WYCreate is a brand new series of FREE training opportunities for creative freelancers and microbusinesses in West Yorkshire.
WYCreate has brought together some of the best industry experts in the country to help freelancers and microbusinesses to grow and thrive, by providing tailored creative industries skills development and business support. To date, 90 West Yorkshire-based creative freelancers and microbusinesses have received training in subjects ranging from branding and marketing to financial management for freelancers, to AI for creative businesses. In 2025, partners including Bradford Producing Hub, Everybody Arts and Quiplash will be rolling out new training in sustainable creative practice, exploring how to deliver creative health projects, diversity, building creative networks, immersive tech and access to funding.
Our 2025 programme will offer a wide range of courses delivered by some of West Yorkshire’s best and most established creative networks, including Music Local in Leeds, Everybody Arts in Halifax and Bradford Producing Hub.
Featuring both online and face-to-face delivery, the programme is designed to address the evolving needs of those working in the creative sector by enhancing your skills and knowledge of new markets and new opportunities.
Key elements will include:
· Practical advice on navigating new markets
· Updates on the latest trends, tools and techniques in content production
· Gaining business growth through new networks and collaborations
· Insight from award-winning creative industry experts
All training is FREE for artists, freelancers and microbusinesses (0-9 employees) based in West Yorkshire. Eligible artists and freelancers can benefit from financial support toward costs of travel and attendance.
Mind Your Own Business
Monday 24 February 2025
13.30 - 16.30
Online (Zoom)
Mind Your Own Business is a practical business development workshop designed to support freelancers and microbusinesses from the creative sector in building a profitable and impactful creative practice that works for them.
Through this session, we will be working together to develop your understanding of-
How do you build a creative business while driving social good? (it does not have to be one or the other)
How to build a growth mindset?
How to define and pitch your creative business to your target audience?
How to build a realistic business plan that allows you to thrive in your practice?
How to build financial resilience and sustainability for your creative practice?
This is a practical, engaging, action learning style session where participants will be working on various frameworks and worksheets together to ensure the learning is implemented sustainably. Participants can expect to develop a series of actions/ideas/strategies by the end of this session.
Music Industry Support
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
Wednesday, 26 February 2025
Northern Quarters Huddersfield
Join the Launchpad team and speakers Emily Pilbeam; publisher and artist manager, Emma Stakes and George Riley, studio manager at Tileyard North for DELETE on an insightful discussion on the opportunities available to musicians, artists, and aspiring professionals in Wakefield and across West Yorkshire.
Unlock Your Creative Business Potential
A Leadership & Business Skills Course for Creative SME's and Freelancers across Creative Sectors
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
Session 1 : Thursday 27th February
14:00 - 16:00
The Common Room at Neighbourhood ( formerly Duke Studios) - 3 Sheaf St, Leeds LS10 1HD
or
Session 1 : Wednesday 5th March
14:00 - 16:00
The Garden Studio, The Art House,The Art House, Drury Lane Wakefield WF1 2TE
Running a creative business needs more than just talent—it’s about vision, strategy, and connections. Our dynamic course is designed specifically for creative freelancers and SME's, giving you the tools, confidence, and community to thrive.
This is creative learning aimed at creative people, designed to reframe your current mindset to gain leadership skills and encourage business growth.
We start with an interactive networking event with like minded creatives, to help grow your business community and then continue with a series of online workshops covering;
Business Vision and Goals
Leadership Development
Organisational Culture
Building a Brand
Scaling Business Operations
More sessions online, book now and find out more.
Goal Setting Masterclass
Growing, managing and measuring our success as a creative business
Monday, 03 March, 2025
Online (Zoom) 13:30-16:30
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
As creatives and micro business leaders, you wear multiple hats and juggle countless priorities. This masterclass is designed to help you cut through the chaos and gain clarity on where you are headed. This workshop isn’t about generic advice—it is about crafting goals that align with your passion, your purpose and your vision for the future. Whether you are looking to deliver more collaborative work, produce new art, streamline your processes or win more funded work, this session will provide you with the roadmap to make it happen.
This is a practical workshop where you will learn how to become more strategic and SMART at managing, growing and measuring our success as a creative business,
Through this session, we will:
Dive into understanding how to develop a more strategic mindset around setting realistic goals and ambitions for your practice
Explore the connection between vision, mission, and actionable goals
Work with the SMART Goal Framework to develop short, medium and long-term goals
Build an action plan to stay motivated and accountable
Learn about tools and techniques to measure your actions, impact and business growth
Please note, whilst this session is designed to be standalone, it forms part of a series of bespoke business development sessions designed exclusively for arts and cultural organisations.
