Breakthrough Programme
Breakthrough is a paid 6‑month employability programme, which is run in the south-east of England. Breakthrough exists to provide entry routes into the creative industry for 18 – 25 year olds who are struggling to find meaningful employment.
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About
Breakthrough is a 6‑month employability programme designed as a stepping stone to get you workplace experience and all-important employment skills. This short placement gives you insight into a future career in the Creative Industry, supporting your confidence and professionalism in the workplace, and helping you to break through into a career that matters to you!
How it works
Trainees begin the progamme by undertaking some basic training, which is run by our team at Artswork. The majority of this training will be done online via zoom calls. IT equipment will be provided by the organisation you are working with and you will be paid a salary.
Breakthrough 2025 will run from late September 2025 to late March 2026, applications will open in July.
Eligibility
Breakthrough takes place in the south-east of England, with employers distributed across the region. Click here to see the area that Breakthrough covers:
The programme is open to any young person between the ages of 18 –25, with priority given to those with who have found securing a meaningful role in the creative or voluntary sector a challenge.
To be eligible for this employability programme, applicants should meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Have no previous experience of working in an arts, creative or voluntary sector organisation
- Currently not in employment, education or training
- Be disabled and/or Neurodivergent
- Have current or prior mental health issues
- Have experienced racism, homophobic or transgender discrimination
- Be a recent school or college leaver
- Are struggling to find work due to lack of employment or training experience
Please note that those with qualifications above a level 5 will not be considered for this programme. (e.g. studying for or have obtained a bachelors degree or higher national diploma, or higher)
Impact of Breakthrough 2023
-
65%
of Breakthrough trainees in 2023 had jobs in the creative sector or went on to study further education three months after Breakthrough ended.
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93%
of the young trainee’s claimed that they expanded their understanding of the creative industries.
The Breakthrough programme has opened my eyes to the other jobs I can do. There are possibilities and opportunities that I hadn't even considered before.
The Breakthrough programme gives opportunities to have your voice as a young person heard in creative spaces.
For employers
Interested in hosting a young person at your workplace? Click below for more detail on becoming a Breakthrough employer.
Breakthrough programme (employers)
Offer a 6‑month work placement in your organisation to provide an entry route for young people looking to find meaningful work in the creative sector.