The Ultimate Graduate Resource 2024
Front page credit: Valeria Toro, student, working on laptop at UAL
The Creative shift team are dedicated to supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds in higher education and the creative industries.
Creative Shift supports students to gain access to industry contacts from diverse backgrounds, through community building and co-created projects with students, staff and industry.
Our programme is tailored to support students on their creative journey, whether they want to freelance, start a business or work in the creative industries. We want to support students to feel empowered to enter the creative industries as their most authentic selves!
THE ULITAMTE GRADUTAE RESOURCE
Is a directory to support recent graduates from University of the Arts London with their next steps after leaving university.
Click through the contents to find relevant pages or scroll through to find a range resources and information to support you with your creative careers and beyond!
Business Start-up
This section offers helpful links to guide you on your journey to selfemployment.
Business Start-up
British Library: Business & Intellectual Property Centre
Supports small business owners, entrepreneurs and anyone with a business idea. Offering access to free resources, training and events.
The Centre for Entrepreneurs (CFE)
Provides mentoring, events, work placements and entrepreneurial development programmes for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Business and enterprise support for people up to the age of 30. Supports business ideas, provides courses, online help and resources. Prince’s Trust Advice
Everything you need to know about starting a business, from writing a business plan to setting yourself up as a sole trader. GOV.UK
Business and self-employed
Tools and guidance for businesses
and more.
Support for underrepresented entrepreneurs through workshops, events and 1:1 support.
Illustration by Lizzie Reid (Instagram: @lizzies_lines) Starting A Business by Gracie Dahl
Business Start-up
Practical help with white papers and receive a free initial consultation from an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
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Startups
Business support for start-ups –guides and information including links to helpful organisations.
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Social Enterprise
Dive into this section for handy links to help you cultivate your business for social change.
Social Enterprise
Social Enterprise UK
Start Your Social Enterprise: The Social Enterprise Guide (pdf)
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School for social entrepreneurs
Courses, workshops and resources for people who want to make a positive difference.
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Setting up a social enterprise
Government information on how to set up a business that has social, charitable or community-based objectives.
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Grants for charities & social enterprises to help them raise investment. Reach
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Startups
How to start a social enterprise: 3 simple steps.
Information on how to start a social enterprise business and links to investment schemes to grants.
Provides loans, grants and strategic support to charities and social enterprises.
Funding and support to help you make a difference and develop your social venture.
Grants & Funding
Here you can find links to websites with information and directories for arts and business funding.
#GUAPFUND, an initiative giving £100 to a new creative every week – For freelancers aged 16 - 30 affected by COVID-19.
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Learn more UAL: Scholarships search
Realise your creative potential at UAL with funding. Discover scholarships, bursaries, awards and hardship funds.
Natural materials Installation by Marta Pinilla, Show 1
Grants & Funding
A resource of successful funding applications to learn from and TWP £500 grant for working class practitioners based in the UK.
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Arts Council
Investment for organisations, artists, events, initiatives and others.
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Funding platform matches local projects with existing funds that can offer support.
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Disability Grants
Business Grants, advise and support directory for entrepreneurs who have a disability.
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The White Pube
Creative Lives
Grants & Funding
Grand Plan
UK charity awarding grants of £1,000 to people of colour looking to realise a creative project.
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School for social entrepreneurs
Courses, workshops, resources and links to grant providers
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Grants online
Grants Online News Arts, Culture & Heritage.
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Tesco Community Grants
Grants of up to £1500 to support for projects that make a positive difference.
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It’s Nice that
The art of writing funding applications
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Supports emerging talent in the UK and welcomes funding applications from organisations with a focus on making art for public benefit.
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Hamlyn Foundation
Fund: Nurturing ideas and people · Arts · Education & learning through the arts · Investing in young people · Migration · and more…
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World
Illustration Awards
Awards up to £2000 and a two-page marketing package in the Directory of Illustration – see Innovation Award.
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Jerwood Foundation
Paul
Grants & Funding
The Supporting Act Foundation
Impact Grants and Creative Bursaries 2024 for Underrepresented Artists and Organisations.
