Bridging the gap between education and the creative industry by connecting Yorkshire’s young creatives with Leaders and opportunity.

The Yorkshire Creative Seminar is more than a seminar, it is a chance to see what your future in the creative industries could actually look like.

Taking place on Wednesday 18 November 2026, from 10:00am–1:30pm at Federation of Sport, Hull, the Yorkshire Creative Seminar brings together young creatives and industry professionals from across Yorkshire for honest conversations, career insight, networking and inspiration.

The seminar was created to help bridge the gap between education, growing creatives and the real creative industry. Many students and young professionals have the talent and passion, but may not know what happens after college, freelancing, what careers are available, how to enter the industry, how to build a professional reputation, or who they need to meet along the way.

This is an opportunity to hear directly from people who are already doing it.

🎤 Meet People Working in the Industry

Our growing panel brings together professionals across a wide range of creative sectors, including:

Meg M— Digital & Marketing

Laurence Ellis — Creative Director, Media & Photography

Ellisha Clapham — Founder of E.S Collective, PR & Personal Branding

Gillian Long — Cock of the Walk Bespoke Tailors, Fashion & Tailoring

Dr Charlotte Garbutt — transformEd Styling, Fashion & Styling

Tendai Murairwa — Fashion & Creative Industries

Lexi Jo — Modelling & Fashion

Paige Daniel — The HEY Wellbeing Collective, Wellbeing

Jack — Hull & East Yorkshire Mind, Mental Health

Tiny Rock Studios — Media, Photography & Videography

Kemi Violin / Just Olukemi Music — Music, Theatre & Arts

MAC — Co-owner of SEBU Restaurant, Hospitality & Entrepreneurship

And more speakers are being confirmed.

Rather than hearing only from one area of the industry, students will experience different perspectives from people working across fashion, marketing, media, photography, PR, personal branding, modelling, hair, beauty, music, theatre, hospitality, wellbeing and entrepreneurship.

🚀 What Could Your Future Look Like?

The conversations will go beyond “follow your dreams.”

Students and Young entreprenuers will hear about the real things that can influence a creative career:

How do you get your first opportunity?

How do you build a portfolio when you don't have much experience?

How do you make yourself stand out when applying for opportunities?

How important are networking and relationships?

Can you build a creative career in Yorkshire?

What happens when you face rejection or don't feel confident enough?

How can social media become a professional tool rather than just entertainment?

How do creative skills become a business?

What do employers and industry professionals actually expect from young people?

These are the conversations students and young entreprenuers need before they leave education and enter the world of work.

💡 Learn From Real Experiences

The panel will give students the opportunity to hear honest experiences, lessons and advice from professionals who have built careers and businesses within the creative economy.

Students and Young entreprenuers will gain insight into:

Career pathways they may not have considered

Professional expectations

Building confidence and professional identity

Personal branding and social media

Portfolios and showcasing creative work

Networking and making meaningful connections

Entrepreneurship and turning skills into opportunities

Working across different creative disciplines

Mental health, pressure and wellbeing

Building opportunities within Yorkshire

🤝 Make Connections

The seminar is also about who you meet.

Students will have opportunities to connect with industry professionals, other creative students and organisations working within the region.

A conversation at an event like this could lead to a future collaboration, work experience opportunity, mentor, referral, project, placement or simply the confidence to approach an opportunity that previously felt out of reach.

🎮 Experience More Than a Seminar

Alongside the industry programme, students will also have access to an interactive gaming and leisure experience, including F1/driving simulators, golf simulators, interactive darts, esports, PS5/console gaming, VR, pool, table tennis and table football.

Food and refreshments are also included within the ticket options.

🌱 The Bigger Picture

The Yorkshire Creative Seminar is the first step in a much bigger HEYFW vision.

We are working towards a year-round creative pipeline that connects:

Education → Industry Exposure → Practical Development → Live Experience → Opportunities → Progression

The ambition is to help young people move from simply studying a creative subject to understanding how they can actually build a future from it.

The seminar will also lead into future HEYFW initiatives, including practical workshops, industry engagement, opportunities to participate in Hull & Eas

Description supplied by the event organiser.