The creative industries are evolving at an unprecedented rate. Traditionally, success in fields like design, media, performing arts, and film depended largely on talent and technical skills. Today, however, the landscape is shifting - creative professionals must also be entrepreneurs, capable of marketing their work, managing finances, and navigating self-employment.

A staggering 95% of creative businesses in the UK are micro-businesses (fewer than 10 employees), and over 32% of creative industry professionals are self-employed - double the rate of the broader economy. These figures highlight a growing need for entrepreneurial acumen within creative sectors. But are we as an education provider equipping students with the right skills?

Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW) are answering this challenge head-on, ensuring that our students aren’t just skilled artists, designers, and media professionals—but also capable entrepreneurs. Through our Creative Arts Career Excellence Hubs, we are developing a comprehensive approach that integrates business and entrepreneurship skills into the creative curriculum, providing a seamless educational pipeline that prepares our students for the realities of creative careers.

Embedding Business Skills into Creative Courses

Gone are the days when creative courses focused solely on artistry. Weston College and UCW have woven core business skills—including finance, marketing, contract negotiation, and networking - into our creative programmes. Students are encouraged to think like entrepreneurs, whether they are aspiring freelancers, business owners, or employees in creative enterprises.

Practical skills such as understanding NDAs, writing business proposals, and managing project budgets are integrated into modules, ensuring that students graduate not just with a portfolio but with the confidence to monetise their talents.

Work-Integrated Learning and Industry Engagement

One of the biggest barriers to creative entrepreneurship is the lack of real-world exposure. Weston College and UCW are addressing this through strong industry partnerships, offering students the opportunity to work on live projects, collaborate with businesses, and gain first-hand experience in commercial creative environments.

Through initiatives like industry placements, and employer-led masterclasses, students develop both their craft and commercial instincts. These experiences prepare them for a seamless transition into the workforce or self-employment.

Recent success stories illustrate how we are equipping students with hands-on industry experiences:

• Live Music Performance: Music legend Boris Zamba performed with an alumni band, showcasing the real-world performance opportunities students can experience (Read more).
• Film and Media Industry Insights: Wildstar Films provided a guest lecture on production management, giving students valuable insight into working behind the scenes in the film industry (Read more).
• BBC Studio Visit: Media students explored BBC Studios, gaining first-hand exposure to the broadcast and production industry (Read more).
• Creative Inspiration at the V&A Museum: Fashion, photography, and art students visited the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, enriching their understanding of historical and contemporary art influences (Read more).
• Real-World Graphic Design Experience: A graphic design student created the official logo for the Knife Angel project, demonstrating the impact of student work on public initiatives (Read more).

Supporting the Growth of Microbusinesses and Freelancers

Recognising that many graduates will enter self-employment or start their own creative businesses, UCW and Weston College offer tailored support for freelancers. This includes guidance on pricing strategies, tax and financial planning, marketing, and digital branding—ensuring that students can successfully launch and sustain their creative ventures.

Additionally, networking events, mentorship programmes, and guest lectures from successful creative entrepreneurs help students understand the realities of working in the industry and equip them with the tools to thrive.

The Creative Entrepreneurship Sprint Report, produced by Business West in collaboration with regional stakeholders, highlighted critical gaps in the skills system. Employers across the West of England and North Somerset identified key areas where new entrants to the workforce were underprepared, including financial literacy, leadership, and opportunity recognition.

Weston College and UCW are actively addressing these concerns by ensuring that entrepreneurship is embedded across creative education. However, further collaboration is needed between education providers, employers, and policymakers to ensure that the next generation of creatives is equipped for long-term success.

A Call to Action

To foster a thriving creative sector, all stakeholders must work together:

• To encourage employers to engage with students early, offering mentorship, real-world projects, and work experience placements.
• As an education provider we must continue adapting our curriculum to align with industry needs, emphasising entrepreneurial and business acumen.
• To ask for local authorities and policymakers to support initiatives that make creative education more accessible, ensuring financial and structural barriers don’t limit opportunities.
• To highlight to students and creatives to recognise the value of business skills in their career development and actively seek opportunities to enhance their entrepreneurial capabilities.

Weston College and University Centre Weston are keen to be at the forefront of integrating business skills into creative education. By bridging the gap between creativity and entrepreneurship, we are preparing students not just to find jobs—but to create them.

For employers looking to engage with the next generation of creative professionals—or for students wanting an education that truly prepares them for the modern creative economy—Weston College and UCW offer a first-class foundation for turning passion into a sustainable career.

Last night, our Creative Arts Careers Excellence Hub came together to produce a fantastic preview evening of the Summer Showcase which exhibited the work of our Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW) Creative Arts students, giving them the chance to display their incredible work, not only to their peers and lecturers, but also to their friends, family, members of the public and potential employers. The exhibition will continue to run every weekday between 9:00am-4:30pm until 20th June at Loxton Campus so everyone can experience the creativity and achievements of our students.  