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The Fenton Arts Trust
Grants to support individual works, activities, performances or prizes in any field of artistic endeavour.
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UK Research and Innovation
Funding and support for a range of disciplines including Arts and Humanities.
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a-n Bursaries
Artist Bursaries - offering 50+ bursaries of between £500 - £1,500 for self-directed professional development.
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Freelancing
Check out our links to websites with tips and information on how to go freelance.
UAL: How to work as a freelancer
Image by Gracie Dahl
Freelancing
Freelancing
It’s Nice that
How to go freelance: need-to-know advice from creatives who made it.
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Supports emerging talent in the UK and welcomes funding applications from organisations with a focus on making art for public benefit.
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10 tips from an expert on how to achieve success and happiness as a freelancer.
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The Best Creative Job Boards to Find Creative Freelancers in UK.
Jerwood Foundation
Mentoring
Explore this section for different mentoring programmes to support you in your professional journey.
Mentoring
Mentoring for young people (16-27) from low socio-economic backgrounds looking to get into the creative industries.
mentor matching
for student/graduates and early careerists in the tech industry.
ELO
Tips for preparing for your first mentoring session.
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De Montfort University
Mentor meeting safety checklist.
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UAL: Mentoring
6 sessions over 6 months, one-to-one mentoring with an industry match.
ARTQUEST
How to guides: Peer mentoring for artists.
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Learn more
An App to get mentoring from people who have been in your shoes in 5 minutes phone calls.
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Illustration by Gracie Dahl
Mentoring
ScreenSkills
Mentoring resources and opportunities for those who work / want to work in the screen industry.
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The WFTV Mentoring Scheme is a programme designed for women looking to take a significant step in their career in film and TV.
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Outvertising
Mentor Programme to help LGBTQIA+ talent, either new to or looking to join the UK Marketing & Advertising industry.
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Muslim Women Connect
Mentoring programme pairs successful mentee applicants with a Muslim woman mentor who holds experience in the mentee’s desired sector.
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The Creative Society
One-to-one and group mentoring sessions for people who live in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham or Waltham Forest.
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Media for All (MEFA)
Support and mentoring network to ensure that under-represented talent flourishes.
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ROOM MENTORING
A grassroots support network dedicated to creating space within the British fashion industry for Black, Brown and marginalised voices.
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Routes In
Mentoring programmes for young people who been overlooked or marginalised looking to shape their creative career.
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Networking
Check out our resources to find networking opportunities and get connected!
Networking
Creative Networking groups in London.
Keep an eye out for Creative Shift’s networking events! A
Dots
Job Search
Enhance your job search with these job boards and resources for creatives and graduates.
Job search
Provides career opportunities, support and training for people from under-represented groups, to make the creative industries reflect society.
Student and graduate job site.
Job, events and resources for UK arts careers.
UAL’s jobs board for creative students and graduates
The App to kickstart Your Career in the Creative Industries
Browse thousands of internships, bootcamps, events, training schemes, courses & more.
Learn more
Arts Temps connects UAL's creatives with paid roles. Whether you're looking for temporary or permanent opportunities, Arts Temps is committed to supporting your journey.
Job search
Graduate jobs in the creative industry in London and Across the UK. give a grad a go
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PROSPECTS
Jobs board for the creative industries.
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Jobs board for the creative and cultural industries. Campaign Live
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British Creative Jobs
Search for creative jobs and you can also register your CV.
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Draw
International specialist jobs in the arts.
Salt
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Creative Recruitment UK
Connecting Creative, Digital, Marketing and Technical Talent with the most respected companies and brands across the UK and beyond.
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Job searching tips to help you land your first Creative job or internship.
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Brite recruitment
Top tips on how to get your first creative role, with no experience.
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Money Management
Check out this section to find resources to help you manage your money.
Money Management
Legal Matters
Here we’ve added resources to help you understand the law, protecting your designs, legal advice and more.
Find research publications, articles and advice on a range of art law topics including, contracts, copyright, resale rights and more.
Tip - Search and filter topics to find relevant information.
