Last Chance to Apply for Training Programme For Disabled Creatives

Creative Lives in Progress; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A creative development organisation in London is offering an opportunity for individuals who are disabled, neurodivergent, or live with a chronic condition to advance their careers in the creative field. Participants will engage in workshops, collaborate on real-world projects, and receive mentorship support. This program aims to bridge community members into the creative industry, specifically in roles like art direction or graphic design, with ongoing mentorship post-completion.

Benefits

Ongoing mentorship

Flexible learning times

Workshops with industry professionals

Qualifications

• Open to individuals who are disabled, neurodivergent, or have a chronic condition.
• Must have previous experience in a creative role such as art director or graphic designer.

Responsibilities

• Participate in workshops and interactive sessions.
• Work on a live creative brief with support from mentors.
• Present ideas and designs to an audience of industry peers.

Skills

Creative thinking

Collaboration

Presentation skills

Portfolio development

Job description

Update: Following recent feedback, we are extending the application window to allow for more time to apply.

New Deadline: 5pm on Friday, 12 December 2025.

Join us and you’ll gather the tools, knowledge and support to develop your career in the creative field, and discover bridges into the creative industry.

The programme is open to anyone who is disabled, neurodivergent, or lives with a mental health or chronic condition who has previously worked or studied as a creative in the advertising, marketing or design industry. This could include roles such as art director, copywriter, content creator, graphic designer or similar.

There are four sections to the programme:

Week 1 – Welcome Day and Creative Workshops

Monday 26 January

9:30am – 3pm (Welcome day, in‑person in central London)

Tuesday 27 January – Friday 30 January

9:30am – 1:30pm (Online sessions with breaks)

1:30pm – 3:30pm (Independent learning)

We kick off in‑person in London where you’ll meet your fellow participants and the Creative Equals team. The rest of the week takes place online with a mix of group learning and interactive workshops, all carefully designed to flex your creative thinking skills, foster collaborative dynamics, and highlight creative industry trends. These sessions are run online by the world‑class educational organisation D&AD and don’t worry – you’ll be supported all the way through!

Week 2 – Creative Exploration

Monday 2 February

9:30am – 1:30pm (Online sessions with breaks – Brief and Client Meeting)

Tuesday 3 February – Friday 6 February

Dedicated group time with your mentors and team (these times are flexible and based on your group needs, but we suggest 9:30am – 3:30pm with breaks).

You’ll work on a live creative brief from Diageo – a fantastic opportunity to produce fresh, relevant work for your portfolio. Working either individually or as part of a small team you’ll have the support from a creative mentor from one of our Creative Agency Partners, to give you real‑world feedback along the way.

Week 3 – Presentation Day and break

Monday 9 February

Rehearsals with your mentors (this time is flexible and based on your group needs).

Tuesday 10 February

10am – 4pm (Presentation Day)

Presentation Day is an in‑person event in central London, where you’ll be able to present your ideas and/or designs back to Diageo in front of an audience of creative mentors and industry peers. It’s a chance to sharpen your presentation skills, make real connections, and highlight work you’re proud of. Please note if you have specific access needs, virtual connections can be arranged for Presentation Day.

Then we take a five‑day break to rest and reset.

Week 4 – Employability support

A series of workshops and inspiring talks designed to support your next career move.

You’ll get practical training on how to make the most of LinkedIn, refresh and refine your portfolio, and navigate the ever‑evolving job market. You’ll also hear directly from talent and career experts who know what it takes to stand out.

And the support doesn’t stop there. You’ll receive the option of ongoing mentorship for up to three months after the programme, giving you guidance and encouragement as you make your next move forward.

If you have questions (no matter how big or small), or we can do anything to make the programme more accessible to you, please email [e-mail].