Bridging Creativity and Heritage: Collaborating with Heritage Organisations
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
Thursday, 06 March, 2025
Online Workshop with Interactive Elements
10.00-13:00
This 3-hour online course is designed specifically for micro businesses and freelancers in the creative sector who are interested in collaborating with heritage organisations in West Yorkshire. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the types of heritage organisations active in the region, explore potential partnerships, and develop strategic planning skills for successful collaboration.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will leave with:
1. A solid understanding of heritage organisations available in West Yorkshire and how they function.
2. Practical skills for identifying and seizing collaboration opportunities.
3. Tools for creating effective collaboration proposals.
4. Strategies for maintaining strong relationships with heritage organisations.
Disability Awareness Training with Quiplash
Friday, 07 March, 2025
10:30 - 13:00
Lunch will be provided
Common Space, Oastler Shopping Centre 1-3 John St, Bradford BD1 3JT
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
During this session, Quiplash will
Cover some of the major principles around disability and accessibility including models of disability and principles of disability justice
Unpack how language works in different disabled communities and identify what is considered good practice in the UK
Engage in exercises that help people think through the principles we discuss and how they can apply this knowledge to their own experiences
Workshop different tactics for embedding access into different spaces and ways of working
Provide time for questions and chatting
This event is intended for creative industries freelancers and microbusinesses in the region.
It is also aimed at creative industry graduates taking their first steps towards establishing a business in the region
A vegetarian lunch and refreshments are included as part of this session
LGBTQ+ and Gender awareness
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
Friday, 7 March 2025, 14.00 - 16.30
Common Space, Oastler Market, 1-3 John St, Bradford BD1 3JT
This event is intended for creative industries freelancers and microbusinesses in the region.
It is also aimed at creative industry graduates taking their first steps towards establishing a business in the region.
During this session, Quiplash will
Cover some of the major principles around LGTBQ+ and gender identities, activism and politics
Unpack how language works in different LGBTQ+ and minority gender communities and identify what is considered good practice in the UK
Engage in exercises that help people think through the principles we discuss and how they can apply this knowledge to their own experiences
Workshop different tactics for making LGBTQ+ and minority gender-inclusive spaces and ways of working
Provide time for questions and chatting
Quiplash is co-led by Amelia Lander-Cavallo (they/them) and Al Lander-Cavallo (they/them).
Group Coaching - Time Management/Boundaries
Monday, 10 March, 2025
13:30 - 16:30
Online
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
This is a practical, discussion-led group coaching session designed to support freelancers and microbusinesses from the creative sector to empower themselves with some of the most essential soft skills needed to sustain a successful and healthy creative business.
Through this session, we will be working together to develop your understanding on:
Personal boundaries: how to build, maintain and communicate our personal boundaries in our creative practice
Managing time: how to effectively manage our time and day to better manage project-based delivery while sustaining our creative business
Negotiation skills: understand and practice the art of effective negotiation skills
Design an action plan to embed our learnings from the day into your business operations
This is a practical, engaging, action learning style, group coaching session where participants will be working on various worksheets to ensure the learning is implemented in a sustainable way. Participants can expect to develop a series of actions/ideas/strategies by the end of this session.
Please note, whilst this session is designed to be standalone, it forms part of a series of bespoke business development sessions designed exclusively for arts and cultural organisations.
Sustainability Best Practice for Creative Microbusinesses with SAIL
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
Wednesday, 12 March, 2025
09:30 - 16:15
Delivered by SAIL, this hybrid training course is designed to empower creative professionals with the knowledge and tools to integrate sustainability into their work.
Through a blend of online pre-learning and interactive in-person workshops, this course will explore key concepts such as:
Understanding Sustainability in the Creative Sector: Discover what sustainability means for the cultural industries and how you can play a part in driving change.
Calculating your impact: Learn how to calculate your carbon impact
Funders and Sustainability: Gain insights into articulating your sustainability vision to funders such as Arts Council England and aligning your goals with funding opportunities.
Creating an Action Plan: Walk away with a personalised, actionable plan to implement sustainability in your work.
This course will also provide practical tools, real-world case studies, and opportunities for collaborative learning, equipping you to take meaningful action toward a more sustainable future.
All attendees will receive a certificate on completion of the course.
