Tell it like it is : education and employer engagement, freelance and self-employment

Calls for employer engagement within education are nothing new; the clarion call has gone out for over a century fuelled by complaints from employers concerning the lack of preparedness of young people for entering the labour market. This chapter argues that the creative and cultural sector is a rich source of evidence and expertise, often providing role models to which young people can relate, and reflecting the realities of much of the modern labour market. It makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. The chapter draws on data from a group of workers predominantly located within the music, performing and visual arts sub-sector of the creative industries to examine the range of skills developed. In contrast to the organisation of the school curriculum, particularly since the introduction of the post-2010 curriculum reforms, those working in the creative and cultural sector are required to work across boundaries, not in subject silos