This exhibition consists of a mixture of Arts & Design, Photography, Fashion, Media, Games & Animation, and Graphic Design student work, where they display their amazing Final Projects to not only present their hard work and professional development, but also network with people and gain connections with possible employers.  

Sandra Bull, Assistant Principal for this area commented: “The College’s Summer Showcase celebrates individualism of our students, showing different interpretations and styles in a range of mediums. It allows students to express the background behind their work, the process that accompanies it, and the messages and meanings behind them to create a holistic appreciation for the students and their artwork being presented.”  

“I am so proud of how the student have developed both personally and professionally since September and being able to put on this showcase is just one way for us to celebrate how proud every member of staff is of our students. “ 

On arrival at the preview evening, people were greeted by students serving glasses of Elderflower fizz and canapés to welcome their guests, alongside our Music and Performance students playing live music in the foyer to set the tone of this fantastic celebration.

Throughout the exhibition, there are a range of pieces on display throughout the classrooms, from sculptures and fashion designs, to a gallery of photographs, graphics and artwork. The Media faculty even created their own in-house theatre with popcorn and red carpets to display the fantastic films and Final Projects that the students have been working hard on.  

The event has been displayed extremely professionally, with each classroom acting as a gallery, with artwork and podiums lining the white walls so each student has their own designated space to exhibit their work. Last night’s preview event had a fantastic turnout, with everyone admiring and complimenting the attention to detail that had gone into each piece of work.  

Both the staff and the students worked extremely hard to put this showcase together, giving everyone from all years, levels and disciplines the chance to present their work to the public. Many students were in disbelief at seeing how their projects came together when displayed professionally, feeling proud of their work and expressing their gratitude to have this opportunity.  

Kyle, one of our Level 3 Games and Animation students, shared his thoughts on the event, saying, “Having my artwork being displayed actually feels quite lifechanging and surreal because, a lot of the time, I kept my artwork to myself in fear of judgement, but to actually have it up on the wall like this and seeing it being appreciated has actually changed my perspective on my work.”   

This Summer Showcase forms part of the Creative Arts Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.

Since leaving Weston College, Charlie Williams has earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Essex and a Master’s in Political Communication at the University of Leeds, appeared on BBC Radio 4, reported for the Weston Mercury, and been elected as the youngest councillor on Weston Town Council. Now working in Bristol and eyeing a future in national journalism — and even a PhD — Charlie’s journey is nothing short of inspiring.

Charlie studied A Levels in History, Politics, and Law at Weston College’s Loxton Campus between 2016 and 2018. Charlie chose Weston College over other local options, realising that Weston College offered the best environment for him to study. “I also knew many people who studied there and everybody from my school was also going to the College,” he says. “So, it was a no-brainer really!”

Despite his successes, Charlie’s path wasn’t without challenges. He describes the step up from GCSEs to A Levels as the toughest academic leap he’s experienced — even harder than the transition to university. “The best skill I learnt was 100% organisational skills and time management,” he says, reflecting on the content-heavy demands of his subjects. With limited access to resources at home, including no personal laptop and unaffordable textbooks, Charlie relied on the support of his teachers to stay on track. “With the help of my amazing teachers, I ended up getting the hang of things.”

Charlie speaks fondly about his lecturers and looks back upon the positive impact of his second-year History tutor, who brought a fresh perspective, and his Law lecturer, whose unorthodox teaching style made a lasting impression.

After Weston College, Charlie studied a BA in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Essex, securing placements with the BBC and appearing on Radio 4’s The World at One. He then returned home to join the Weston Mercury, where he investigated public spending around the See Monster exhibition — a piece he proudly calls his “magnum opus.”

His involvement in the local community continued when he was elected as a councillor for Haywood Village, becoming the youngest member of Weston Town Council. In a full-circle moment, he played a key role in relocating the council offices to the former Mercury building — the very newsroom where he once worked as a journalist. “I must be one of very few people in the world to ever say that I was part of the process to change my old work office and continue to work there under a different organisation!”

Charlie then went on to complete a master's in political communication at the University of Leeds, graduating with distinction and achieving the highest grades in his programme.

Today, he works in Bristol and hopes to secure a role at a national newspaper, hoping to pursue a PhD in the future. “Since leaving Weston College, I have achieved: a BA and master’s degree, was a reporter with my local paper and have been elected a councillor,” he says.

Would he recommend Weston College? “Yes, because of the wide-ranging courses they offer. It's not just A Levels — it's everything, and I think that's a very good thing indeed.”

Charlie’s journey shows how a strong foundation, hard work, and the right support can open up a wide range of opportunities. From studying A Levels at Weston College to working in journalism and the local council, he’s made the most of each step along the way. We look forward to seeing where his path takes him next.