Freelance and business support
Are you interested in working for yourself? Do you have an idea for a creative business?
Our enterprise team can support you with many aspects of setting up and running a successful business or freelance practice.
We provide:
- Online business resources and events
- Enterprise one-to-ones
- Opportunities to showcase and sell your work
- Funding and awards
- Guidance on how to protect your intellectual property (IP).
Take a look at the resources on this page or email enterprise@arts.ac.uk with your questions or to request a one-to-one.
Support and funding
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Alys Tomlinson,
BA (Hons) Creative Direction for Fashion, London College of Fashion, UAL |Enterprise Experience Programme
The Enterprise Experience Programme allows you to gain some hands-on work experience with a business started by UAL Alumni.
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Rochelle Saunders, MA Arts and Cultural Enterprise, CSM. Photo by Alys Tomlinson
Pitch It
Do you have an idea for an enterprising creative project but need funding? UAL’s start-up funding will provide: a platform to pitch your idea, get feedback from industry experts, get start-up funds, and/or support through mentoring and training in your first steps.
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Creative Business Accelerator
The Creative Business Accelerator is a programme of business development tailored to support the needs of UAL graduates.
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Credit Illustration by Gracie Dahl
Join our Founders and Freelancers network
Work for yourself or want to in the future? Sign up to be part of our Founders and Freelancers group on The Dots!
Business resources
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Archive Research by Damilola Ayo-Vaughan. Photo Alys Tomlinson.
How to be self-employed
We explain the terminology and things to consider when planning and launching your own business.
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Daisy Hristova studying in the Library © Alys Tomlinson
How to work as a freelancer
Read our guidance on how to launch and maintain a successful freelance career.
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Photo by Unai Mateo
How to pitch
Read our tips to help you to feel confident and ensure your pitch presentation has impact.
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Image courtesy of UAL
Self-promotion and marketing
Get advice on self-promotion and marketing yourself as a creative professional.
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Selection of products from not just a shop. Photo Yeshen Venema.
How to price your work
Read our step-by-step guide to make sure you're charging the right price for your products.
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Image by Alys Tomlinson
How to manage your IP
Read our tips and advice on how best to manage and benefit from the value of your intellectual property (IP).
Exhibit and sell your work
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not just a shop. Photo by Damian Griffiths.
not just a shop
If you're a student or graduate from UAL you can apply to sell your work in not just a shop through our open calls.
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Photo of designer Michelle Njeri Small talking to buyers at Top Drawer 2019.
Top Drawer trade show
Every year, UAL presents a stand of emerging student and graduate businesses at leading gift trade show, Top Drawer.
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Photo by Damian Griffiths
Exhibitions and trade shows
Find out how to choose the right opportunities and make the most from being at exhibitions and trade shows.
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Made In Arts Londone exhibition at Free Range
Made in Arts London
Made in Arts London is the Students' Union's selling platform. Current students can submit work to be considered for sale.
Enterprise events
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Student Career One-to-Ones
Join us to explore how we can support you to make a living doing what you love.
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Graduate career one-to-ones
Book a 20 minute appointment to discuss your next steps in your professional practice
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Career Wellbeing One-to-Ones
This drop in one-to-one service is exclusively for current UAL BA, Graduate Diploma, MA, and PhD students.
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CSM Career Support One-to-Ones
Join us in person to talk about ways we can support you to make a living doing what you love