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UAL: Manage your Intellectual Property (IP)
UAL’s resources to help you understand what intellectual property is and how to protect yours. Includes online module, top tips for collaboration and contracts and more!
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Illustration by Lizzie Reid (Instagram: @lizzies_lines)
Legal Matters
The British Library –Business & IP Centre
The Chartered Institute of Trademark Attorneys
Free one-to-one advice, workshops, webinars for small business and entrepreneurs.
Free online trademark advice clinics for members of the public and small business owners.
Legal Matters
Lawyers
Volunteering for the Arts
Free legal advice to low income and not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations or community groups.
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Five essential legal principles for graphic designers.
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property
Intellectual property: an overview of trade marks, patents, copyright, designs, law and practice, IP crime and infringement. GOV.UK
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World Intellectual Property Organisation
Advice on registering your trademarks, design rights and patents globally.
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Axa
ART BUSINESS INFO. FOR ARTISTS
Trading Law & Regulations for Artists (mainly UK).
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ART BUSINESS INFO. FOR ARTISTS
Legal Matters for Artists: How to stay on the right side of the law and understand all relevant legal liabilities.
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Artist Studios
We’ve found some opportunities to get your hands on free or cheap studio space in London, check these out here!
Artist Studios
Cockpit Arts
Awards for subsidised studio space for makers and designers.
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UAL: Millbank Tower Podium: Studio 18
Free event & exhibition space open to Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon students.
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Space Studios
Charity providing affordable studio space for artists.
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Free studio space for emerging artists in central London.
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The Bomb Factory Art Foundation
Free residency programme to support emerging artists with financial barriers.
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Bow arts
Residency award, prizes and opportunities for the London artist community.
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Mental health
Your mental health matters so we’ve found a variety of resources available to you.
Mental health
Men’s Mental Minds Matter
Men’s mental health suicide intervention and prevention specialists..
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Gender-specific and traumainformed support services for under-served women.
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Campaign Against Living Miserably
Stands against feeling shit, standing up to stereotypes and standing together to show life is always worth living.
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Black Minds Matter UK
Free, one to one, culturally relevant therapy for Black people in the UK.
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SAMARITANS
Support for anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or if you are worried about someone else.
MindOut
LGBTQ+ mental health service.
Inspirited Minds
An Islamic grassroots charity that provides mental health support and hope from a faith and culturally sensitive.
Information, advice, and resources about mental health issues. Confidential help line and legal line available.
Mental health
Students Against Depression
The FRANK website provides general information and advice on drugs/alcohol, other drug related helplines and local drug agencies.
This website includes helpful stories, suggestions as well as self-help strategies for anyone feeling suicidal.
Learn more Learn more
Every Mind Matters
Expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.
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FRANK
Advise, opportunities and resources
Check this section out for websites specialising in the arts, for emerging creatives and graduates.
Free tech courses for women.
Use code: UPUAL when applying for a priority place on on any @Uni Kickstarter class or CFGdegree
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Advise, opportunities and resources
Support for Graduates
Resources and one-to-one support for graduates Learn more not just a shop
Advice, information, and opportunities for visual artists
Apply to sell your work at UAL’s not just a shop Learn more UAL’s Events and Workshops
Keep your eye on events for graduates (some may be just for current students).
Have a look here for top tips on improving your CV, get ready for your job search!
How to write a CV
If you’re looking for work you need an up-todate CV (curriculum vitae). Here are our tips for writing a standard CV.
Learn more
Illustration by Gracie Dahl
Portfolios
Check this section out to find out how to make your portfolio industry ready!
Applying to university is an exciting next step and your portfolio is an important part of this process. Discover our tips on how to build a strong portfolio for your university application.
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Marion Bisserier sketchbook during her internship at Pentagram, 2019, © Alys Tomlinson
Portfolios
PROSPECTS
Putting together a professional creative portfolio, and how to make it stand out.
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Will Brett Design The definitive handbook on creative portfolios.
Mastering the Art: Crafting the Best Product Design Portfolios to Land Your Dream Role.
more
How to create a perfect portfolio and stand out from the corwd. The Candidate
Here we’ve provided some links to help you understand what you need from a reference or character reference.