Creative Access x Lee & Thompson – Thrive: freelance development programme

Closing date: Wednesday 2nd July 2025 at 11.59pm

Duration: 12 months

Programme start date: September 2025

Are you a freelancer looking to access professional development and thrive in your career? Unlock your potential through mentorship, leadership training, and networking opportunities in this exciting programme.

Creative Access and Lee & Thompson are working together on a 3-year programme specifically focused on addressing the barriers to progression often faced by mid to senior level individuals working in the creative industries from under-represented groups. Lee & Thompson is one of the UK’s leading law firms for the media, technology and creative industries, and has worked with clients at the forefront of the creative industries for over 40 years.

The second year of the partnership will focus on supporting a further cohort of freelancers, acknowledging that career optimism for experienced mid-senior level talent in the sector is dropping, and that those from historically marginalised communities are disproportionately affected.

As a means of addressing some of these challenges, Lee & Thompson have committed to funding another 10 places for freelancers on the Creative Access Thrive: development programme, offering an exceptional training and networking opportunity for mid-level freelancers working across the creative industries who are from communities that are historically under-represented.

About the programme

The Thrive: development programme is an outstanding programme of leadership training, networking and support for individuals at mid-level career stage working in the creative industries. The year-long programme will commence in September 2025 and includes workshops on: 

• Developing leadership skills
• The power of self-belief
• Managing yourself and others
• How to build a successful & long-lasting freelance career
• Financial literacy

Lee & Thompson will also provide support through the hosting of training and networking events, including an exclusive industry insights panel talk on AI and intellectual property.

Participants will also be mentored by a senior industry professional for 6 months, attend networking events and bespoke masterclasses, receive free or discounted tickets for cultural events, and have the opportunity for public speaking.

Participants can expect to increase influence; develop a leadership mindset; have increased confidence to advocate for equal access to training, pay rises and promotions; build contacts and working relationships across sectors; and take strides to achieve career objectives.

This programme is designed for those who:

• Have a few years of experience (c.3-8 years) working in the creative industries, and are currently freelancing
• Have had some experience of coordinating or managing projects
• Are interested in developing new skills to help progress their career
• Want to connect with a group of like-minded individuals with similar goals
• Identify as being from an under-represented group in the creative industries. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals who identify as Black, Asian, or from other ethnically diverse backgrounds, or people of any ethnicity who belong to the following under-represented groups: deaf, disabled or neurodivergent talent, people with the characteristic of gender reassignment, individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, carers and asylum seekers.

To apply

• Log in to your Creative Access account or register today to apply for this opportunity
• After clicking the 'Apply' button, you will be directed to the application form
• Please answer the questions and upload your CV
• Once you have completed and submitted the form, you can no longer amend your application, so proof-read carefully
• Please email any queries about this role to Creative Access at this address: recruit@creativeaccess.org.uk