CREATIVE FUTURES The creative sector is booming. Employment in the creative industries is growing at four times the rate of the total UK workforce and an arts education provides you with a gateway to this vibrant industry and rewarding career path. The UK’s cultural sector is renowned across the world, and so is our reputation for creativity, originality, and entrepreneurial flair. The UK’s well-established creative education system has been a key factor in building and developing these skills. From the day you start at Hereford College of Arts, you begin preparing for your future career. Whether you want to get a job in a prestigious international firm, to set up your own small business, or to work as an independent freelancer for a mix of clients, there is a wealth of opportunity across the creative industries. HCA will help you develop the personal qualities, knowledge and skills that underpin success, whatever your chosen specialism. Creative Careers There are 2 million jobs in creative occupations across the UK – with fast growth in music, performing and visual art, and also design and designer fashion. Robots won’t steal your job! Research has shown creative professions are some of the least likely to be automated in the future. Projections indicate that creative occupations will grow twice as fast as the average rate of employment, and slightly faster than STEM jobs over the next 6 years. 34.5% of people in all jobs in the creative industries, including supportive jobs, are self-employed. The creative industries are at the heart of the UK’s economic future – classified as one of the priority sectors in the government’s industrial strategy, and they will play hugely important role at the heart of the UK’s economic future. Qualifications matter – the majority of jobs in creative occupations are held by people with at least a degree or equivalent. Explore even further – the creative industries are a dynamic and exciting place to build your career, but the skills you’ll develop through a creative degree are highly sought-after across a vast range of businesses and wider professions. Links to the World of Work The College champions a sense of enterprise, and all students are encouraged to get involved in commercial ventures, exhibitions, and projects – both within the local community and on a much wider scale. We work closely with a range of employers, and our courses have strong links to local, regional and national businesses that support students with varied opportunities, including employer and industry-related projects. We give support and advice regarding career and progression pathways, and all our courses have a range of visiting lecturers and professionals who share their knowledge and experience with students. Visit our Partnerships page for more details. HCA Enterprise Programme Every degree student at HCA, regardless of their chosen programme, will be given the chance to develop essential practical skills for a creative working life: How to create a unique creative digital professional profile Social Media for creatives How to set-up as a creative freelancer In many cases you will cover these important topics as part of your degree modules but with the HCA Enterprise programme, you’ll have the opportunity to top-up and extend your skills through online talks, workshops and other training resources. Valuable Transferable Skills A creative degree will give you a suite of transferable skills, so important for working life, and much sought-after by employers. You’ll be able to demonstrate: Adaptability Being articulate when expressing complex ideas Collaboration Creative and critical thinking Curiosity Problem solving We believe these are core skills for a productive and purposeful life and you’ll find they are embedded in the teaching and learning outcomes at HCA. HCA Graduate Launchpad Programme Your relationship with HCA will continue to support you long after you’ve tossed your mortar board into the air at graduation. Taking the first steps in your career can feel both exhilarating and daunting. We know that our graduates value opportunities to seek follow-up advice from experienced staff, to stay in touch with peers, and to engage with events at HCA that continue to broaden their creative network. So, from 2019 all our new graduates can access an 18 month HCA Graduate Launchpad Programme including: A professional profile page on HCA’s Talent Hub Free access to advertised online Enterprise Programme events. A face-to-face ‘creative health-check’ and review of your professional development plan (in person or via Skype). Discounts on the HCA short course programme. Invitations to HCA exhibitions, and other online networking and social opportunities. Launchgrad publishes a regular newsletter and blog to keep graduates and current students updated with news, external events and creative opportunities and we regularly invite our graduates to take part in virtual events and discussion groups. Email hcalaunchgrad@hca.ac.uk or follow our instagram @hcalaunchgrad to find out more. After HCA Our talented alumni go far and wide in their creative careers! James W Griffiths has gone on to become a BAFTA Award Winning Film-maker, Sasha Louise is a Celebrity Fashion Designer and Alice Perrin is a Tattoo Artist on Channel 4 hit show Tattoo Fixers, to name but a few. To find out more about what our Alumni get up to since their time with us, visit our Alumni Page. 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