people, helping them see making not just as something to enjoy, but as a genuine career path with real progression routes into the sector. Craft carries so many amazing skills and such important heritage, every young person deserves the chance to find out if a career in craft is for them.”
Lins Wilson, Project Operations Manager and Launchpad Advisor, Music Local and Discover Creative Careers Champion said:
“Creative Careers activity is absolutely integral to the future of the creative industries and wider economy, and so important for young creative minds, perhaps not suited to traditional career pathways, to understand what roles and support are available to them – now and in their future. The work Music Local / Launchpad does as Yorkshire’s leading talent development and music sector support organisation aligns with the Discover Creative Careers mission to break down barriers to the creative industries, and so we are delighted to be one of the programme’s first badged ambassadors.”
Radha Singh, CEO & Creative Director, THE HOUSE OF RADHA and Discover Creative Careers Champion said:
“Equality, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to the work we do at THE HOUSE OF RADHA, and we are delighted to be working alongside Discover Creative Careers to champion these values across the creative industries. We believe that every young person should have the opportunity to see themselves within the creative sector, regardless of their background, identity or circumstances. By bringing industry and education together, we can challenge perceptions, open doors and create meaningful pathways into creative careers. This collaboration is about using our collective platforms to make opportunity more accessible and to ensure that the next generation feels represented, included and empowered to succeed.”
