Careers and placements
The Kickstart Programme
Support, guidance and events to help you develop your entrepreneurial ideas.
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Do you want to make a change in the world? Make an impact? Be in charge of your own future?
Artists, creators, educators, developers, advocators, researchers; anyone has the potential to turn an idea into an enterprise. Whatever stage you're at, The Kickstart Programme is a wide-ranging offer of support to help you develop your entrepreneurial ideas and turn them into viable enterprises. Starting a business, becoming self-employed, freelancing or having a side-hustle: enterprise can come in many forms.
We can help you to:
- Demystify the language around business start-up
- Recognise and develop your confidence and skills needed for self-employment
- Progress your ideas
- Access funding and support
Visit LaunchPad in Holgate or email kickstart@yorksj.ac.uk for more information.
What's on offer
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Support and opportunities
Find out about 1 to 1 support, mentoring, paid freelance work and start-up workshops.
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Funding
Learn about the Discover Fund and Launch Fund, available through The Kickstart Programme.
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Resources
Find out about the York St John Enterprise Centre and browse enterprise resources.
Matthew Hamilton Graduate, Games Development BSc
The business opened it doors in 2019 and is named Labrador Studios. We make indie video games for PC and consoles. Our first game Live by the Sword: Tactics is currently available in Early Access on Steam and has been purchased in 47 different countries.
Gill Jackson Graduate, Counselling Studies BA
Put yourself out there - people buy from people so let your potential customers get to know you and see you (I personally did this via social media). Write blogs and articles, post useful information on your website and YouTube and any platforms you use.
Eleanor Tomlinson Graduate, Illustration BA
York St John really did give me the support and confidence I needed to make some of those important early steps. The careers department, in particular, never made me doubt that I could achieve my ambitions.
Chris Healey Graduate, Media Production: Film and TV BA
I’ve found that being a freelancer is great for flexibility of your own time. You get to decide who you work with and have almost full creativity over the production process.
David Jackson Graduate, Interior Design BA
Go for it. You don’t need investment, you don’t need a stand-out idea, you just need to trust yourself. There is a lot of hard work, but the benefits outweigh the cons.
