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INSPIRE young creatives at Beyond The Music, Greater Manchester

Beyond The Education.

A year-round programme connecting young people aged 16 to 25 from across Greater Manchester with the people, places and opportunities of the creative industries — live talks, one-to-ones, workshops and networking that support the next steps in a creative career.

What It Is
Practical Access

The aim of INSPIRE is to connect young people from across Greater Manchester with the people, places and opportunities of the creative industries — through live talks, one-to-ones, workshops and networking. It's practical access that supports career development past education, inspiring the next steps as creatives, freelancers, managers, promoters, or in the job roles we don't know about yet.

2026 Programme

The 2026 INSPIRE programme reflects the creative industries' latest developments and opportunities. Talks, workshops and interviews bring together individuals and organisations building the creative sector across the region, alongside people sharing their stories and advice on how to build a successful creative career.

There are organisations involved for the first time at Beyond The Music, alongside key partners from previous events including Co-op Live, Aviva Studios and Hallé St Peter's. Attendees also have access to the Beyond The Music Industry Trade Fair, alongside special events taking place across MediaCity.

Hosted By
University of Salford

Beyond The Music INSPIRE is hosted by the University of Salford.

INSPIRE's 2026 programme runs at the University of Salford's MediaCity campus, alongside the main conference programme at Media City Studios.

Who It's For
  • Young people

    Aged 16 to 25, from across Greater Manchester.

  • Educators & youth orgs

    Looking for live industry partners to plug into curriculum.

  • Industry partners

    Who want to support the next generation, not just hire from it.

In Partnership
SharpFutures

Delivered in partnership with SharpFutures.

SharpFutures is a Manchester social enterprise that supports young people into employment in the creative digital sector, through apprenticeships, work experience and volunteering. Their work helps make INSPIRE's practical access real, connecting young creatives with genuine routes into the industry.

Programme

Day by day

Times subject to change

Three days at the University of Salford's MediaCity campus. Open any day for the full running order.

Wednesday 7 October

Educators Meet The Industry

INSPIRE Networking

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  1. From 17:30
    INSPIRE Networking

    Brighter & Beyond: Educators Meet The Industry

    The first of a series of relationship-building events between the industry and educators, hosted by INSPIRE and Brighter Sound. Register here.

    Hosted by INSPIRE Brighter Sound

Thursday 8 October

Beyond The Education

University of Salford, MediaCity

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  1. 10:00
    Introduction

    Beyond The Education: Reasons To Be Cheerful

    Prof Kirsty Fairclough (Innovation Lead, SODA)

    Phill Howley (Head of Programmes, Brighter Sound)

    Dan Tsu (Creative Director, Youth Music)

    & more TBC

    A quick-fire introduction to this year's INSPIRE programme, and a chance to find out more about the developments and opportunities that make Greater Manchester such a key place to build a career in music and the wider creative industries.

  2. 10:40
    Talk

    Pathways to industry and stories from the journey

    Hosted by Katherine Emer Cantwell (Audience Development, Heavenly Recordings; Mentor, Arts Emergency and Launchpad+)

    Rivca Burns (Head of Music, Factory International)

    Santana Guerout (Artistic Director, Band on the Wall)

    Emily Grayston (Venue Manager, YES)

    Latoya Reisner (Creative Producer & Cultural Strategist)

    The venue eco-system across Greater Manchester is where audiences gather, artists develop and networks are built. Despite the challenges venues of all sizes face, they are still the key places to start building a career, from underground spaces to stadium venues, across a wide variety of job roles.

    The talk brings together Greater Manchester-based women developing their careers across the city’s key venues, sharing their experiences, how they got started, and what advice they have for the INSPIRE audience.

  3. 12:00
    Interview

    The Live Conversation

    Interviewed by Hannah Eakins (Production Futures)

    With Production Futures

  4. 15:00
    Talk

    There’s no one job: side hustles, portfolio careers and building your creative networks

    Hosted by Katherine Emer Cantwell (Audience Development, Heavenly Recordings; Mentor, Arts Emergency and Launchpad+)

    Paula K (Social Media Manager & Content Creator)

    Michelle Zenner (Radio host)

    Lisa Durrant (Founder and Copywriter, Just The Type)

    Keira Knox (Founder & Editor, Heard It Here First)

    There are very few full-time roles in the creative industries, especially starting out — but through side hustle culture, diversifying your skills and building your networks and experience, you can build a career that’s varied, exciting and sustainable. Hear what you can do to maximise your opportunities, deal with the challenges of resilience and maintaining your energy and passion, and keep creating career opportunities as you learn and grow.

  5. From 15:00
    Live Broadcast

    Unity Radio live broadcast with the NGY

    Unity Radio is an independent multi-platform station for an audience aged 15 to 40.

    With Unity Radio

Plus: INSPIRE attendees can check out the Beyond The Music Trade Fair, bringing together exhibitors from music, tech and innovation at Media City Studios.

Friday 9 October

Beyond The Education

University of Salford, MediaCity

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  1. 10:00
    Introduction

    Day one debrief, day two introduction

    An introduction to the day's INSPIRE activities, including tasks for the audience, plus updates from the wider conference and festival.

  2. 10:15
    Talk

    Show Me The Money: funding your creativity

    Adrian Steele (Relationship Manager, Music, Arts Council England)

    Dan Jones (PRS / PRS Foundation)

    Louis Strappazzon (UBI Network)

    & more TBC

    Greater Manchester has been building the infrastructure, organisations and places to make the region a key destination for a wide variety of creative industries — but what’s needed most is the people. Whether as entrepreneur, creative, promoter, business developer or one of a new wave of start-up ideas, this talk brings together key organisations who can talk about how to access funding and support to build your place in the music and wider creative industries.

  3. 11:00
    Workshop

    NOTION x INSPIRE Creative Review

    A practical, quickfire feedback session with the NOTION team for emerging artists and creatives. Bring something you’re currently working on — a press pitch, artist bio, campaign idea, piece of writing, photography, social content or music-related creative — and get direct feedback on how to sharpen it, position it and make it more effective.

    With Notion

  4. 11:30
    Talk

    Future Of Venues

    Hosted by Louis Burnay (Co-operatives UK)

    With Co-operatives UK

  5. 12:30
    Session

    Industry Connect Roundtables

    This session brings together the organisations that can support you with the skills, training and opportunities to build your career in Greater Manchester and beyond — a chance to talk one-to-one about what’s out there for you, on your doorstep, and expand your industry knowledge.

    With Production Futures

  6. 15:00
    Workshop

    Reform Radio DJ workshops & drop-in session

    Reform Radio will be on-site at INSPIRE to deliver an accessible DJ workshop, plus talk about the training and broadcast opportunities attendees can access. Pop by, play some music and find out more about how Reform Radio can support your creative career.

    With Reform Radio

Plus: INSPIRE attendees can check out the Beyond The Music Trade Fair, bringing together exhibitors from music, tech and innovation at Media City Studios.

2026 Partners
Recap — INSPIRE 2024
How To Get Involved

Three ways in

info@beyondthemusic.co.uk