Closing Date - Monday 23 February 2026, 9.00am

A career-defining opportunity for emerging creatives in Manchester to develop their practice with adidas and Factory International. Participants will receive masterclasses, mentorship, coaching, and a bursary.

If you're successful on the first recruitment day, you will be invited for a second interview on Thursday 12 March

Please feel free to contact us at originalscnn@factoryinternational.org if you require any further support in completing your application.

About the Programme

Factory International and adidas have teamed up once again to deliver the Originals Creator Network North, a six-month development opportunity for 20 young creatives (aged 18-30), living in Greater Manchester.

Participants will receive mentorship, coaching and masterclasses from industry and local leaders, alongside networking opportunities. The cohort will respond to a real creative brief working closely with industry professionals to develop a final showcase of work in the Warehouse at Aviva Studios. In addition to this, each member of the cohort will receive a £600 bursary.

This programme seeks to address underrepresentation in the creative industry, support young people with the skills to navigate working in the creative sector and develop valuable networks and relationships.

Eligibility Criteria

You’re eligible for this programme if you meet all the following criteria:

• Based in Manchester or Greater Manchester

• Aged 18-30, including those who turn 31 during the programme

• Not in full-time education

• Emerging photographers, videographers, designers, content creators, and stylists with under one year of paid experience.

• Be willing to experiment, push boundaries and work collaboratively

If you think you may be eligible but aren’t sure, please contact originalscnn@factoryinternational.org for further support

About the Application Process

There are three questions we’d like you to answer as part of the application process for the adidas Originals Creator Network North. These questions help us understand your creative practice, motivations for wanting to join the programme and what you might like to gain from this opportunity. For each answer, please write a maximum of 300 words.

Alternatively, you can upload a video answering the questions, using the link below.

There will be an online webinar on Wednesday 11 February from 6pm to 7pm where you can ask questions about the programme and recruitment process. To sign-up, please email originalscnn@factoryinternational.org

For any access requirements or additional support when applying, please contact originalscnn@factoryinternational.org