NEN member UP is celebrating a major achievement after receiving the Employer Recognition Award for Outstanding Commitment to Inspiring Future Talent in Creative and Digital at the Youth Futures Celebration and Insights Day.
The award recognises UP’s commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for young people, educators and industry partners across South London, with much of its creative and digital careers work delivered through UP CREATIVE, one of the organisation’s key pillars.
For UP, the recognition is a proud milestone for a growing organisation with an ambitious vision to become a leading creative careers hub for South London.
Connecting young people with creative careers
Young people have enormous creativity, curiosity and potential, but access to industry networks, professional facilities and clear career pathways can make a significant difference in turning that potential into opportunity.
Through UP CREATIVE, UP is helping to bridge the gap between education and industry by giving young people access to real creative environments, experienced professionals and hands-on industry experience.
Its education programmes include structured workshops, live briefs, mentoring and practical training across areas including filmmaking, digital content creation, virtual production and emerging technologies.
To date, UP CREATIVE has engaged 288 young people through 16 structured sessions, working with 13 schools and youth organisations across five South London boroughs. The programmes have supported young people aged 14 to 19, with participants reporting an average 93% increase in their understanding of and interest in creative career pathways.
These experiences help young people develop not only technical skills, but also confidence, communication and problem-solving abilities that are increasingly important across the creative and digital sectors.
Celebrating the people behind the impact
UP is also celebrating the contribution of Herty Owusu, Creative Lead at UP, whose dedication and creative leadership have played an important role in developing the organisation’s work with young people.
An award-winning writer and experienced filmmaker, Herty brings valuable industry experience into the programmes delivered through UP CREATIVE, helping young people experience professional creative practice first-hand and understand the opportunities available to them.
Under her leadership, UP CREATIVE has continued to expand its educational offer, connecting schools, colleges and community organisations with industry professionals through immersive workshops, project-based learning and collaborative productions.
Building South London’s creative talent pipeline
Based in Croydon, UP CREATIVE provides facilities for digital media, content creation, virtual production and upskilling, bringing together businesses, filmmakers, content creators and emerging talent.
The hub also works closely with educators and industry partners to develop programmes that reflect the needs of today’s creative and digital industries.
This approach creates value on both sides: young people gain relevant experience, skills and industry connections, while businesses have opportunities to engage with and support the next generation of creative talent.
As a member of NEN, UP is part of a wider network of organisations working to support businesses, strengthen local economies and create opportunities for growth and development.
The award is recognition of UP’s contribution to that wider mission, demonstrating how collaboration between businesses, educators and industry can help young people understand their potential and take their first steps towards rewarding careers.
Supporting the next generation
UP is continuing to build partnerships with businesses, educators, funders and creative professionals who want to play a role in developing future talent.
There are opportunities to become part of the work by partnering with UP on education projects, sharing industry expertise, supporting young people through workshops and training, or using the UP CREATIVE space for productions and creative activity.
The award marks an important milestone, but for UP it is also a springboard for what comes next: creating more opportunities for South London’s young people to discover, develop and pursue careers in the creative and digital industries.