Launchpad X WYCreate - Music Industry Support: Halifax
Wednesday, 12 March, 2025
18:30- 21:00
The Grayston Unity8 Horton StreetHalifax, England, HX1 1PUUnited Kingdom
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
Join the Launchpad team and a selection of speakers from the music industry for an insightful discussion on the opportunities available to musicians, artists, and aspiring professionals in Halifax and across West Yorkshire.
The event will feature introductions from Launchpad, The Grayston Unity and more followed by a panel discussion with individuals who are making waves both locally and nationally.
This free event takes place on Wednesday, 12th March at The Grayston Unity, Halifax and promises an evening packed with valuable music industry insights and networking opportunities.
Whether you're an emerging artist, an established professional, or simply passionate about the music industry, this event offers the perfect platform to build connections, explore new opportunities, and take your career to the next level.
Introduction to the Creative - Health landscape
Friday, 14 March, 2025
10:00- 16:00
The Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, Halifax,
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
The creative-health landscape is rapidly evolving, with growing recognition of the benefits that arts and culture bring to health and wellbeing. This presents unique opportunities for cultural sector freelancers and organisations. This one day course aims to provide an understanding of how to navigate and contribute effectively within this space and has been designed to provide foundational knowledge and practical guidance on working in the creative-health sector.
This training session will be delivered with support the Creativity and Health Project team at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Connecting Creatives: Building and Sustaining Effective Networks
Saturday 15th March, 2025
10:00 to 13:00
Online Workshop with Interactive Elements
Tools Used: Zoom (for brainstorming and collaboration), Trello (for idea sharing)
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
This half day course aims to equip micro businesses and freelancers in the cultural sector with the skills needed to establish and maintain effective networks. You will explore existing networks such as the Cultural Voice Forum (and others across West Yorkshire), identifying how they can leverage these to create smaller, sustainable sub-networks that promote collaboration and growth within the creative community and personal development and practice.
Training Objectives
1. Understanding the value of networking in the cultural sector.
2. Learning the process of establishing and maintaining networks and sub-networks.
3. Developing skills to engage effectively with existing forums and groups.
4. Creating a sustainable networking action plan.
Good Governance
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
Monday, 17 March, 2025
13:30 - 16:30
Online
Good governance isn’t just about compliance—it is about creating a framework that allows your charity to thrive, deliver meaningful impact and grow sustainably. This session is designed to be interactive, with real-world examples, group discussions, and actionable takeaways on building and maintaining a robust governance in your organisation.
Through this session, we will be working together to develop your understanding of:
Setting up a Board of Trustees or Directors
The need for having robust governance (including case studies and common challenges)
The link between your ambitions, your purpose and your Board
Building a Board that works for the organisation’s experience, skillset, roles and responsibilities
Recruiting a Board with diverse lived experiences
Communicating, engaging, and managing your Board and embedding transparency and accountability
Building and nurturing Board relationships that enhance the growth of your organisation or business
Please note, whilst this session is designed to be standalone, it forms part of a series of bespoke business development sessions designed exclusively for arts and cultural organisations.
An Introduction to Immersive Media Technology
Freelancers and Microbusinesses
Tuesday 25 March 2025
Wakefield, Production Park
Join the Academy of Live Technology at Production Park on Tuesday 25th March and get lost in the world of immersive technology. Presenting a unique one-day opportunity to be absorbed into the constantly evolving world of immersive media technologies, including a practical introduction to Virtual Production and an exploration of recent innovations in LED and integrated media control solutions. You will get to see the creation of immersive environments with a hands-on demonstration in a state of the art, LED volume studio with special capture and camera tracking with both 3D and 2D environments. There will also be the chance to ask any questions to a panel of industry leaders, concluding with networking opportunities.
Care-full creativity
Resilient Practices that Sustain Wellbeing and Creativity for Cultural Sector Freelancers
Friday, 4th April, 2025
10:00 - 16:00
The Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, Halifax.
Freelancers in the cultural sector, particularly those engaged in public-facing work, face unique challenges that impact their wellbeing, creativity, and professional longevity. The demands of public engagement, and the need to balance creativity with work-life responsibilities can contribute to high levels of stress and burnout.
How can cultural sector freelancers develop resilient practices that maintain wellbeing and sustain creativity? Designed for practitioners with a public engagement element to their work, this training will better equip practitioners within their day-to-day work by providing advice, guidance, tools and methods to maintain a regenerative and restorative creative practice, including the maintenance of professional boundaries.