Calling all talented creatives.

Boscombe non-profit community and coworking space TOSH (The Old School House) is on the hunt for the next wave of innovative creatives for its start up programme.

Pioneered by Carol Maund, Corrianna Clarke and experienced arts marketing director Laura Mulhern of Plan Make Do, TOSH is able to continue to run its six month programme thanks to support from BCP Council’s Bounce Back Challenge Fund.

Through monthly workshops, weekly meet-ups and 1-1 consultation, the scheme aims to nurture emerging creative businesses and freelancers in the area.

It not only offers guidance on business development and planning (which is additionally supported by the experts at Outset East Dorset) but there is also a strong focus on encouraging collaboration with, and connection to, the local creative community.

Previous programme participants came together to host a pop up market and workshops during local arts festival ‘BEAF’ this year, and several have since gone on to share a studio together.

Emily Coleman (Studio Zipcode), Katie Brookes (Katie Brookes Illustration) and Allie Kenward (Jazzy Eco Ears) – pictured left by Seans Visuals – now share a workspace on Wimborne Road in Winton, where they hope to begin running workshops of their own.

On the programme, Allie shared “I now have a much more clear and confident view of how I want my small business to exist in the world.”

With Emma Rowland of Kingland’s Pen Gallery in Poole taking part in the programme, many also became stockists of the community gallery shop when it launched earlier in the year.

Emma, pictured by Matt Trapp, said: “The programme really helped me build my confidence and meet people in the local area that have been so so helpful when building my business.

“I can’t imagine that Pen Gallery would be the same if I hadn’t met these amazing people and learnt some incredible skills from Laura.

“I still message Laura now and ask for tips and advice and I think we’ve built such a nice little community that I’m super jealous of anyone that gets to do it again!”

Applications are now open for the September-February cohort, and must be submitted by August 31.

More details about the Creative Start Up Programme and the application form can be found by clicking here.