Alternative Pathways In Creative Careers

It is that time of year when thousands of nervous teenagers across the nation await their GCSE and A Level results, taking another step closer to setting out on their career. The world of work has changed significantly over the past 18 months though, and the range of options available through further education are by no mean limited to just university.

Whatever results you get, it’s important to remember there are always opportunities for you. A university degree might demonstrate a certain level of academic ability, but if you want to follow a creative path then dedicated vocational courses are more valuable.

In this post we’ll highlight some of the opportunities available via The Iver Makeup Academy for those seeking a pathway to a career in the creative industries of Film, TV, Theatre and Fashion.

Finding the right course for you

When you move on from school or College, it can be an intimidating thing to start choosing what career you want to get into and how you want to do it. Fortunately, The Iver Academy offers a range of courses which cater for everyone.

From two-day taster courses to our 30-week Advanced Certificate, we’ll give you an inspirational introduction into a fascinating, fast-paced, creative industry. Below you can find out more about some of our specific options:

Two-day Taster Hair & Makeup Course

Our two-day course offers the opportunity for beginners to gain an understanding of how professional hair and makeup artists work behind the scenes. Our award-winning tutors will cover basic key areas such as simple character and SFX techniques. This is a great way to spark a passion for the industry!

SFX Summer School for 14–17-year-olds

If you’re coming to the end of school or College and you’re not sure of what you want to do, why not get involved in our SFX Summer School? This three-day course based at the world-famous Pinewood Studios will see you work with our award-winning tutors, learning how to create cuts, burns, scars and lots of other awesome techniques!

Fashion and Beauty Makeup Course

Are you dreaming of a career involved in the glamour of the catwalk and magazine photo shoots? Our six-week Fashion and Beauty Makeup Course is the perfect route into this side of the industry. You can experience all the key techniques for fashion makeup and for media presenters, and the course culminates in a two-day photo with models and high-res images you can use for your portfolio.

Media Makeup and Hair Course

Today’s media industry offers thrilling opportunities, and this course is the perfect way in. Throughout three weeks you’ll learn all the key makeup and hair techniques to work on media presenters in TV, film and events – you don’t need any previous experience, you just need to be over 18 with a passion to learn and a level of artistic ability!

Certificates in Makeup and Hair Artistry – Foundation, Intermediate or Advanced

Our certificates in Makeup and Hair Artistry range from the 14-week Foundation, to the 21-week Intermediate, through to the 30-week Advanced courses. All of these options give an unrivalled insight and comprehensive training across all the key aspects of makeup, hair and prosthetics. Our graduates are sought-after in the industry as many of them complete these courses which provide the all-round skills required to be successful in whatever area of the industry you choose.

Funding your creative course

We know that not everyone can afford to pay fully for their further education. So, once you have decided which course suits you and your aspirations in the industry, we offer a range of options to help candidates through to the career of their dreams.

The Iver Makeup Academy is the only Academy in the UK whose students have been awarded multiple BAFTA Scholarships, which offers a bursary up to a maximum of £10,000 for students offered a place on our Advanced Certificate Course. Each BAFTA Scholar receives up to £10,000 towards their course fees, plus mentoring support from a BAFTA member, and free access to BAFTA events in the UK.

The Iver Academy is also the only academy of its type to be accredited by ScreenSkills, which means our students are able to apply for a ScreenSkills Bursary. These bursaries are a cash grant which is designed to remove some of the barriers to progressing into the screen industries, such as paying for training or other associated costs.

In addition to the above, we have our own IMA Bursary programme. This is awarded annually to a student completing the Advanced Certificate Course and equates to up to 80% of the full course fee. The Bursary is open to any British citizen with three years’ proven interest in at least one of; Art, Design, Beauty, or Hairdressing.

Career Opportunities

The Iver Academy prides itself on the pathway it offers to its graduates straight into the industries of Film, TV, Theatre and Fashion. We have a unique advantage over other academies in that our graduates move straight from the Academy onto a partner agency, whereby they added to an artist directory which some of the biggest production companies in the industry recruit from.

Iver and its graduates have an extremely strong reputation within the industry. Our students don’t just learn the practical skills; they are trained in industry etiquette, continuity and script breakdown, and how to work to a brief. All of this combines for adaptable, professional makeup artists who can work on any project.

Our graduates have gone on to take part in a hugely diverse range of projects, including a number of modern classics in both Film and TV. We’ve had graduates who are part of Oscar-winning makeup teams on films like the Darkest Hour, and BAFTA-winning series like Peaky Blinders and The Crown.

For more information on the careers our graduates have embarked on since studying with us, check out our student success stories!

If you’re interested in a career in the screen industries, The Iver Makeup Academy is the place to be. For more information, feel free to contact us.