York St John University has partnered with award-winning arts and culture organisation Aesthetica to deliver the first Creative Business Skills Bootcamp.

This free training aims to offer the next generation of entrepreneurs a progression route into the creative industries.

It was delivered in partnership with Aesthetica, the Combined Authority and York Business School at York St John University.

The fully funded Creative Business Skills Bootcamp ran for 12 weeks, five hours per week over two evenings, supporting creatives to develop and launch their businesses.

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The programme covered key topics including: Branding, Marketing, Project Management, Developing Income Streams, Networking, Accountancy, Legal, HR, Sales, Negotiation, Business Planning, Scaling and Growth.

The cohort benefitted from worldclass speakers including: Pablo Ettinger (Founder Caffé Nero), Edward Twiddy (Founder Atom Bank), Helen Marriage (CEO Artichoke), Helena Jones (Ay-Pe), Cherie Federico (Aesthetica), Kit Monkman (Viridian FX) and more.

All attendees have now been offered 12 months rent-free space at the Enterprise Centre at York St John University to support that crucial first year. 

Cherie Federico, Director of Aesthetica said: “The idea for the Creative Business Skills Bootcamp was developed in response to Aesthetica celebrating its 20th anniversary. I wanted to take my experiences and look at how we can support, train and encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs in the creative industries, and how we can make York a centre for creative excellence. I am grateful for the opportunity and so proud of our first cohort. I hope this is the start of many more Bootcamps to come.”

Dr Brendan Paddison, Interim Dean of York Business School at York St John University, said: “Working with Aesthetica to deliver the Creative Business Skills Bootcamp has been transformational.

“The Bootcamp has enabled the next generation of entrepreneurs in the creative industries to bridge the gap between creativity and business acumen, equipping the cohort with the tools to turn their vision into a sustainable success, and unlocking new opportunities for innovation in the creative industries here in York and beyond.

“We look forward to working with Aesthetica to support and develop more programmes that drive change and further economic growth.”

Emma Rollason-Taylor, Manager of the Enterprise Centre at York St John University, said: “It’s been fantastic to work with colleagues across the Combined Authority, York Business School and Aesthetica to support these fledgling creative businesses.

“I have been amazed by the quality of the businesses and the amount that they have progressed in 12 short weeks and I am so excited to continue their support through the Enterprise Centre. This really is a testament that shows how collaboration can make a massive difference to start ups in our region.”

Those taking place in the bootcamp offered their praise.

A few words from the Creative Business Skills 2024 Cohort

Marzena Madziag said: “When I applied for this course, I didn’t have any specific expectations—especially since the course was funded. I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn something new, but I wasn’t expecting much beyond that. However, it turned out to exceed all my expectations in ways I didn’t anticipate. The master classes, in particular, were incredibly inspirational. They showed that with passion, determination, and persistence, we can achieve great things, both personally and professionally. The guest speakers and instructors shared real-world experiences that were not only insightful but also deeply motivating. They reminded me why I started my business in the first place and reignited the drive to push forward, even when things get tough.”

Wojciech Sukiennik said: “The Bootcamp has been an incredible experience. I’ve learned so much - from practical business skills to new ways of thinking, utilising AI in daily operations, how to speak to clients, how to look after my finances, and many other things that will really help the future of my business. One of the biggest takeaways for me was understanding how to balance creative side of things with the business side, something that’s not always easy when you focused on the day-to-day operations.”