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Group of young people and Artswork staff stand outside the Tate Modern building
For employers

Breakthrough Programme

The Breakthrough programme is a paid 6‑month training and work placement scheme, which is run in the south-east of England. Breakthrough exists to provide entry routes into the creative industry for 16 – 25 year olds who are struggling to find meaningful employment.

Click here if you are a young person interested in taking part in the programme:

For young creatives

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About

The Breakthrough programme is a work-based learning programme run by Artswork, where organisations like yours take on a young trainee. The training is delivered by our team prior to them joining your workplace.

Breakthrough provides your organisation with a young person who is eager to learn and has a fresh perspective on some of your biggest challenges. You can offer a young person starting out their career with a unique opportunity that supports their confidence and professionalism in the workplace and help them to break through into a meaningful career.

Breakthrough will run from late September 2025 to late March 2026. We are now taking applications from organisations interested in hosting a Breakthrough candidate. Please register your interest here or further down the page by 30 May.

Interested in finding out more?

We have two Q&A sessions running on Zoom:

  • Tue 22 April 12.30 – 1.30pm – Book here
  • Tue 13 May 10.00 – 11.00am – Book here

Believe in creativity?

This is an opportunity for you to infuse fresh, new perspectives and an all-important youth voice into your team for a fraction of the price of a junior position. In exchange, you’ll be giving talented young people the initial steps towards a rewarding creative career.

We believe that all young people have great potential; they just need the opportunity to prove it.

It's a no pressure way to open your doors to young employees and find ways to make your workplace more accessible to the new generation of creatives. 

Results of Breakthrough 2023:

  • 95%

    of employers saw measurable benefits from Breakthrough.

  • 100%

    of Breakthrough employers would recommend the programme to others.

Host a Breakthrough trainee

Contact us for more information about employing a young person in your workplace through the Breakthrough programme. Email AngelaGoswell@​artswork.​org.​uk

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