Lasercut dress by Emma Hamshare, Creative Careers participant
London based Cockpit Arts, the UKs only creative business incubator for designer-makers, has been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark.
The official announcement will be made on 10 September at the finale reception and exhibition for the Cockpit Arts / Head for Business CIC Creative Careers programme.
Renowned as a ‘creative hotbed’ by the likes of Vogue, Cockpit Arts aims to turn the most creative craft talent into thriving, independent businesses - creating a sustainable cycle of social, cultural and economic activity. To this end they provide subsidised low cost studio space with tailored business development services to 165 designer-makers as well as special Awards and Community Partnerships such as ‘Creative Careers’.
A pilot programme in collaboration with Head for Business CIC, Creative Careers has helped 10 young people from the local community not in education, employment or training (NEETs) to get their first foothold on the crafts career ladder. Emerging talents were provided with valuable training and support alongside access to free studio space for a year; working capital to invest in their business; access to an established Cockpit Arts designer-maker ‘mentor’ and the opportunity to showcase their designs at the Cockpit Arts’ Open Studios. Cockpit Arts now aims to become self sustainable - generating a surplus, in order to cover the cost of further similar programmes in the future.
The finale Creative Careers exhibition will be held at The Rag Factory, 16-18 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ. Open to the public from 11th & 12th September, 10.00am - 6.00pm.
...as Susan Boyle might have sung. On SocialEnterpriselive.com this week:
Like what you read? Sign up for our weekly news bulletin and follow us on Twitter.
Over 4,300 social enterprises and third sector organisations trust us to look after over 149,000 employees’ pensions.With more than 65 years’ experience, we understand.
