Discover! Creative Careers Scotland launches its flagship week of activity today, offering young people across the country the chance to explore the breadth of roles available in the creative industries through a series of in-school, workplace, and online experiences.
Running from 10–14 November 2025, the week forms part of a wider programme of events taking place across Scotland from September 2025 to March 2026, designed to inspire the next generation of creative professionals.
Discover! Creative Careers is a government funded, industry-led programme that is working to ensure there is a larger and more diverse intake of talent via a broader range of routes into the creative industries.
The free to access hybrid programme of activities and resources offers meaningful encounters with industry professionals, online tools, training and support throughout the year.
Its annual flagship Discover! Creative Careers event takes place every November, connecting thousands of young people with hundreds of workplaces to give hands-on insight into the creative industries.
An early event took place at Newbattle High School in Midlothian at the end of last week, where students were joined by Into Film AmbassadorFraser Johnston. A former pupil of the school, Fraser returned to share insights into his career and introduce students to the exciting opportunities within the screen industry.
Fraser Johnston said: “Having Callum come and inspire the students was amazing. Not only did they get so much from the SFX demonstration, but they also learned that there are many pathways into the film and television industry.
“With the creative sector booming in Scotland, these are the exact talks and workshops we are needing in schools. Thank you for organising Into Film.”
Throughout the week, young people will have the opportunity to engage with professionals from across the creative sector, gaining valuable insights into careers in areas such as film, journalism, museums, and festivals.
A highlight of the week includes today’s DYW Live event (Tuesday 11 November) at 10:45, where students will hear directly from industry experts.
Discover!, also known as the Creative Careers Programme, was kick-started with funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 2018 and has been shaped and supported directly by creative businesses, institutions, trade bodies and individuals.
Since Discover! Creative Careers was relaunched in 2023, the programme has reached more than 62,000 young people via in-person and online activity and industry encounters.
The delivery of Discover! Creative Careers is led by ScreenSkills in partnership with over 25 organisations and through collaboration with industry, education and careers professionals.
This November, more than 8 million children and young people across the UK are taking part in Anti-Bullying Week 2025, running from 10 to 14 November.
Coordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), the campaign is supported by patrons Andy and the Odd Socks, and Rúben Dias, Manchester City and Portugal footballer.
This year’s theme, Power for Good, celebrates the ability we all have to stand up to bullying, spread kindness, and create safer environments for every child.
Anti-Bullying Week began with Odd Socks Day on Monday 10 November – a fun, inclusive day, led by the hugely popular Children’s TV Stars, Andy and the Odd Socks, where children and adults wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.
A national call for government action
The Anti-Bullying Alliance Advisory Group, made up of leading organisations working with children across the UK, is calling on government to take stronger national action. They are urging ministers to ensure that all schools and those working with young people receive the skills, training, and support they need to:
Identify bullying early
Respond effectively and sensitively
Build inclusive cultures that prevent bullying before it starts, especially those most at risk.
The group emphasises that bullying prevention must be seen as a core part of safeguarding children and an essential part of promoting wellbeing and equal opportunities.
A week of celebration and action
Anti-Bullying Week will include:
Odd Socks Day, encouraging individuality and kindness with a new toe tapping song from Andy and the Odd Socks
A Parliamentary event on Wednesday 12 November bringing together MPs, Lords, ABA patrons, and young people to discuss solutions.
The Anti-Bullying School Staff Awards, honouring staff who go above and beyond to support children.
Free school resources for schools to embed anti-bullying messages into school life.
Campaign activity in thousands of schools, youth settings, and homes nationwide, including events led by Young ABA, the Alliance’s youth activist group.
Bullying still affects more than one in five children every year
Despite progress, more than one in five children and young people experience bullying each year. The impact can be devastating, affecting their mental health, confidence, and ability to thrive at school, with the effects often lasting into adulthood.
Rúben Dias, Patron of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said: “Growing up I saw abuse, exclusion and damage being caused.
“That is why being part of Anti-Bullying week matters to me. I want young people to stand up against it and help each other to be better.”
