Calls for increased support to young creatives outside formal education

Young creatives who do not go to university should be able to access financing routes akin to student loans, according to the recommendations of a new report.

The Industry Connect report, from charity Youth Music, was developed following consultation with 280 people from 190 organisations. It says young people are facing a series of issues when trying to enter the music industry, such as a lack of mentoring opportunities or a shortage of resources to support their innovative thinking.

The research identified that most current funding and policy work is focused on formal education and accredited work-based learning pathways, which overlook grassroots and non-formal programmes further perpetuating workforce diversity issues.

In response, the report says there should be greater and more equitable funding for non-formal pathways and programmes in the form of grants, bursaries, and other development programmes, as well as access to long-term mentoring opportunities.

It cites the government’s plan to reform the apprenticeship levy into a growth and skills levy, as outlined in the Get Britain Working Again white paper, as a key opportunity. It says businesses should be able to access half of their levy contributor for shorter, modular and more flexible training courses for young people, including pre-apprenticeship training.

National music strategy

The report is also calling for a better joining up of industry, education and government through a national music strategy which “doesn’t ignore grassroots and non-formal educators and allows them to have a seat at the table”.

It suggests that by operating in silos, government departments and the music industry are upholding entry barriers to young creatives, in particular those from underrepresented backgrounds.

The report says a national music strategy must ensure space for knowledge exchange, cross-sector and cross-regional collaboration. Strategic alignment should start at the top, it suggests, with DCMS, the Department for Education and the recently established Skills England working together to link pathways into creative careers.

Among the report’s other recommendations is a reimagining of curriculum and career advice to showcase the breadth of creative careers available, alongside a focus on the skills required to develop successful freelance careers.

Elsewhere, it calls for safer working cultures within the creative industries to be established, with particular support for early career creatives and those from marginalised groups.

Youth Music CEO Matt Griffiths says the recommendations are vital to establish an inclusive music industry.

“Whilst the UK music industry contributes an estimated £7 billion to the economy, there is a huge amount of work to be done to ensure we close the gap from learning to earning,” Griffiths said.

“This is not the time for the industry to rest on its laurels; rather, the government, the wider industry and education professionals must commit to revolutionising the learning opportunities on offer to ensure that young people have access to the necessary support to succeed.