Creative Industries and Performing Arts

If you would like to do further research into this sector, the following links may be useful: 

• Overview of the UK's creative arts sector | Prospects.ac.uk - covers what it’s like to work in the sector and key trends. An overview page is also available for the Media sector.
• Target Jobs: Creative Careers for Graduates – an overview of the jobs, internships, events and employers in the sector, as well as advice for career progression.
• How do I get a creative career? | Prospects.ac.uk - summarises the key entry routes into the creative industries.
• Creative Careers: The Career Zone Podcast - a playlist containing episodes exploring the UK creative job market.
• The Creative Industries Council - provides insights into various areas of work within the creative industries.
• Creative Industries Sector Plan  Government announces a £380 million funding package.  

To research job roles, visit: 

• Find your perfect role in the creative industries - Creative Careers - select filters to find a role you might enjoy. A series of videos is also available to watch.
• Creative industries - ScreenSkills - covers roles in film, TV, games, animation and visual effects. The site has a range of resources to help you explore jobs, including useful career maps.
• Creative arts and design and Media and internet - explore job roles in animation, games, theatre, performing arts, as well as TV, radio and film.
• Explore careers - icould - videos giving insight into a range of roles in the creative industries.

Making connections can play a key role in finding opportunities in this and other sectors. Some students and graduates find opportunities in this field through networking and speculative applications. A good place to start is to reach out to professionals in the sector to ask about their career path and see if they’re open to sharing advice.    

Making contacts for work shadowing, informational interviews and speculative applications 

The following schemes and tools can help you expand your network in this sector: 

• Professional Pathways: a suite of sector-specific training courses and paid 35 hour internships that take place in June and July each year including a Pathways to Arts, Culture and Heritage.
• University of Exeter LinkedIn Alumni Tool – this tool allows you to find graduates from the University who are working in roles or areas that interest you. Learn how to use this tool by visiting our LinkedIn page. 
• Career Mentor Scheme: a popular employability scheme which matches a student or graduate with an experienced professional, for sector insight and one-to-one careers advice and guidance, over a 6-month period. 
• Careers event recordings - includes recordings of online sessions as a tool to gather information and potential contacts. Search by keyword e.g. “TV”, “radio”, “film”.
• Ask an Alum: a fuss-free way to connect with University of Exeter alumni to ask careers questions.

Open days, talks and events give insights and opportunities to make contacts. For details of future events visit Handshake. If you have not yet activated your account, select the Single Sign On (SSO) option and follow the onscreen instructions.  

As most employers in the creative industries are microbusinesses (with fewer than 10 employees), connecting with creative organisations at traditional careers fairs can be more challenging.  

Professional bodies and associations can be valuable sources of events and networking. If you have a specific area of interest, consider joining the relevant professional body as a student member to take advantage of these benefits. 

Recordings of Virtual Alumni Panel Events 

Explore a range of past Career Zone event recordings, especially those focused on TV, radio and film, by visiting the Career Zone’s recordings database. Use the keyword search at the top to find topics that interest you.

Many major graduate recruiters have policies and processes that are proactive in recruiting graduates from diverse backgrounds. To learn more about the policies and attitudes of employers that you are interested in, explore their equality and diversity policies and see if they offer Disability Confident employer scheme or are recognised for their policy by such indicators as Mindful Employer or as a Stonewall’s Diversity Champion. 

The UK law protects you from discrimination due to your age, gender, race, religion or beliefs, disability or sexual orientation and more. For further information on the Equality Act and to find out where and how you are protected, as well as information on what you need to do if you feel you have been discriminated against, visit the Government’s webpages on discrimination. 

To learn more about how to share details of a disability with an employer and the support you can receive applying for jobs and work experience visit our equality and diversity page. 

Access to Internships (A2I) | Career Zone | University of Exeter - provides support and funding to help Exeter students arrange a paid internship in the UK. Funding is available for undergraduate students at the University of Exeter who meet the Widening Participation Criteria. Check the Widening Participation (WP) funding page for the full eligibility criteria and further information. 

Creative Industries  

• Creative Access - Creative opportunities and career support - helps individuals from underrepresented communities access careers in the creative industries. It offers training, mentoring, and paid opportunities in sectors like publishing, film, TV, and marketing.
• Creative Mentor Network - supports 16-25 year olds from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to develop creative careers through mentoring, education, and opportunities. 

Animation & Games Design 

• ACCESS:VFX - a global, non-profit network dedicated to promoting inclusion, diversity and opportunity in the VFX and animation industries. They host networking events, run a mentoring scheme and offer a podcast that explores topics of inclusion and diversity.  

Theatre, Live Events & Performing Arts 

• Diversity and Inclusion in Theatres - Association of British Theatre Technicians
• Diversity & Inclusion Resources - UK Theatre
• Get Changed Theatre Company • Live Drama & Theatre in Devon - vibrant arts and drama for adults with learning disabilities in West Devon and Mid Devon.
• The Cultural Knowledge Exchange – Art Work Exeter - comprising individuals from diverse cultures, the group aims to assist Art Work Exeter in shaping its strategy and ideas to promote inclusive arts and culture within the community. 

TV, Radio and Film 

• Resources - ScreenSkills  - directory of useful resources relating to inclusion and diversity.
• The TV Access Project: Employment Resources - ScreenSkills - an alliance of the UK’s biggest broadcasters and streamers who have pledged to work together to create a substantive and permanent structural shift which will ensure access provision for Deaf, Disabled and Neurodivergent talent. This guide can help workers, advocates and employers navigate how disability rights apply through key stages of the employment process.
• TV Access Project resources and links - ScreenSkills - this page lists many useful resources for Disabled workers, advocates, and employers.
• ScreenSkills podcast - ScreenSkills - explores issues impacting the screen industries, including diversity and inclusion.
• Talent Lists — Look Beyond the List - Film & TV Talent Lists for underrepresented groups in the UK and internationally.
• Black Disabled Creatives - a non-profit platform aiming to bridge the divide for black creatives with disabilities.
• #CriticalAxis: A Disabled List project  - a community-driven project that collects and analyses Disability representation in media and advertising. 

If you're considering a career in TV or radio journalism, visit the Marketing, Publishing and Journalism page for more information, including details on bursaries available to individuals from diverse backgrounds.