Introduction
Our Industry guides give you the lowdown on what the Bradford District has to offer. They're here to help you figure out what qualifications and training opportunities are available nearby and to give you the scoop on career options in specific industries.
If you're not sure about what careers are out there, these guides are perfect for exploring and getting to know each sector better. They're your go-to for understanding the different paths you can take into a career, whether it's through Apprenticeships, Traineeships, starting out early in your career, going to college or university, or learning on the job.
In Bradford District, there are 15 industry sectors to explore - you can find them all on the Career Options page. Each guide will tell you specific ways to plan for an occupation, as well as suggesting educational and vocational opportunities.
Build a Career in Creative Industries
To aspire to jobs in the creative industries requires, passion, determination and resilience - there are many subsectors that form as many as twelve different career sectors.
For this guide we have condensed them into six areas which are referenced in the content. The skills needed for creative industries vary, but we must also consider the future skills needed in the industry which of course demonstrates how technology will be and is used currently and in the future.
AI will play a major part of the industry's development but will require new skills to be developed. The creative industry economy has continued to grow, and in 2021 contributed £109bn to the British economy, 5.6% of the economy of that year. Creative industries has performed better than the economy as a whole since the beginning of the Covid19 pandemic, and from September 2021 to 2022 the sector grew by 6.9%.
It has never been a better time to consider a career within the industry. Bradford young people will be able to experience the creative industries, Bradford will be dispelling some of those myths, such as “ you have to live in London to have a career in the creative industries” or “you need friends or family in high places” or “a job in the creative industries is not a real job”. Bradford has been named the City of Culture 2025 which will highlight some of the many and varies roles within the sector and within Bradford.
Qualification Information
Some of the skills and knowledge gained from GCSE studies will be particularly useful for a career in the Creative Industries. We can't list every one, but some examples are below:
English Language
- Critical reading comprehension
- Creative writing
- Essay writing
- Presentations and debate
English Literature
- Creative industry insight
- Writing analysis
- Storyboarding
Maths
- Ratios and proportions in design
- Measurement
- Algebra in animation
- 3D modelling and volume calculations
Science
- Understanding light and sound
- Presentations
- Peer review and critique
Art and Design
- Research creative industry careers
- Produce a portfolio
- Advanced techniques (digital art, sculpture etc.)
- Industry engagement
Performing Arts
- Fundamental skills workshops
- Performance
- Portfolios
Courses in Creative Industries
There are several different courses available which will help get a job in the Creative Industries, examples of those currently available locally are below:
Design (Product, Graphic and Fashion design):
- Art and Design Entry Level 3 Bradford College
- Art and Design BTEC Level 1 Introductory Diploma Keighley College
- Graphic Design A Level New College Bradford
- Textiles and Graphic Design A Level New College Bradford
- Craft and Design - Fashion and Textiles T Level Shipley College
- BA (Hons) Fashion
Film, TV, Video, Radio and Photography:
- Media Studies A Level New College Bradford
- Photography Level 3 Diploma Bradford College
- BA Film and Television Production University of Bradford
- Games Development Level 2 Bradford College
- Games Design and Development - Creative Media Practice BTEC Level 3 Keighley College
- BSc (Hons) Animation
Performing Arts and Music:
- Performing Arts Level 2 Bradford College
- Performing and Production Arts: Acting Level 3 New College Bradford
- Music A Level New College Bradford
Visual Arts
15 Career Choices in Creative Industries
The below jobs are a sample of 15 occupations that can be found in the Creative Industries sector in Bradford District and beyond. Click on the job title for more information:
- TV or Film Camera Operator - record images for film, television, commercials and online
- Radio Broadcast Assistant - help make sure that live and recorded radio programmes run smoothly
- Editorial or Publishing Assistant - provide support at all stages of the publication process for books, journals, magazines and online content
- Musician - Classical musician, pop musician, instrumentalist, composer. Musicians create or perform different types of music, from classical to pop and rock
- Stagehand Technician - help to get things ready on set for performances in the theatre, at concerts and in TV and film studios
- Dancer - use movement to perform for live audiences or in recorded performance
- Graphic Designer - create visual branding, adverts, brochures, magazines, website designs, product packaging and displays
- Web Designer - use their creative and technical skills to design new websites and redesign existing ones
- Technical Architect - help plan, design and build IT systems for clients
- Visual Merchandiser - design eye-catching product displays and store layouts to encourage sales
- Computer Games Developer - create video games for phones, tablets, PCs and consoles
- Video Editor - bring together images and sound for use in film, TV and online productions
- Museum & Art Gallery Curator - manage collections of objects of artistic, scientific, historical and general interes
- Librarian - run public and private libraries, managing access to books, multi-media resources and computers
- Arts Administrator - help organise exhibitions, manage staff and look after buildings like museums
Useful Resources
Find below some useful websites giving information about working in this sector.
