The Leeds Conservatoire Employability & Enterprise team is here to support students and recent graduates in developing their creative ideas into real-world projects.
Whether you’re releasing an EP, touring a show, starting a business or exploring something new, we can offer guidance every step of the way. You can book one-to-one sessions with our team and visiting industry guests to talk through your ideas.
We also run a free short course designed to help you refine your ideas and build a clear plan. At the end of the course, you’ll have the chance to present your project to a panel of industry professionals and, as an added bonus, apply for up to £500 of funding. The course also helps strengthen applications for other external opportunities, such as Arts Council funding.
If you'd like to know more, please email us at [email protected] or book a slot at one of our weekly Wednesday drop-in sessions. We're happy to listen to your project ideas, business plans, or general career goals.
The Incubator Fund
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Up to £500 per applicant
£2,000 available per funding window (split across successful applicants).
There are three application windows each academic year:
Round 1
Application window 03/10/25 - 03/11/25
Panel date 19/11/25
Successful Applicants informed 26/11/25
Round 2
Application window 30/01/26 - 02/03/26
Panel date 17/03/26
Successful Applicants informed 24/03/26
Round 3
Application window 18/05/26 - 15/06/26
Panel date 24/06/26
Successful Applicants informed 01/07/26
This support is open to current Leeds Conservatoire students and recent Leeds Conservatoire graduates (up to 2 years after graduation).
Here are some examples of what we may be able to fund:
- Prototype Development/R&D
- Photo/Video Production
- PR & Marketing Campaigns
- Specialised Business Advice
- Studio Time
- Logo/Branding
- Mentoring (in-person or online)
- Other reasonable, creative ideas (just ask!)
This list is a guide. Each idea will be reviewed and supported based on its merits, professional impact, and creative value.
What We Usually Don’t Fund
We still welcome conversations around these – we may be able to suggest alternative support:
- Retrospective activity (things you’ve already paid for or completed)
- Musical equipment/software purchases
- Activities directly funding people outside Leeds Conservatoire (beyond collaborators)
- Audition fees (including for further study)
- Tuition/course fees (short courses or postgraduate study)
- Conferences or seminars
- Projects that are directly assessed as part of your course
How It Works
- Submit a Business or Artist Plan
This can be a written application or a video submission. It follows a basic business plan structure. You can create your own or use the template we provide on our short course.
We recommend you complete our free online short course, which walks you through the application process and helps you build a strong business plan section by section.
Once your plan is complete you should email it to [email protected] during the specified application window. - Present to the Panel
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their idea in person to a small panel on a set date. You’ll receive feedback whether successful or not. - Get Support Along the Way
Drop in on Wednesdays for one-to-one support.
NOTE: Our Wednesday sessions are open to everyone, not just those applying for funding. Whether you're thinking about your career, exploring an idea, or pulling together a plan that doesn’t need funding, we’re here to help. We can also connect you with industry mentors if that would support your next steps.
Who’s on the Panel?
- Members of Leeds Conservatoire staff
- An external industry representative from the music sector
- An external industry representative from the theatre sector
(Both are established partners of Leeds Conservatoire)
If you have any questions or want to talk through an idea, contact us at: [email protected] or find us in Room 401
