FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: THE FACTORY ACADEMY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: THE FACTORY ACADEMY

Since 2018, The Factory Academy has been a bridge between the people and the creative scene of Greater Manchester. Over the years we've seen most of our alumni access better career opportunities, and we've even welcomed 30 of them into team MIF across full time roles, internships and Festival performers. We’re proud that our courses support students with better access to jobs, but we’re even more proud of our students completing their training with better self-confidence!

Here are some frequently asked questions about The Factory Academy:

Q. Who is The Factory Academy for? 

A. The Factory Academy is for anyone in Greater Manchester who is aged 19+ and currently unemployed, looking to start a new career in the creative industries. No qualifications are needed – in fact, we actively encourage applications from people who don’t have a degree in higher education or professional experience.

Q. Is there an enrolment fee?

A. There is no enrolment fee! All our courses are absolutely free. They are fully funded by The Factory Academy, and students will receive a bursary to cover food and transport whilst studying.

Q. How long are the courses? 

A. The courses vary in length. Currently open for registration, our Training Academies run for 3 weeks, while Managing Creative Projects runs for 6 weeks. We also provide industry focussed programmes (more on this coming soon!), which tend to run for 8 weeks.

Q. What happens at the end of each course? 

A. Every Training Academy is linked to a paid opportunity after completion - you are guaranteed an interview with a Manchester-based partner organisation. Our previous partners include HOME, Hey! Manchester, SICK! Festival, and of course MIF. Many of our students have even gone on to join national and international organisations such as BBC & ITV. 

Managing Creative Projects does not offer a paid opportunity at the end. However, you can expect to leave with excellent project management skills as well as a project initiation guide, which will help you pitch ideas, access funding, and bring creative ideas to life. Many students experience career progression after this course, and we’d love to see this happen to you too!

With our industry focussed programmes (next one coming soon!), you’re offered a placement at one of our partner organisations. This is a great opportunity to connect with employers and to break into your industry of interest. We’ve also seen students take on more long-term positions after completing their placements.

Q. Who are the tutors/guest speakers? 

A. We’re passionate about helping people reach their full potential, regardless of where they come from. To do this, we introduce tutors and guest speakers that range from CEOs to entry-level professionals, providing a breadth of perspectives. We hope this will encourage you to think bigger and realise how close you are to your dream job.

We’re proud that our courses support students with better access to jobs, but we’re even more proud of our students completing their training with better self-confidence. Register now- can't wait to see you there!