Andy Day, Andy and the Odd Socks, said: “Music and laughter can open doors to real conversations. By having fun, like Odd Socks Day, we can show that our differences are our gifts, not something to hide.
“For me, Anti-Bullying Week is more than a campaign, it’s a reminder that every child deserves to be seen, heard and safe. When I visit schools, I’m always moved by the way children come together to support each other. You can really see the Power for Good young people have when they stand up for one another.”
CHILDLINE:
In 2024/25, Childline delivered 291 counselling sessions to young people in Scotland where their main concern was bullying – an average of 24 sessions per month.
When contacting Childline about online bullying, young people are telling the service that they’re seeing nasty or hurtful posts about themselves, that bullying is taking place in group chats, that they’re facing peer pressure, and they’re experiencing stalking or harassment.
When contacting Childline about other types of bullying, young people say they’re receiving verbal and/or physical bullying, being bullied about being different, being left out or excluded and being part of rumours or gossip.
Lauren Burke, Childline manager in Glasgow, said: “Bullying doesn’t always look the same – it can happen at school, at home, or through screens. But no matter the form, its impact can stay with young people for years, even into adulthood.
“Every day, Childline hears from children across Scotland who are being bullied. Anti-Bullying Week gives us a vital moment to stand together, shine a light on the issue, and show young people they’re not alone. It’s about raising awareness and making sure bullying is challenged wherever it shows up.
“Silence allows bullying to grow. By speaking up and standing beside those affected, we can help keep children safe. Childline is here around the clock – online and by phone – with trained counsellors ready to listen and support any young person, no matter what they’re going through.”
Martha Boateng, Director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said:“With so many children turning to Childline for support, it’s clear that bullying continues to have a profound impact on young lives.
“We all have a responsibility to act, from parents and teachers to the government. This Anti-Bullying Week, we’re calling on every adult to use their power for good and help create a society where all children feel safe, respected and included.”
Rachel Talbot, 18, NSPCC Lived Experience Advocate, who grew up in Angus, said: “From the age of three, I was bullied at school — in the classroom, in the playground, and later online.
“It was relentless. I became withdrawn and anxious, and I kept waiting for someone at school to notice and act. But no one did. That silence made me feel like I didn’t matter.
“The bullying continued into secondary school, even after I moved catchment areas. I remember taking part in Odd Sock Day to celebrate difference and being bullied for that too. It only stopped when I left school. Therapy helped me rebuild my confidence and develop ways to cope, but the impact stayed with me for a long time.
“Speaking out has been a turning point. Through the NSPCC, I’ve shared my story publicly to help improve support systems for young people. I want children to know they’re not alone – and that change is possible. Childline is always there, with trained counsellors ready to listen and support anyone who feels unheard.”
Supportive mother comforting sad teenage girl rejected by friends, helping depressed teen daughter to deal with breakup. Upset depressed adolescent child looking at phone at home, waiting for call
Advice for parents
Talk to Your Child: It’s important to choose the right time to talk to your child. When you do, try to stay calm, as they may be feeling scared or embarrassed. You can also let them know who they can turn to for help if they would rather speak to another adult.
Help Them Relax: Bullying can cause children to lose confidence. Encourage them to engage in activities that make them feel good, such as listening to music, playing games, participating in sports, or joining clubs and classes.
Arrange a Meeting: It is helpful to request a copy of the school’s or club’s anti-bullying policy. Additionally, take notes on what is discussed. This meeting is a good opportunity to ask about the actions the school plans to take and to ensure that you are satisfied with their response.
Report Bullying: In addition to providing emotional support for your child, review their internet privacy settings to ensure they are secure and up to date. Make sure your child knows how to block accounts and report anyone who is bullying them to the relevant platform. Further advice on this can be found on the NSPCC’s online safety hub.
If your child has bullied someone, you may feel a mix of anger and disappointment. However, it’s important to help your child understand what bullying behaviour is:
Explain Bullying: Talk to your child about the impact of bullying on others. Make sure they understand that such behaviour is unacceptable. Children don’t always realise that their actions are bullying and how much it can hurt someone else.
