STEP 7

15 paid traineeships for young East Londoners to experience a local entry-level role in the creative or 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 (£11.95/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 7 offers 15 paid placements in the following focus sectors:

  1. Museums & Galleries
  2. Film, Music, TV, Radio, Broadcast & Production
  3. Advertising, PR, Marketing
  4. Print Media & Publishing
  5. Business/ Operations

  • Who participates?

    • 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.

  • Who's involved?

    Employers offering placements for STEP 7 include:

    Participants will also work with the Good Growth Hub as we deliver regular training in partnership with a range of industry experts, careers and employability workshops, mentoring and coaching and professional development opportunities.

  • Key dates

    • Applications open from Monday 20 February 2023
    • Applications close: 10:00 am, Friday 31 March 2023
    • Selection days for participants: 13-14 April 2023
    • Programme induction: 8–12 May 2023
    • Programme placements: 15 May 2023 – 2024*

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

  • Who supports the programme?

    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 7 intakes to date. If you'd like to support or partner with the programme, get in touch by emailing goodgrowthhub@anewdirection.org.uk

  • Dates

    March 2023 – April 2024

  • Eligibility

    Aged 18–30, Living & educated in East London

  • Number of Places

    15

Find out more about STEP

Programme participants

Hal Dixon
Miranda Bentley
Dylan Barrett
Sofia Heustice
Carina Vogelsberger
Loredana Mesea
Maya Lessof
Rivka Cocker