LONDON, ENGLAND.- The Graduate Pioneer Programme aims to invest more than £3 million to help graduates build new types of companies and business markets.
The scheme aims to offer up to 65 individuals a year (35 in the first year) the opportunity to participate in a three-week course at the Academy, to learn business principles; explore entrepreneurship; personal and professional development and receive coaching to build up self-confidence.
In the first year, 12 participants will go on to win awards of up to £35,000 towards starting their own business, as well as receiving additional guidance from a mentor. Up to 25 individuals, after the first year, will be in the running to win the Pioneer Awards.
According to NESTA, the organisation is looking for individuals who aren`t afraid to put themselves on the line & who have a vision for the future and understand the important role art and design can play in enhancing the quality of life.
Hugo Manassei, Graduate Pioneer Director, said the initiative was about providing new opportunities for creative industries graduates.
Art and design courses mostly focus on developing individual creativity but the creative industries simply cannot employ all creative graduates, he said.
`We believe a new approach to this `lost` creativity is clearly needed. We’re asking designers to solve this problem themselves, by applying design in new ways.