ABOUT

Factory International and adidas have partnered to deliver the Originals Creator Network North, a 6-month development opportunity for 20 young creatives living in Manchester & Greater Manchester.

Participants will receive mentorship and masterclasses from industry leaders, alongside networking opportunities and experience working on creative briefs, helping to establish themselves within the creative industries. In addition to this, the cohort will receive a £600 bursary, be able to access state of the art equipment and will work towards developing a creative showcase at Aviva Studios with their peers.

This programme seeks to address underrepresentation in the creative industry, support young people with the skills to navigate working in the creative sector, and develop valuable networks and relationships.

There will be an online webinar on 7 October at 4pm, where space is held for any support needed or queries you may have while applying for the Originals Creator Network North. Please use the following link if you’d like to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88091202457

HOW DOES THE PROGRAMME WORK?

The programme is structured into 5 phases.

  • 2 immersive days hosted at Aviva Studios to connect with your cohort and learn about each other and the programme.
  • Meet your mentor and set goals for your development journey over the next 6 months.

  • Thursday evening masterclasses, led by industry leaders.
  • Work experience opportunities with both adidas and Factory International.
  • A visit to adidas HQ, home of the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe.
  • Creatively respond to a given brief, with dedicated time for creation and refinement during the post-production phase.

  • Celebrate the culmination of the 6-month programme with a final creative showcase at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International.
  • This phase focuses on highlighting the hard work, learning, and growth of the first Originals Creative Network North cohort.

Key dates

Deadline to apply: Monday 14 October, 12pm

Open Recruitment Day: Tuesday 22 October

Second Interview: Tuesday 29 October

Programme Delivery Dates

We have a mix of full-day and evening sessions throughout the programme. Please see the schedule below:

Thursday 14 November 9.30am-5pm

Friday 15 November 9.30am-5pm

Friday 24 January 10am-6pm

Saturday 25 January 10am-6pm

Thursday 13 February 10am-6pm

Thursday 6 March 10am-6pm

Thursday 21 November 6pm-9pm

Thursday 28 November 6pm-9pm

Thursday 5 December 6pm-9pm

Thursday 12 December 6pm-9pm

Thursday 19 December 6pm-9pm

Thursday 16 January 6pm-9pm

Thursday 6 February 6pm-9pm

Thursday 20 February 6pm-9pm

Thursday 20 March 6pm-9pm

Apply now

Complete your application by following the link.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve tried to make the application process as accessible and straightforward as possible. To apply, simply click on the ‘APPLY NOW’ button and answer each question on the form. You may answer in video format at the top of the application page, or by typing in the boxes below – whatever works best for you.

There will be an online webinar on 7 October at 4pm, where space is held for any support queries you may have while applying for Originals Creator Network North. Please use the following link if you’d like to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88091202457

If you have any access requirements or need further support when applying, please contact originalscnn@factoryinternational.org.

Yes, attendance at all sessions is required to participate in the programme. This includes all full days and evening sessions to make sure you gain the most from expert masterclasses, industry work experience, and more. Travel expenses for required sessions will be covered. For any access requirements or additional support when applying, please contact originalscnn@factoryinternational.org. All mandatory dates are listed in the ‘Programme Delivery Dates’ section on the Originals Creator Network North webpage above.

adidas and Factory International have partnered to deliver a unique 6-month development programme for 20 young creatives. Participants will benefit from masterclasses led by industry leaders, work experience opportunities within the creative sector, and mentorship from industry professionals. You'll also collaborate with peers on creative projects.

This programme is free. Food and travel will be covered for all days required to attend. (Up to £8 per person travel expenses per in-person day – please email originalscnn@factoryinternational.org if you require further financial support for travel due to access needs).

  • Food and travel expenses on in-person days. (Up to £8 per person travel expenses per in-person day – please email originalscnn@factoryinternational.org if you require further financial support for travel due to access needs).
  • Access to technology needed to complete the programme.

You’re eligible for this programme if you meet all of the following criteria:

  • Based in Manchester or Greater Manchester
  • Aged 18-30
  • Not in full-time education (you can be in part-time education)
  • Available on all delivery dates
  • Have 2-5 years demonstrable experience in either photography, videography, design, event production, event curation or creative direction (including content creation, AI, digital tools, fashion and styling)
  • Be willing to experiment, push boundaries and work collaboratively

If you think you may be eligible but aren’t sure, please contact originalscnn@factoryinternational.org for further support. We’re aware of the barriers young creatives may face within the creative industry, and we don’t want that to stop you receiving a career-defining opportunity for growth and development.

We’re looking for young creatives who already have some level of experience working within the industry – this may be working for yourself or for another organisation. We simply need to see a portfolio of work (3 examples) spanning 2-5 years, showing some level of technical knowledge and experience exceeding that of a beginner.

Underrepresented groups are those who have a lack of representation, and consequently less of a voice, in a specific industry or body. For this programme, we’re particularly keen to hear from applicants whose lived experience is currently underrepresented within the UK creative industries, including but not limited to those from low-income backgrounds, trans and gender diverse people, women, people from the Global Majority, and those who identify D/deaf, disabled and/or neurodiverse.

The first step is to apply on our website today! Following the 14 October closing date, 120 candidates will be selected by our panel (comprised of a range of Factory International and adidas team members) to participate in an Open Recruitment Day on Tuesday 22 October. This will involve observed team-building exercises, speed interviews and an opportunity to network with other creatives. If you're successful in the first recruitment day, you will be invited for a second interview on Tuesday 29 October 2024. This will be a more formal interview-style chat about your work experience and motivations for applying for adidas Originals Creator Network North. A total of 20 creatives will be selected to form the final cohort.

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