Discover! Creative Careers Month ran across November 2025. The initiative is part of the government backed and industry-led programme led by ScreenSkills, to inspire and inform 11–18-year-olds about the types of job roles and pathways available across the entire creative industries.
Over the month, hundreds of employers hosted in-person and online events for young people to showcase the types of tasks and skills involved in working in our exciting sectors, with an aim to ignite interest for their future careers.
This was the first time the initiative has run across an entire month and also included events in Scotland and Wales through an expansion to the programme through a partnership with Into Film.
Highlights from across the month included:
· ITV Academy, a training and development arm of the broadcaster, supported Discover! Month with numerous events, including a Coronation Street storytelling workshop in Manchester, where young people were given a tour of the set and encouraged to develop their writing and plot development skills.
· Into Games ran careers festivals and workshops across Brighton, Hartlepool, Birmingham and South Yorkshire where they’ve been connecting students with real games professionals and supporting them to develop their first game ideas.
· Get Into Theatre coordinated backstage insight activity across various theatres and music venues in the South West including Bristol Old Vic, Bristol Hippodrome and St George’s.
· Emmy Award-winning actor Matthew Rhys performed acclaimed one-man play Playing Burton before taking part in a Q&A with students in Wales
· Ezra Collective's Femi Koleoso took part in an online talk about his career journey as a drummer, delivered as part of the virtual programme with Futures for All through their Speakers for Schools
· Students in Scotland took part in a Q&A with drone camera operator Robbie Jones who recently worked on 28 Years Later
Creative Industries Minister, Ian Murray, said: “Discover! Creative Careers Month is completely aligned to what this Government believes in - improving access for people of all backgrounds, and creating earning power and economic growth across our regions. It’s encouraging to see just how many young people it’s reached already, and to think about the potential for the future.”
Mary Rose, Head of Discover! Creative Careers at ScreenSkills, said: “Our expansion of the Discover! Creative Careers programme over the past year, has not only seen record reach during November’s Discover! Creative Careers Month, but an expansion into Scotland and Wales delivered by Into Film. In England, we’ve launched a Sector Based Work Academy Programme with the Department for Work and Pensions, and a pilot Work Experience scheme for Years 10 and 11, delivered by Mission Accomplished. Our year round programme goes from strength to strength, with fresh connections being made between education and industry, and an increasing number of legacy partnerships. The opportunity for every young person to explore our creative sectors and develop the skills needed is at the heart of Discover! Creative Careers and I thank all the industry professionals, students and teachers who have taken part and made this our best year yet.”
Hear from some of the young people who took part:
‘Actions speak louder than words... when you come to the office, meeting the people...seeing the work environment, you can now envision yourself in it.' Young person during an immersive VFX workshop at Framestore, London
'It’s surprising that’s there’s more jobs in media than you would think. I’m happy I know that for my future' Young person from Oldham Academy on a visit to the Waterloo Road film set with Rope Ladder Fiction, Manchester
Hear from industry on their involvement:
‘Through each of our events, we gave students a tangible look at the production journey from idea to transmission. It is vital we continue to demystify the industry and prove that a career in television is accessible to everyone.’ Sonny Hanley, Director, ITV Academy
‘Discover! Creative Careers Month has been a brilliant opportunity to open up the games industry to young people who might never have seen it as ‘for them’. For many, it’s been a genuine turning point, widening their sense of what’s possible and giving them the confidence to imagine a future in games careers.’ Declan Cassidy, CEO at Into Games
Alongside the month of activities, the programme was amplified this year by a Government campaign that reached millions of young people and parents online, driven by a mix of paid media, digital content, regional events, ambassador amplification and high-profile industry support. The campaign, delivered in partnership with ScreenSkills and CreativeUK, generated 100 million impressions and 18.5 million total video views, and visibility translated directly into record engagement on the Discover! Creative Careers website. Website visits rose by 341%, attracting more than 42,000 users, the majority of whom were new to the site, and a large proportion from outside London.
The programme continues into 2026 and while and industry are encouraged to continue listing their events on the Discover! Creative Careers Opportunity Finder for schools and colleges to find activities near them throughout the year. Submit your details here.