Encourage Empathy: Help your child recognise the feelings of the person they have bullied. Ask them how they think the other child is feeling and encourage them to recall a time when someone was unkind to them. This can help them develop empathy for others.
Decide Next Steps: Discuss what actions you will take next, such as informing their school, and let your child know what you expect from them moving forward. Encourage them to ask questions about why it’s important to change their behaviour.
Monitor Your Child: Keep an eye on your child’s behaviour and maintain ongoing conversations about how they treat others. Praise them when they demonstrate positive behaviour but also reinforce your expectations when necessary.
More information and advice can be found on the NSPCC’s website for adults helping their child with bullying.
Advice for children
Report and Block Individuals: You can report bullying on social media platforms. It’s good to make the report yourself, as this increases the likelihood that the content will be removed.
Keep Evidence: Maintain a record of incidents, noting what happened and when. It’s also helpful to take screenshots of any online messages.
Tell Someone: It’s important to talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent or teacher, and share the evidence of the bullying. If the bullying is occurring at your school, they have a responsibility to support you.
Practice Assertiveness: Being assertive means standing up for yourself in a calm and confident manner, without being aggressive. This can help you feel more empowered and in control when facing bullying.
Take a Break from Messages: It’s natural to want to see what others are saying when you’re being bullied. However, stepping away from your phone or device for a few minutes can help you feel calmer and more at ease.
More information on Childline’s advice to young people on dealing with bullying can be found here.
A sad girl intimidation moment Elementary Age Bullying in Schoolyard
Snapshots from Childline counselling sessions
“I feel isolated and I’m tired of being bullied. The boy I have a crush on shared our messages with everyone in our class after I expressed my feelings for him.
“Now everyone’s making fun of me for being gay; they blocked me and kicked me out of group chats. I feel so betrayed.” – Boy, 13, Scotland
“The past few weeks I have realised that I’ve become a target of bullying, both physically and verbally. I spoke to my counsellor about it but I’m really nervous that my bullies are going to hurt me for speaking up.
“They are known to do things like this and the last person to tell someone about their behaviour got a fair beating from them and I’m worried I’m next.” – Girl, 13, Scotland
Government reports the urgent need for more Work Experience opportunities
Reports also indicate that those from privileged backgrounds are 2.5 times more likely to build a career in creative occupations than their working-class peers.
Discover! Creative Careers (DCC) aims to reach 10,000 young people across Scotland in its new partnership with Into Film Scotland.
28 Years Later screening & Talk with Drone Operator, Robbie Jones (Edinburgh + Glasgow)
Grow screening & Q&A with Director John McPhail + Actor Sanjeev Kohli (Falkirk)
Game Design workshop with DYW Live & Skills Development Scotland
Discover Creative Careers Week Scotland runs from 10 to 14 November to coincide with Scottish Careers Week.
Into Film Scotland, part of Into Film the UK’s leading charity for film in education and the community, have announced a series of upcoming events as part of Discover! Creative Careers Week Scotland taking place from 10 to 14 November to coincide with Scottish Careers Week.
This announcement comes as recent reports from Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Career Development Institute indicate an urgent need for more Work Experience opportunities for young people and that those form privileged backgrounds are 2.5 times more likely to build a career in creative occupations than their working-class peers.
Upcoming events include Creative Catalyst at Perth Creative Exchange on Thursday 13th November. The session will be an opportunity to explore and experiment with expressive mark-making, materials and processes. This is for young people based in Perth and Kinross, developing their art portfolio to apply to further or higher education or with an interest in a creative career.
There will also be screenings in Edinburgh and Glasgow of recent hits 28 Years Later followed by a talk from the film’s Drone Operator Robbie Jones as well as a screening in Falkirk of new Scottish film Grow with Q&A fromDirector John McPhail & Actor Sanjeev Kohli. The programme of events across the week also includes a Game Design workshop from DYW Live & Skills Development Scotland which is one of DCC’s year-round activities.
Into Film will also run a special online webinar for parents and carers during Discover! Creative Careers Week in collaboration with Developing the Young Workforce and delivered during Skills Development Scotland’s Scottish Careers Week.
