Talent Development

Real Projects. Real Credits.

We embed opportunities for creatives into live projects.

Talent development is embedded across all of Breaking Barriers’ work, with opportunities for emerging producers, filmmakers, photographers, performers and creative practitioners to gain real-world experience within live projects.

We work closely with schools, volunteers, production teams and partner organisations, supporting individuals at different stages of their creative journey. Alongside this, we also design dedicated skill development programmes informed by the needs of the creative communities we work with.

Get Involved

Our Creative Careers Pathway

Upskilling Initiatives

Breaking Barriers Creative Skills Pathway.

We’re passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for emerging creatives to develop their skills, build confidence and gain real-world experience.

Wherever we are delivering, whether that is Rochdale, Liverpool, Sheffield, Gosport or anywhere else, we recruit from within that community. Local creatives are embedded into our productions as filmmakers, sound designed, producers, facilitators and more, gaining real, paid experience on projects that are actually going out into the world.

This is how we ensure that the communities we work in benefit not just from the creative work itself, but from the opportunity to help support their local creative ecology. A creative career can feel like something that happens elsewhere, to other people. We work to support people in areas that have historically been far away from opportunities.

From volunteering, emerging creatives can take one of two routes depending on their ambitions and area of interest:

Volunteer.

Join our volunteer pool and get involved in Breaking Barriers projects. Volunteering is a brilliant way to get hands-on experience, meet our team, and see the work up close.

Previous volunteers have said:

“You didn’t force me to come out of my comfort zone, you made me want to leave it.”

“It’s been tough after graduating, but this has given me purpose. We’ve only known each other for two weeks but you’ve been so welcoming.”

“This has redirected me as I try to find my way. I wish I could have done more nights to be honest.”

Volunteer Registration

Apply to join our Talent Development Schemes.

Young Company

Our Young Company offers paid opportunities for emerging creatives aged 18-25 to be embedded within a Breaking Barriers production. Young Company members gain real industry experience across areas like producing, filming, sound design, production management and directing. Applications are project based, but we keep ongoing dialogue with our volunteers so you never miss out on an opportunity to apply!

Producers Week

For volunteers who are interested in producing, we run a Producers Week (part of the Young Producers (Inspire) Project) which is an intensive one-week training programme. Over five days, participants join us for talks from industry professionals, Q&As and practical sessions specifically designed to support developing practical skills in a supportive environment, with further opportunities for work experience, shadowing and mentoring once the curse has finished.

Freelance Work.

Many of the creatives who we now work with have come through our volunteering team, our Young Company programmes or our Producers Week pathways. We always look to support our mentees and offer them relevant work with us on a freelance basis across projects.

I had the pleasure of working with Breaking Barriers as a photography assistant on What About Me? It was rewarding and fulfilling to participate on a project which had a strong impact on audiences in Salford. I gained new skills working with younger people and confidence to work in a creative team. I am fortunate to be working with Breaking Barriers on my upcoming solo exhibition at Richard Street Studios. Parvez and Jodie have continually shown their support and encouragement, I will always cherish my experience of working with them.

Iqra Saied