08.12.2025: UK Music celebrated the success of Discover! Creative Careers Month in November. The month offered an exciting opportunity for industry to inspire the next generation and for young people to learn more about careers across the creative industries.

The programme is delivered by the Discover! team at ScreenSkills with support from all sectors of the creative industries and aimed at demystifying careers in the creative industries. UK Music sits on the Discover! steering group and led on and supported a range of activity itself as well as supporting the wider mission across the month.

We supported our Music Academic Partnership (MAP) members Manchester College, ICMP, LCCM, and City of Westminster College (CWC) to explore careers. Ranging from performances with Dilettante and IORA in Manchester to listening sessions in London with music industry professionals giving feedback on tracks.

CWC joined us for a day as we invited them into UK Music member PPL to discuss careers and hear about the kinds of roles available with the PPL team. We also visited the legendary Dean Street Studios and heard from artist producer Charlie Deakin Davies and producer Matt Taylor.

UK Music worked with music hubs from the East Midlands and Liverpool to take artists out on school tours – Michael Aldag & Ni Maxine and Emma McGann respectively in each region. In Liverpool we worked closely with Future Yard who also delivered a number of events and MusicFutures to maximise industry involvement.

We worked on college visits in Newcastle and Gateshead with regional partner Generator. Here it was fantastic to discuss the recent Mercury Prize being held in the region, how Generator supports regional music development and success, and of course pathways for students involved including possible further study.

In Wales, UK Music worked with Beacons Cymru and Into Film Cymru to deliver two sessions to college students in Rhondda and Merthyr Tydfil. We heard from Beacons Cymru about careers in the music industry and how to navigate the many opportunities as well as hearing from two young professionals who have portfolio careers covering a range of roles.

In partnership with the Independent Venue Community we opened opportunities to a range of young people to attend their Soundcheck Sessions. These give attendees the opportunity to visit a venue before a gig, watch the soundcheck, then meet members of team and the artists – including The Last Dinner Party – to discuss careers.

This year, the Discover! Creative Careers programme will reach at least 100,000 young people helping them to consider a career in the creative industries as not only an exciting, but also a viable, option. We are looking forward to follow-up activity already with projects planned with Technology in Music Education (TiME) and Music Local in Leeds early next year. 

Director of Education & Skills at UK Music Dr Oliver Morris said:

“Being involved with Discover! Creative Careers Month has been an absolute joy. Seeing the engagement and excitement on the faces of participants is priceless and is exactly why we in the creative industries developed the programme in the first place. To know such engagement was happening at literally hundreds of locations across the UK around the whole gamut of possible creative careers made it extra special and extremely powerful. This year feels like yet another step-change in terms of engagement and reach for Discover! and we’re so happy to see the meaningful impact it is having. The programme continues to go from strength to strength and it’s brilliant to see!

“I think it is now incumbent upon us across the creative industries to really put our shoulders to the wheel collectively to continue to grow the programme and for all to understand that it is a fantastic way to get involved at industry level. Whether you are looking for ways to start your careers advice journey or whether you have a well-defined offer already Discover! can help. It’s also fantastic for young people, parents & guardians, teachers, tutors, and careers professionals to know that there are industry relevant events, resources, and support for them to engage with. 

“I want to thank all the wonderful organisations and individuals who have helped UK Music reach over 3,000 young people in November alone – with another 3,000 to come before Easter 2026 – on what careers in music look like and how to achieve them. I also think we should all recognise the immense effort that has gone in behind the scenes by the Discover! Creative Careers team – they’ve done an absolutely fabulous job! Well done all!”

Head of Discover! Creative Careers Mary Rose said:

“This year’s Discover! Creative Career Month has seen the biggest number of industry hosts to date opening their doors and sharing their expertise. We are so incredibly grateful to them for inspiring the next generation and helping to build a stronger, more inclusive future workforce across the UK.

“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 also expansion into Scotland and Wales alongside Into Film, Sector Based Work Academy launches alongside the Department for Work and Pensions and a pilot Work Experience scheme with Mission Accomplished.

“Our year round programme goes from strength to strength, with fresh connections being made between education and industry. The opportunity for every young person to develop the skills our creative sectors need 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.”

Lecturer Music & Performing Arts at City of Westminster College Richard Langford said:

“The Discover! Creative Careers Month event held at PPL’s offices by UK Music was such a great experience for our students. It was amazing to see them engage and be afforded the opportunity to interact with professionals working in the industry.  Often, music careers can appear out of reach, so for them to see what goes on behind the scenes and hear about the jobs and career opportunities that are accessible to them was invaluable. We are thankful to Oli from UK Music who runs the Music Academic Partnership (MAP) for organising and both the teams at PPL and Dean Street Studios who hosted this brilliant trip for our students.”

For more info on Discover! Creative Careers:

Find your perfect role in the creative industries – Creative Careers

For more info on the Music Academic Partnership (MAP):

Music Academic Partnership: MAP – UK Music