Free 12-Week Creative Self-Employment Programme Opens Applications for October Cohort
New Light Learning, a York-based organisation delivering creative skills and self-employment programmes across York and North Yorkshire, is recruiting for its Creative Career Accelerator, a fully funded 12-week programme for people interested in creative, freelance and flexible careers.
The project is supported by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, using funding from the Department for Work and Pensions' Get Britain Working Economic Inactivity Trailblazer. The first cohort is currently midway through the programme, with organisers reporting positive feedback from learners so far.
The Accelerator is aimed at people who may not yet have industry experience but want to build practical creative skills, confidence and real-world experience in a supportive environment. Participants develop creative and marketing skills, work on live client briefs, build professional portfolios, and learn the practical side of freelancing, including pricing, tax basics, finding clients and pitching. The programme runs predominantly online, with around seven hours of tutor-led instruction and practical work each week, plus three mandatory in-person sessions.
Participants will:
develop creative & marketing skills,
work on live client briefs,
build professional portfolios,
and learn the practical side of freelancing and self-employment.
It is likely to be of particular interest to emerging and young creatives, freelancers, and anyone looking to build confidence and experience within the creative industries, including across the Harrogate district. Priority is given to applicants who are unemployed, economically inactive, underemployed or facing other barriers to employment; it is not designed for established freelancers seeking business growth support.
The programme is completely free and open to York and North Yorkshire residents aged 18 to 64, with no previous qualifications, experience or portfolio required. The next cohort starts on Friday 2nd October 2026, and places are limited with high demand expected.
Find out more and apply at training.newlightlearning.org.uk/course/the-creative-career-accelerator/, or contact New Light Learning on hello@newlightinsights.org.uk or 01904 953155.
