Applications now open for next Creative Step cohort

The Creative Step is Creative Lancashire's innovative online development programme, aimed at helping Lancashire-based creative business owners. We are currently recruiting for the next cohorts, which will take place throughout 2021. Find out more about the programme and the next cohort start date.

WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR COHORTS LAUNCHING IN JUNE & SEPTEMBER 2021

Creative Lancashire is on a mission!

We want to make the county’s creative sector the fastest growing in the country by giving the next generation of creative businesses the tools to thrive in the future. Our aim is to build an internationally renowned creative community that is built on local talent.

The Creative Step is a hands-on, practical and interactive development programme dedicated to the specific needs of the creative sector. Due to distancing measures this programme is currently run online.

During the programme you work directly on aspects of your own business while collaborating with others throughout the programme. Through a deep understanding of the needs of creative entrepreneurs, the programme has been carefully structured to support you and your business, whether you are starting out, are planning for your next stage of development or responding to changing market forces.

The Creative Step builds on leading tools and techniques that support creative businesses globally, including aspects of the Creative Enterprise Programme run by Nesta and the British Council.

The programme is co-developed and delivered by Catherine Docherty (Journey Associates) and Jonathan Ball (Designmine).

Catherine works with Nesta and British Council to deliver creative business support globally, and Jonathan is a design associate for both Design Council and a lead instructor for LUMA Institute, Pittsburgh. Both programme leaders are also design associates for the V&A Dundee.

Programme Info

Further cohorts commence on Tuesday 8th June and Tuesday 14th September 2021.

The programme is free of charge and is delivered online over three weeks with two x 90 minute sessions per week (Tuesdays and Fridays).

NB: It is essential that participants can attend all six sessions.

As a participant on The Creative Step, you will work alongside a select group of peers, having the opportunity to share and learn from others:

• Week 1: Your Aspirations: this day explores what drives you personally, your business values and connects these to your business purpose and future aspirations. This provides a solid foundation for guiding your business and communicating confidently.

• Week 2: Your Customers: here you explore stakeholders who can affect the success of your business with a particular focus on customers. You will also be introduced to practical approaches to customer research and create a plan to gather meaningful data to strengthen your business offer.

• Week 3: Your Future: on the final week you have the opportunity to share the learning from the research and delve into the core components of your business. You will then identify actions to take forward, prioritise these and create a high-level action plan to help you make the necessary changes to support your business.

There is light ‘homework’ between each of the sessions to ensure that you get the most out of the programme and that the group can move at a pace allowing for experimentation and feedback on the use of the tools and techniques.

On completion of The Creative Step, you will receive materials used in the workshops to allow you to use them in the future and to share them with your team. 

REGISTER & MORE INFORMATION:      

Visit the CREATIVE STEP page on our website for more information on the programme and how it came about.

If you would like to to apply to be part of the next programme cohort or would like further information please contact:  

Jonathan at Designmine: jonathan@designmine.co.uk,

or Catherine at Journey Associates: catherine@journeyassociates.com