Day One Trust
Day One Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust operating two state-funded creative vocational schools for 16–19 year olds—East London Arts & Music (ELAM) and London Screen Academy (LSA)—plus a national Film & TV Educators Network of 1,200+ teachers, funded by government per-pupil grants and industry partner grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Day One Trust does
Day One Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust that operates two state-funded creative vocational schools for students aged 16–19: East London Arts & Music (ELAM), founded 2014 at Maltings Crescent, London E3, offering music, games design, and film/video programmes; and London Screen Academy (LSA), founded 2019 at a separate London site, focused on film and TV education. Together they enroll approximately 1,160 students, with ELAM rated Outstanding by Ofsted in both June 2017 and June 2024. The trust also runs the Film & TV Educators Network (1,200+ teacher members nationwide), the Industry Convertor Programme (established 2022, transitioning screen-industry professionals into qualified teachers), and the ELAM Live Sessions YouTube channel showcasing student and alumni talent including BRIT Award winners FLO.
The trust's revenue model is publicly funded per-pupil grants from the UK government, supplemented by grants from named industry partners including Universal Music Group, YouTube, The BRIT Trust, Creative Assembly, and NBCUniversal. Student enrollment is managed directly through each school's admissions process, and the trust does not charge tuition fees. The operating model is partnership-led: ELAM and LSA are co-designed with major creative-industry companies, with industry practitioners serving as both governors (Tim Bevan CBE, Eric Fellner of Working Title Films, Will Kennard MBE) and teachers via the Industry Convertor Programme.
Day One Trust is governed as a UK registered charity/Multi-Academy Trust (Company No. 08246407), headquartered at the ELAM campus in East London, with 51–100 employees and no external parent, PE, or VC ownership disclosed. Leadership transitioned in January 2025, with Charlie Kennard MBE (founder of ELAM and founding Principal of LSA) becoming Acting CEO. The trust has no proprietary technology stack or AI capabilities; its competitive position rests on Ofsted-validated educational quality, exclusive industry partnerships, and a rare practitioner-led creative curriculum within the UK state-funded sector.
Day One Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Day One Trust
- Legal name
- Day One Trust
- Website
- https://dayonetrust.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Day One Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust operating two state-funded creative vocational schools for 16–19 year olds—East London Arts & Music (ELAM) and London Screen Academy (LSA)—plus a national Film & TV Educators Network of 1,200+ teachers, funded by government per-pupil grants and industry partner grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Day One Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Creative Arts Vocational Education
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools (EDAJACAK)
Keywords
Where Day One Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Day One Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Day One Trust receives a publicly funded annual grant for each young person attending its schools. This is the primary funding source as a state-funded education provider.
- Industry Partner Grants: Additional funds are raised through grants made by industry partners and funding bodies. These support specific programmes and initiatives across the trust's schools.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Day One Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Day One Trust operates ELAM and London Screen Academy, two 16-19 schools delivering vocational education in music, games design, film/video and screen industries. Curriculum is co-designed with major industry partners and taught by a mix of qualified teachers and active creative-industry professionals. The trust is funded by per-pupil government grants and industry partner grants, with no tuition fees charged to students.
Product overview
Day One Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust operating a portfolio of creative vocational education schools and programmes. The core offerings are East London Arts & Music (ELAM), a 16-19 academy founded in 2014 for music, games design, and film/video, and The London Screen Academy (LSA), a sixth form film and TV academy founded in 2019. Supporting programmes include the Film & TV Educators Network (a UK-wide community of 1200 teachers), the Industry Convertor Programme (a teacher training pathway established in 2022 for screen industry professionals), and ELAM Live Sessions (a YouTube channel showcasing student and alumni talent). Funding comes from government per-pupil grants and industry partner grants.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- East London Arts & Music (ELAM) A 16-19 academy offering vocational education in music, games design, and film/video, designed and delivered in partnership with creative companies including Universal Music Group, YouTube, The BRIT Trust and Creative Assembly. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in June 2017 and June 2024. Approximately 300 students enrolled.
- London Screen Academy (LSA) A sixth form academy for students aged 16-19 founded by successful UK film producers, providing practical film and TV education taught by both professional teachers and global industry professionals. Operates as a partnership model between educators and screen industry practitioners. Approximately 860 students enrolled.
- Film & TV Educators Network A UK-wide community network of teachers dedicated to raising the standard of screen education. Provides events, CPD, teaching resources, monthly screen education updates, and networking opportunities. 1,200+ network members.
