A NEW series of fun and inclusive creative events will be hosted at exclusive locations across the city centre – thanks to the launch of Manchester Young Professionals’ (MYP) Creative-Link platform.
The aim of Creative-Link is to bring working professionals in their 20s and 30s together to socialise, learn new skills and express their creativity in ways they may otherwise not get the chance. It will hold events alongside expert-led creative talks to bring the newly-formed community together.
MYP is an inclusive and accessible network for progressive, like-minded professionals and was established in 2013 after its co-founders noticed a lack of opportunities to connect with peers outside of work. As it celebrates its tenth anniversary, MYP is proud to be branching out into its fourth offering – joining the existing social, health and wellbeing, and educational arms of the business which are well-established within Manchester.
Creative-Link events will vary and be led by established creatives in different industries – including everything from content creation workshops, to embroidery and painting sessions, and even dance classes.
Last week (March 13th) the first event, an embroidery workshop, was hosted at the newly-opened Gilt Club at Manchester’s luxurious Hotel Gotham. It saw a group of 25 people work with crochet and embroidery artist Loujane Eljabri, from Crafts by Loujane, to learn basic stitches and create their own bee decor inspired by one of Manchester’s best-known symbols.
Having grown substantially in recent years, MYP has a community of more than 25,000 professionals who work in the city, follow the network on social media, are signed up to mailing lists and have attended events, with 14,000 followers on Instagram.
Co-founder Rich Tyrrell said: “As MYP has evolved within Manchester, we wanted to build a fresh new platform for creatives, and those who want to explore their creative side, to network and learn new skills – no matter their profession.
“Our first event sold out and was a big success, and we’ve had some brilliant feedback, so we’re looking forward to putting on more for people to enjoy which will be ongoing.
“We’ll also be hosting quarterly educational talks from established creatives in the industry as part of Creative-Link, where the experts will be discussing their area of expertise – we’ve got some really exciting collaborations lined up which we can’t wait to share.
“We’re really proud to be able to offer in our tenth year such a wide range of experiences for young people across Manchester, which enrich their lives and help them to build friendships and connect with people.”
‘Sip and Paint’ is the next Creative-Link event and will take place at The Health Lab in Ancoats on April 19th. Tickets go on sale at the end of the month at £40 and the price includes nibbles, drinks, all painting materials and expert guidance on the night, from Paint Away Events.
£1 from each purchase through Fatsoma will go to the Princes Trust. Those interested should keep an eye on the Creative-Link Instagram page for their release. Tickets for future events will range from £15-£40 depending on the activity. Regular emails will also be sent to the new community with the latest news and updates from the creative space in the city.
MYP is well-known for its social events, including the regular Supper Club and Breakfast Club events which often include talks from speakers, at popular hotspots they partner with in the city, like Albert Schloss. But its health and wellbeing events have become the core of the network, with more than 350 held so far. With a running club that started during lockdown, MYP now has more than 800 people in the city on its Strava Run Club page.
The network’s popular mentoring scheme, which sits under educational events, opened in February for its fourth cohort which will run until December. It sees mentors from different industries pair up with mentees to offer them invaluable insights and guidance that will give them an edge in the world of work and beyond.
This year there are 70 pairings who have been matched during a robust process based on their personality types, fields of work and experiences.
Earlier this year, MYP announced workspace operator Colony as its official co-working partner for 2023, as the need for creative and community-driven spaces to work from rises.
MYP will run monthly co-working days from Colony spaces across the city which include phone booths, co-working lounges, social kitchens, meeting rooms and floating and permanent desk spaces for individuals and businesses.
To keep up-to-date with the latest news and events, please visit the MYP Instagram page.
