STEP 10

12-month paid traineeships for young East Londoners to step into careers in the creative & cultural sectors

STEP is designed to match young East Londoners with local entry-level roles so they can gain the experience and insights needed to inform career options, inject creative energy and ideas into committed local employers, and increase pathways into our growing local creative, cultural, and digital sectors.

Participants joining our popular traineeship will be matched with committed local businesses to experience an entry-level role and get paid a London Living Wage (£13.15/ph) or above salary over 12-months. As part of the training programme, you'll be guided through a curriculum as you take part in monthly professional development workshops, connect with a group of like-minded creatives, and are given a budget to boost your portfolio with a collaborative creative project. Those on the programme are also connected with a specialist industry mentor who provides personalised career coaching and continue to support your creative employment journey as you graduate the programme as an alumnus and join our wider creative community.

STEP 10 has 9 unique paid placements in the following focus sectors:

  1. Museums & Galleries
  2. Film, TV, Music, and Broadcast
  3. Advertising, Marketing, Publishing & Design
  • Who participates?

    Eligibility:

    • Aged 18-30 (from application date)
    • Living in the London boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham or Waltham Forest. With priority given to those who also went to school or college in one of these four boroughs.

    Selection process:

    Our application selection criteria prioritises those who have some creative education, skills or working experience, in need of a guided programme such as STEP to enable them to experience entry and junior-level roles, so they may continue into sustainable and long-term careers in the creative and cultural industry.

    If you have no prior skills, interest, or experience in the sector, we encourage you to take part in our Creative Connect career coaching sessions, our pre-employment skills training courses and events, or something of the kind before applying to STEP.

  • Who supports the programme?

    Employers offering placements for STEP 10 include:

    Participants will also work closely with the Good Growth Hub's in-house team of friendly youth workers and facilitators as we deliver regular training in partnership with industry experts, including careers and employability workshops, mentoring and coaching and bespoke professional development.

  • Find out more about STEP

    STEP is delivered by the Good Growth Hub – operated by the Employment &

    Skills team of London-based creative youth charity A New Direction. Good Growth Hub and its activities are funded by the London Legacy Development Cooperation (LLDC) with investment from the Foundation for Future London, through the East Bank Partnerships’ New Talent Future Leaders programme.

    Previous programme employment or curriculum facilitation partners include: London College of Fashion, East London Dance, Foundation for Future London, NTS, Artichoke, Rosetta Arts, Pooja Sitpura (Young People’s Programmer, National Theatre) Juliette Larthe (Founder, Prettybird), Thristian (Creative Director, Worldwide FM) Leyla Tahir (Marketing Manager, Tate), Navjot Mangat (Interpretation Manger, V&A East), Catherine Ince (Chief Curator, V&A East) Georgia Catt (Producer, BBC Podcasts), Dramatic Resources, Richard Cross (Programming Manager, Sadler’s Wells), Olivia Twist (Illustrator and UAL Lecturer), Haja Fanta (Creative Producer), among others.

    STEP first launched in 2017 and has had 8 intakes to date. If you'd like to support or partner with the programme, get in touch by emailing goodgrowthhub@anewdirection.org.uk

  • Key dates

    Key dates:

    • Applications close: 10:00 am, Friday 23 February 2024
    • Selection day for participants: Thursday 14 March 2024
    • Programme induction: Monday 22 – Wednesday 24 April 2024
    • Programme placements: Monday 29 April 2024 – 2025*

    *All trainees must be able to commit to the duration of the programme and be available for the selection days.

  • Programme
    STEP
  • Status
    Participants in placements or showcase
  • Dates

    29 April 2024 – 2025

  • Eligibility

    Aged 18–30, Living & educated in East London

  • Number of Places

    9

Programme participants