- Industry Convertor Programme A teacher training programme for experienced screen-industry professionals to transition into teaching at London Screen Academy. Provides a structured pathway including observation, co-planning, co-teaching and a recognised teaching qualification through a training provider.
Companies that use Day One Trust
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Day One Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Day One Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Universal Music GroupcoreMajor creative industry partner providing partnership for East London Arts & Music. Contributes to the school's mission of building diverse and sustainable creative industries through curriculum design and delivery.
- YouTubecoreIndustry partner for East London Arts & Music, supporting creative education through platform partnerships and visibility for student work.
- The BRIT TrustcoreMajor music industry charity partner for East London Arts & Music, supporting young people's access to creative education.
- Creative AssemblycoreLeading games development company partner for East London Arts & Music, contributing expertise to games design curriculum.
- Eric FellnercoreMember and Governor of LSA, appointed 6 December 2018. Co-founder of Working Title Films.
- Tim Bevan CBEcoreChair of Trustees and Chair of LSA Board. Co-founder of Working Title Films, one of the UK's most successful independent film producers.
- Lisa Bryer OBEcoreTrustee and LSA Governor and Founder. Co-founder of Working Title Films.
- Will Kennard MBEcoreTrustee and ELAM Founder and Governor. Member of the band The Chameleons.
- NBCUniversal (NBCU)minorNBCU Creative Impact Lab funder for documentary production (The Phoenix Garden project) involving LSA students.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Day One Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The BRIT School: The UK's most prominent state-funded performing and creative arts school for 14-19 year olds. Directly comparable to Day One Trust in offering free, industry-partnered creative vocational education with a strong alumni success track record (Adele, Amy Winehouse).
- Global Academy: A west London University Technical College specialising in creative media and digital industries for 14-19 year olds. Day One Trust's LSA principal was part of Global Academy's founding team, and the two schools operate with similar employer-partnered models targeting the screen and creative industries.
- Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts: A specialist performing arts school offering conservatoire-style training across acting, musical theatre and performance making. Comparable to ELAM as a UK-based creative performing arts educator with strong industry linkages.
- Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts: One of the UK's oldest performing arts schools offering training across musical theatre, acting and dance. Comparable to ELAM as a specialist creative performing arts school, with overlapping alumni-outcome models.
- National Film and Television School (NFTS): The UK's national centre for postgraduate film, television and games training. Highly comparable as a specialist film/TV education provider anchored in industry practice, although NFTS sits at the postgraduate level rather than the 16-19 segment.
- Ravensbourne University London: A specialist higher education institution focused on digital media, design and creative technology. Overlaps with LSA's screen/digital curriculum and with ELAM's games design strand at degree level.
- BIMM University: A specialist higher education institution for music, performing arts and creative industries, with strong industry partnerships and alumni placement. Highly comparable to ELAM's music pathway but at degree level rather than 16-19.
- Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM): A specialist music performance and creative industries college with strong industry partnerships. Comparable to ELAM for music-focused vocational training with pathways into the commercial music industry.
- London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA): One of the UK's oldest specialist drama and performing arts conservatoires, training actors and creative professionals. Comparable to ELAM's performing arts and screen pathway offering with a similar employer-led ethos.
- London Film School: A specialist postgraduate film school in London focused on practical filmmaking craft. Comparable to LSA for its London-based, industry-immersive approach to film education, though targeting older students.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Day One Trust social profiles
Digital presenceDay One Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Day One Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Day One Trust subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Day One Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Day One Trust M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Day One Trust
What does Day One Trust do?
Day One Trust operates ELAM and London Screen Academy, two 16-19 schools delivering vocational education in music, games design, film/video and screen industries. Curriculum is co-designed with major industry partners and taught by a mix of qualified teachers and active creative-industry professionals. The trust is funded by per-pupil government grants and industry partner grants, with no tuition fees charged to students.
Is Day One Trust a public or private company?
Day One Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Day One Trust founded?
Day One Trust was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Day One Trust based?
Day One Trust is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Day One Trust make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are industry Partner Grants.
Who are Day One Trust's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The BRIT School, Global Academy, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, National Film and Television School (NFTS), Ravensbourne University London, BIMM University, Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM), London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and London Film School.
Does Day One Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for Day One Trust.
What industry is Day One Trust in?
Day One Trust's product category is Creative Arts Vocational Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJACAK, Charter Career & Technical Education (CTE) Schools. Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.