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SharpFutures

Advancing next-gen talent

Work with us
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POD (People On Demand)

A conscious recruitment model

Find out more

SharpFutures is an advocate for diverse talent within the UK’s creative and digital sector. Through recruitment, education, training and industry partnerships, we help the next generation make their mark in the professional world and connect forward-thinking businesses to a new collective of skill and expertise.

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What we do

Who we work with

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Outline of a flower next to the text 'Manchester Metropolitan University'
Logo of CO-OPERATIVES UK in black and white.
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The logo for OURPASS, featuring a simple font with the word OUR in bold
The logo fo Buzz16, featuring the word BUZZ on top after the numbers 16 in black capital letters
Black background with a white rectangular logo containing the text 'MCDA' in stylized letters.
Logo with the text 'Beyond the Music', with the words written in black on a white background and the word music featuring a motion blur.
  • Panel discussion at a conference with nine people on stage, four women and five men, seated on stools with microphones, audience listening, large screen behind displaying 'Beyond The Music' and other text, posters on walls, dim lighting with spotlights

    Beyond The Band: Co‑op Live 2025

    Case study

    Supported by Oasis’ management and Ignition Records, this one‑day event gave 200+ young people a backstage look at the music business – featuring adidas Originals, BBC 6 Music, and Manchester City Council.

    Find out more
  • Group of diverse young adults sitting on wooden steps in a room with wooden-paneled walls, smiling at the camera.

    Channel 4: Content Creatives

    Case study

    A 16‑week paid training and placement programme co‑created with Channel 4’s 4Skills team. Participants received real‑world training and placements across Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire – launching creative careers that last. 

    Find out more
  • Women speaking at a meeting in a modern conference room with seated attendees, mostly women, listening attentively.

    MMU Rise: Creative Digital Experts

    Case study

    A three‑week live industry placement combining hands‑on training with real client projects. Students finished with new skills, professional portfolios, and a sharper sense of where they fit. 

    Find out more
  • A TV camera captures a group of people on a colorful TV show set with various props and decorations, including a large yellow character and a red background.

    New Bridge Academy: Creative Digital Placement

    Case study

    A 30‑week hands‑on experience inside The Sharp Project. Students worked with production teams, visited BBC sets, and saw what a creative career looks like up close. 

    Find out more

Industry and talent

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    Companies

    We provide innovative companies with skilled and diverse talent who are truly prepared for the real working world, ready to thrive and not just survive within the commercial sector.

  • A classroom with students seated at desks, facing a teacher and a large screen displaying a presentation.

    Students

    We dismantle disparity meaning our courses are designed for learners of all backgrounds. We shape young talent to allow their unique skills, ideas and alternative voices to be heard in industry.

Our approach

  • We believe learning should be accessible, flexible and rooted in real industry experience, not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our programmes focus on building relevant creative and digital skills that people can actually use to progress.

  • Through our conscious recruitment model, we champion fair, ethical and inclusive freelance opportunities. We connect diverse talent with industry while putting people, progression and wellbeing before profit.

  • As a social enterprise, community impact sits at the heart of everything we do. We’re committed to creating opportunities, supporting underrepresented talent and helping build a more inclusive creative industry for everyone.

Our offer

Custom learning programmes are at the core of SharpFutures but alongside this we also provide a range of creative services which include a recruitment platform (People On Demand), design studio and project curation.

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Learning programmes

Education: schools + colleges

Services include: school tours, workshops and bespoke informal learning packages.

Education: universities

Services include: bespoke informal learning packages.

Industry courses

Services include: bespoke informal learning packages in partnership with industry.

Creative services

POD – People On Demand

Services include: supporting creative businesses by providing a talent pool of people who can be booked to assist on projects, social media, admin and video production roles.

Projects

Services include: assisting organisations and local authorities to deliver international events and projects.

Studio

Services include: a content studio working with brands that want to connect with younger audiences.

Get in touch

For all enquiries please fill out the enquiry form and a member of our team will get back to you.

Or alternatively, please call or email us on the below:

0161 282 8380

enquiries@sharpfutures.org.uk