The Creativity In Careers Event
On Thursday 24th April 2025, Positive Steps, in partnership with Create Rochdale and Rochdale Borough Council, had the pleasure of hosting the Creativity in Careers event once again! The event provided an exciting and inspiring experience for Year 9 students across Rochdale.
Building on the success of last year, the aim of the event remained clear: to highlight the wide range of creative careers available to young people. We aimed to highlight, the vital role these industries play in both the local community and the national economy. We wanted to encourage more students to consider choosing creative subjects at GCSE and see the exciting, fulfilling careers that can grow from those choices.
This year’s event saw over 1,000 students from 14 schools take part, engaging with over 60 creative professionals from industries including Animation, Architecture, Film, Photography, Marketing, Gaming, and more. What made the event especially impactful was the presence of so many professionals who either live or work in Rochdale, or grew up there, proving to students that a creative future can start right on their doorstep.
In addition to creative professionals, educational and training providers were on hand to showcase the many pathways available into creative careers. From T-levels and Apprenticeships to Degrees, students had the opportunity to explore different routes into the industry and ask questions about qualifications, work experience, and the future of creative work. Exhibitors included local institutions such as Hopwood Hall College, Rochdale Sixth Form College, Factory International and PINC College.
We were also honoured to welcome the Mayor of Rochdale, Janet Emsley and consort to the Mayor of Rochdale, Mr Ken Emsley, who spent time engaging with students and exhibitors.
They expressed their admiration for the event and the enthusiasm shown by students, noting how valuable these opportunities are in helping young people explore their passions and potential career paths in Rochdale.
It was a pleasure to be involved in hosting the event and we hope to have inspired the young people of Rochdale to pursue more creative careers and choose creative subjects for their GCSE’s!
This event was funded by the Cultural Development Fund (a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) fund administered by the Arts Council) and Create Rochdale. It was supported by Rochdale Borough Council and the Rochdale Development Agency.