East London Arts and Music

What East London Arts and Music does

East London Arts and Music (ELAM) is a free, full-time creative academy for 16-19 year olds based in East London, operating under the nonprofit Day One Trust. It delivers three UAL Level 3 Extended Diplomas (equivalent to three A-Levels) in Music Performance & Production, Film & Television Production, and Games Design & Development, supplemented by GCSE resits, A-Level academic pathways and the ELAM Ignite careers programme. Teaching is delivered on a single campus at Maltings Close, London E3 3TA, using industry-standard facilities and software including Pro Tools HD, Logic Pro X, Maya, Adobe Suite, Unity, Unreal Engine, BlackMagic cameras, and VR/motion-capture equipment, alongside recording studios, a 440-seat theatre, live music rooms, an art gallery, and a 250-seat canteen.

ELAM's business model is multi-stream: (1) state education funding as a free, government-funded academy with no tuition fees charged to students; (2) donations and fundraising from supporters including the BRIT Trust, UTA Foundation, PPL, Lightbulb Trust and the Thompson Family Charitable Trust, which fund equipment, bursaries, pastoral care, outreach and enrichment beyond basic government funding; and (3) commercial venue hire of its theatre, studios, gallery, canteen and conference rooms at individually quoted rates. The stated GTM motion is admissions-led: online application, assessment centre (interviews/auditions), and conditional offers finalised on GCSE Results Day, with year-round cultivation events and outreach to secondary schools in hard-to-reach communities.

The academy's proposition centres on direct industry immersion through masterclasses, mentoring, work placements and industry briefs with partners including Universal Music UK (founding partner), Creative Assembly, Sports Interactive, United Talent Agency, Chase & Status, Polydor, Island, XL Recordings, Virgin EMI, Abbey Road Studios, Ridley Scott Creative Group and YouTube. ELAM reports 1,300+ alumni working across music, film, TV and games, with named outcomes including BRIT Rising Star Award winners (FLO), a BRIT Award nominee (KWN), the academy's first YGD BAFTA winner (Sam Szaz), a Cambridge Computer Science acceptance (Ben Smith) and a Take-Two Interactive placement (Khaleel Brewesh Mora). 67% of Music trainees reportedly achieve the highest Distinction grade versus a 34% national benchmark, providing a publicly verifiable academic outcome metric.

Name

East London Arts and Music

Legal name

East London Arts and Music

Website

https://elam.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

East London Arts and Music (ELAM) is a free, state-funded day-one creative academy in East London delivering UAL Level 3 Diplomas in Music, Film & TV and Games Design to 16-19 year olds, with alumni placed at major music, games and media companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Arts Further Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK)

Keywords

• Creative arts education
• Music production training
• Film and television production
• Games design courses
• Further education college

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. State Education Funding: ELAM is a free, state-funded academy receiving basic government funding to deliver curriculum and operate. No tuition fees are charged to students.
2. Donations and Fundraising: ELAM accepts donations to fund enhanced vocational education, industry-standard equipment, facilities, outreach teams, pastoral care, bursaries, and enrichment activities that exceed basic government funding.
3. Space Hire: ELAM offers spaces for private hire including a 440-person theatre, live music rooms, recording studios, gallery space, canteen (seating 250), and conference rooms. All prices based on individual requirements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

East London Arts and Music (ELAM) is a free, full-time creative academy for 16–19 year olds in East London that delivers UAL Level 3 Extended Diplomas (equivalent to three A-levels) in Music Performance & Production, Film & Television Production, and Games Design & Development, alongside supplementary academic qualifications and an industry-experience programme of masterclasses, mentoring, and work placements. It is a state-funded academy under the Day One Trust, with no tuition fees charged to students. The academy also offers commercial venue hire of its 440-seat theatre, recording studios, gallery, and other facilities.

