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Strengthening the workforce through real-world experiences: The Creative Skills Academy LPN programmes

How Capital City College’s Creative Skills Academy provides valuable real-world experiences for aspiring creative professionals.

In December 2024, Capital City College (CCC)’s Creative Skills Academy was shortlisted for the prestigious Apprenticeship and Training Awards (ATA) 2025 in the category of Best Workplace Readiness Scheme. The award nomination recognises the work of one of the Creative Skills Academy’s initiatives, in particular, the Live Project Network (LPN) programme.

Strengthening the workforce through real-world experiences: The Creative Skills Academy LPN programmes

What is the Live Project Network (LPN) programme?

The Creative Skills Academy’s LPN programme is an initiative that connects aspiring creatives with professional mentorship and real-world work experiences. 

The programme is supported by industry experts and gives participants the opportunity to tackle employer-led briefs. During the programme, participants develop their portfolios, gain credits, receive mentoring, and access employability guidance – all of which increase their chances of gaining employment.

What skills do participants learn?

While working on live projects, participants are supervised by an industry professional and supported in developing the skills, behaviours, and processes essential to working effectively in creative, technical and administrative roles. The projects are designed to respond to specific skills needs which have been highlighted by industry employers and to give participants opportunities to develop key abilities and gain knowledge that will enable them to transition into a new role with greater ease. 

The LPN programme focuses on the application of practical skills as well as building abilities in teamwork, communication, and work etiquette. The programme enables participants to get a clearer sense of their strengths while also enabling them to explore career options. A participant’s day during the course will mirror that of an industry professional, with each bespoke programme carefully tailored to meet employer and business needs.

Example programme: Graphic Design skills programme

The LPN Design Futures Graphic Design skills programme was created and delivered in partnership with LIFT (Leading Inclusive Future through Technology), an initiative incorporating Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Islington, and Camden councils and eight employers. 

The programme consisted of two phases, a four-week full-time pre-internship course and an eight-week paid internship involving a number of local design agencies – Love Design Studio, Revolt, Nice and Serious, Here Design, BlinkInk and Studio Moross.

Phase 1: Four-week pre-internship course

Who took part?

A group of 15 aspiring graphic designers with a range of technical abilities were selected from a diverse applicant pool to participate in the pre-internship course. Within this cohort, 65% came from underrepresented backgrounds, four participants identified as having learning difficulties and the majority of participants were unemployed when starting the course.

What did they do?

The course participants worked in teams to complete design briefs provided by local design agencies. They were led by an experienced graphic designer as they navigated the work processes of junior designers, engaging in idea generation, pitching, drafting, and developing concepts using industry-standard software. 

Over the four weeks, participants were encouraged to demonstrate good work practices by maintaining punctuality, working collaboratively and adhering to workflow expectations. They managed tasks, presented ideas to employers, and delivered on project requirements. 

The course involved regular feedback and as well as coaching sessions to support participants as they developed their skills and abilities. They also received employability support which included:

  • Visits to businesses and talks with industry professionals
  • Guidance on searching for jobs
  • Support writing CVs and cover letters
  • Networking skills
  • Creating a professional online presence
  • Setting up as a freelancer

The design agencies engaged with participants throughout the course by holding pitch sessions, providing feedback, and inviting students to their offices to share career insights and advice.

Phase 2: Eight-week paid internship

Following the pre-internship phase, all participants were interviewed by employers and eight were selected for a two-month paid internship with the design agencies. The selected interns continued to receive support through networking and feedback sessions with their peers.

At the end of the programme, two participants were offered extensions to their internships, with one resulting in full-time employment, and many of the others moved on to similar roles with new employers.

Other recent LPN programmes have included:

  • Accelerate Animation – an excellent eight-week animation bootcamp with award-winning animation studio Blue Zoo.
  • Set Design and Build – a hands-on course in partnership with Bloqs, an open-access workshop, for those interested in technical and construction careers within the creative industries.
  • Script in a Week / Film in a Week – a creative one-week course in which participants write scripts for a short film before voting for one to be developed and taken to production in partnership with Lumino Films. In the second week-long course, participants form a film production crew working alongside industry professionals in various roles to produce a short film.  
  • Promo Producer – an immersive six-week programme delivered in partnership with BBC Studios and Award-winning director, Robbie Samuels. The course supports talented junior promo producers hoping to enter the industry as they develop skills in idea generation, time management and production pipelines while learning to interpret briefs and communicate ideas effectively. 

The Creative Skills Academy’s innovative and bespoke LPN programmes provide participants with industry-aligned skills and experiences. The programmes benefit both employers and jobseekers by effectively meeting industry training needs while offering learners valuable support in taking real steps towards meaningful employment.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the Creative industries, why not take a look at our Creative Skills Academy courses?

If you’re an employer in the creative sector and would like to work with us to strengthen the industry, please get in touch and learn more about our Employer Partnerships.

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