www.northernfortressfilms.com/wererolling
https://www.thersa.org/student-design-awards
https://www.sustainablefashionweek.uk/
Explore the circular economy (ellenmacarthurfoundation.org)
https://bradfordmuseums.org/learning/
https://www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/watch-listen/
https://eea.org.uk/working-with-you/schools
Overview of the UK's creative arts sector | Prospects.ac.uk
https://nfts.co.uk/motion-graphics-and-titles?utm_source=Prospects&utm_medium=MPU&utm_campaign=MGT
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/creative-industries-sector-vision
https://www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk/download-hub
creative industry sector Resources - Search Videos (bing.com)
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/developing-creativity-and-culture/children-and-young-people
https://eea.org.uk/working-with-you/schools
https://www.artfund.org/professional/get-funding
Upcoming insights - Creative Careers (discovercreative.careers)
Academy of Live Technology (formerly Backstage Academy) | UCAS
Skills Statements
Our skills statements are like golden nuggets crafted by industry pros. They pinpoint the essential skills required in specific sectors or careers. These statements are your secret weapon to understanding what employers really want and figuring out how to shine brighter than the rest. They'll give you the inside scoop on the skills that will make you stand out from the crowd.
Follow this link to find the Skills Statements for:
Film, TV, Radio, Photography & Publishing
Digital Badges
Digital badges are a great way to gain recognition for skills and learning which doesn't have a qualification attached to it. If you are a learner aged 13+ please sign up to our Navigatr platform to access the digital badges we offer.
This is quick, easy and free to do. Follow the link below to create your own Navigator account and earn your first digital badge by reading the information and completing quiz at the bottom of the page:
https://www.navigatr.org/what-are-digital-badges-2
To see some of the badges available for Bradford District click on the link below for more information:
Careers in creative and media include performing, writing and designing. You could work in TV and radio, on stage or behind the scenes. You could produce books, magazines and websites, or create art and other objects. Competition is fierce. Many people start out working for free to get the experience that employers are looking for.
I would like to find out more about…
There are many different careers that fall under this category from composers and vocalists to dancers, choreographers, art restoration, gallery director and actors. Understandably, performance is a huge part of performing arts and music. Without talented performers, some other jobs in this sector would not exist. Artists enjoy stimulating, creative careers that allow them to make a living doing something they love.
Design is to plan and make decisions about how something is being built or created. This could be either graphic, product or fashion. Graphic design is defined as “the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content.” In other terms, graphic design communicates certain ideas or messages in a visual way. These visuals can be as simple as a business logo, or as complex as page layouts on a website.
The definition of product design describes the process of imagining, creating, and iterating products that solve users’ problems or address specific needs in a given market. Fashion design is a form of art dedicated to the creation of clothing and other lifestyle accessories.
Pursuing this pathway will give you the opportunity to take up practical roles such as an artist, actor or curator, or administrative or managerial jobs such as production manager. Jobs within this pathway are expected to grow substantially over the next few years.
Through objects, collections, film, documents and oral histories they help to give us a sense of place and identity. Following this pathway could enable you to become Head of Exhibitions, a Tour Guide, Curator, or Archivist. In either of these roles you play a part in celebrating and preserving our worlds most treasured things.
There are many areas of the technology field that can provide you with creative job opportunities. Whether you're helping edit film for studios or developing influential products for businesses, there are many roles for aspiring creators in the technological industry.
Creative jobs in tech are positions or roles that require a combination of creative skills and technological understanding. Often, these jobs, which can include digital marketers and graphic designers, help companies and organizations develop crucial materials or ideas that can allow their businesses or projects to succeed.
Games, animation & VFX have a lot of overlap in roles, some creative and artistic others are project management or more IT related. Roles include artists, animators, designers, programmers, directors and audio engineers.