Product overview

East London Arts and Music (ELAM) is a free full-time creative academy for 16-19 year olds offering three specialist UAL Level 3 Extended Diplomas (equivalent to three A-Levels each) in Music Performance & Production, Film & Television Production, and Games Design & Development. All trainees receive supplementary academic qualifications (GCSE resits, A-Levels, or Level 3 qualifications in English and Maths), and access to the ELAM Ignite careers programme. The academy provides industry experience through masterclasses, mentoring, work placements, and industry briefs, with facilities including recording studios, film production spaces, VR/motion capture studios, and a 440-seat theatre available for venue hire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music Performance & Production — UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma

Quantifiable outcome

• 67% of ELAM's Music Trainees achieve the highest grade possible (Distinction) compared to 34% nationally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Universal Music UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of ELAM, instrumental in the development of the academy. Provides masterclasses, mentoring, work experience placements, and direct pathways for trainees into the music industry. Trainees have undertaken work experience at Universal.
• Creative AssemblycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor games studio providing industry expertise, masterclasses and mentoring. Tim Heaton has shared expertise from 30 years of game development to help address UK creative skills shortage.
• Prettybird PicturesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company that has provided industry masterclasses. Ypsis-tiy'e Mcken (2017-2019 cohort) interned at Prettybird Pictures.
• YouTubeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatform partner providing industry presence and access for ELAM trainees.
• Chase & StatusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic duo (Will Kennard is Vice-Chair of ELAM Governors) providing masterclasses, mentoring and industry connections. Will Kennard serves on the governing body.
• United Talent AgencymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor talent agency providing industry access, mentoring and pathways for ELAM trainees interested in various creative careers.
• Polydor UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor record label partner providing industry exposure and potential pathways for music trainees.
• XL RecordingsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent record label partner supporting ELAM music programme.
• Island RecordsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor record label partner providing industry access for ELAM trainees.
• Virgin EMIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecord label partner providing industry connections for music trainees.
• Abbey Road StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIconic recording studio providing industry exposure and work experience opportunities for music trainees.
• Rinse FMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon-based radio station partner supporting music programme.
• SB.TVminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital content platform partner providing industry exposure for trainees.
• Sports InteractivemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGames developer (Miles Jacobson OBE serves on governing body) providing mentoring, masterclasses and work experience. Trainees have worked at Sports Interactive on Football Manager development.
• Chucklefish GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGames publisher providing industry mentorship and expertise through Alexis Trust.
• MAMA & CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic and entertainment company supporting ELAM's industry connections.
• Sony ATV Music PublishingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic publishing partner - Lily Beau Conway (2015-2017 cohort) works as Creative A&R Assistant there.
• EOTOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic and entertainment company supporting ELAM's industry partnerships.
• Decca RecordsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversal Music Group label partner supporting music programme.
• Ridley Scott Creative GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production company that mentors Film & TV trainees and receives pitches from students.
• Grain MediaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduction company that mentors Film & TV trainees on documentary projects.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts: UK performing arts school offering diplomas and degrees in acting, musical theatre, and technical theatre — comparable specialist creative training institution for school-leavers.
• SAE Institute: UK creative media school offering courses in audio, film, games, and animation — comparable technical-creative curriculum with industry-standard facilities and employer-aligned delivery.
• BIMM University: UK and European specialist music and creative industry higher education provider across multiple campuses — comparable music production and performance curriculum with industry-embedded delivery.
• Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts: Historic UK performing arts school offering diplomas and degrees in acting, dance, and musical theatre — comparable specialist creative training model for school-leavers.
• BRIT School: Free UK school for 14-19 year olds in performing arts, music, film, and creative media — directly comparable state-funded creative academy with industry pipelines and a similar UAL Level 3 curriculum.
• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland: Scotland's national conservatoire offering specialist music, drama, dance, film, and production education — comparable specialist creative academy with strong industry placement.
• ACM (Academy of Contemporary Music): UK specialist music school offering diplomas and degrees in performance, production, and music business — comparable trade-style creative education with industry employer partnerships.
• Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA): Higher-education institution co-founded by Paul McCartney offering specialist music, performing arts, and creative technology degrees — comparable specialist creative education model with strong industry connections.
• Leeds Conservatoire: UK specialist music and performing arts higher education institution — comparable specialist training model with strong industry collaboration and alumni pathways.
• National Film and Television School (NFTS): UK's leading film and television school offering postgraduate diploma and MA courses — directly comparable specialist film/TV training pathway with industry placement model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ELAM2014
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/east-london-academy-of-music

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about East London Arts and Music