New opportunities are being added weekly, future offers to include games, museums and galleries, animation, fashion and textiles, heritage, film and tv, libraries and archives, visual art, and music.
Employers in the creative industries in Scotland can register their interest to participate in the programme here. Schools and educators can find out more and access the main Teacher and Careers Leaders hub here.
REPORTS FINDINGS
A paper on Work Based Learning the Career Development Institute highlighted the importance of events such as these providing practical, in-person experience.
For reference, this importance was also emphasised in the Gatsby Good Career Guidance (used in other UK nations but not Scotland), which includes in its framework that ‘by the age of 16, every pupil should have had meaningful experiences of workplaces’ and also points out that ‘these encounters could be in person or a combination of in-person and virtual, where appropriate.’
Therefore, although virtual opportunities are one way for pupils to gain experience, these should be part of a mix of methods that should include in-person experiences too.
Research from by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport after the Covid-19 pandemic (conducted in 2022 and updated in 2025) [2] alsofound that employers from the creative industries are more likely to cite ‘lack of work experience the company demands’ as a reason for their difficulties in filling hard-to-fill roles – 18.6% vs. 12.6% for overall employers.
They also found that employers cited that ‘applicants lack the required skills’ as their top reason – 44.5% vs. 31.1% for overall employers.
This paints a worrying picture of the skills and experience gaps for the creative industries. The paper also highlights that those from privileged backgrounds are 2.5 times more likely to end up in creative occupations than their working-class peers.
In a recent State of the Nations research report by Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre and produced by Work Advance, on the skills mismatch in the creative industries, findings included structural issues in the mismatch between the skills that people currently have and what the industry needs and how best to take them through education and training.
The report concludes that 65% of ‘hard-to-fill’ vacancies in the creative industries are attributable to skills shortages, compared with just 41% of ‘hard-to-fill’ vacancies across all sectors.
Skills shortages are most pronounced for higher-skilled roles, with 78% of creative industries employers experiencing such deficiencies (in the three highest occupations), compared with 31% across all industries.
Creative industries employers are more likely to report having to delay developing new products or services because of the skills shortages they face.
Skills gaps caused by the introduction of new technology (including but not limited to AI) and the development of new products and services are a particular challenge for creative businesses.
The report talks about the need to ensure that young people develop the skills they need to fill these roles and that these skills need to be agile and flexible to enable flourishing in multiple roles or parts of the sector (and outside of it). They are also informed by the reality of the nature of the sector and opportunity differences based on geography.
The report also discusses the need to increase diversity the sector and recognise the need to broaden out access and opportunities for young people, regardless of their background. The report highlights that if this is not addressed, the socio-economic diversity gap will only worsen and there will be even fewer stories made by people who we need to hear from.
In September after a competitive tender process, Into Film was awarded the contract to implement the Discover! Creative Careers programme in Scotland across 2025 – 2026. Working in partnership with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), Discover! Creative Careers in Scotland has an ambition to reach at least 10,000 young people across 2025-2026.
Into Film Scotland is part of Into Film, the UK’s leading charity for film in education and the community. They provide screen industry careers information and advice, support young filmmakers, and bring the power of moving image storytelling into classroom teaching and youth provision across Scotland.
Clare Gibson, Discover Creative Careers Lead, Scotland has said: “We are thrilled to be launching this year’s programme for Discover! Creative Careers Scotland, for the week of the 10-14 November and beyond.
“The creative industry in Scotland is an exciting and interesting sector to work in, and we are delighted that we can work with employers and partners to offer a range of activities and events that can support young people to consider a career in the creative industries.
“We have new opportunities being added weekly; and you can expect to see future offers to include games, museums and galleries, animation, fashion and textiles, heritage, film and tv, libraries and archives, visual art, and music.
“Discover! Creative Careers Week Scotland is just the beginning, – the programme is running until March 2026, and there is much more to come!”
To keep up to date with all things Discover! In Scotland, you can visit the website to register your interest and search the opportunity finder for activity in Scotland:
