Craft Your Future

Our award–winning Business Incubation Team has developed a brand–new workshop programme especially for makers who are exploring whether to turn their creativity into a career or solo business.

Through 8 sessions based around expert guidance, real-world case studies, and practical exercises, you’ll gain clarity, confidence, and the tools you need to take the next step on your journey as a maker — whether that’s launching your own business or refining your creative direction.

Based on over a decade of nurturing individual makers toward readiness for a studio space at Cockpit, Craft Your Future brings together everything you need to consider in order to understand your readiness as a business or freelancer, life as a maker, creative and craft development, building a network, and registering your business, as well as working out what to charge for your work. 

Coming Soon: Craft Your Future will launch in January 2026

This programme is perfect for aspiring professional makers who want to explore their options, understand what is needed to launch a successful business, and develop their creative practice.

Craft Your Future is for you if: 

• You have aspirations to work as a maker professionally and/or to be self-employed, as well as an interest in learning the skills to do so  

• You have often considered whether you want to start a business or a freelance career working for other makers  

• You’re still learning and refining your craft skills and creativity (outside of or beyond formal education) or you have been working for other makers and are just starting to develop your own signature work  

• You haven’t yet registered as a sole trader, don’t know what this means, or have done so and are wondering whether it was too soon!  

• You’d like to know more about what it takes to be a maker full-time and if this direction is right for you 

• You have tried knocking on some doors, but none are opening (yet)

For organisations looking to commission a bespoke workshop package in alignment with the needs of your members and budget, please email our Head of Business Incubation David Crump to learn more or schedule a call.