STEP is our Shared Training and Employment Programme, designed to match young East Londoners with entry-level roles in the creative industries 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 London’s growing creative, cultural, and digital sectors.
Our mission is to build a collaboration of creative organisations committed to improving young East Londoners` access to careers in the sector. Together we nurture talent to enable meaningful representation and a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Our commitment and partnership with creative organisations enable them to update their employment practices and be guided towards effectively nurturing the early-career professional growth of young people, as well as continuing to hire from a talented pool of young East Londoners. Partners benefit from inducting new talent and fresh perspectives into their organisation, a guided curriculum of access and inclusion training through quarterly employer workshops, ongoing support through the Good Growth Hub's dedicated Programme Manager and the potential to benefit from a STEP bursary to cover the cost of a London Living wage role for their STEP trainee.
The programme facilitates its young participants to get their foot firmly into the creative industries as they experience a 12-month role paid at London Living Wage (LLW) or above and develop a range of skills and creative approaches. Our guided curriculum supports all participants throughout their STEP journey as they take part in monthly professional development workshops, connect with a like-minded peer network and access wellbeing support through regular contact with a dedicated Programme Officer, alongside the provision of a wellbeing fund. Young people on the programme are also matched with a specialist industry mentor who provides personalised career coaching and continued support as the programme finishes and participants join our continually growing creative community of alumni working across paid freelance and in-house roles.
