Small Green Shoots
Small Green Shoots is a UK-based charity founded in 2009 that delivers free, in-person employability programmes for underrepresented 18-24 year-olds pursuing careers in the music and creative industries, operating as a National Portfolio Organisation from London.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Small Green Shoots does
Small Green Shoots is a UK-registered non-profit charity (Charity No. 1160814) founded in 2009 and headquartered at 54 Chalton Street, King's Cross, London. The organisation is dedicated to increasing career opportunities for underrepresented young adults aged 18-24 in the music and creative industries. It operates as a National Portfolio Organisation under Arts Council England and delivers free, in-person employability programmes designed to address structural barriers to entry in the creative sector.
The charity runs three core programmes: the Young Shoots Programme (a six-month course based at Tileyard London), the Short Sharp Shot Programme (an eight-week intensive), and Creative Connects. It has partnered with Relentless on the Relentless Freeform Forum (with an associated £10,000 prize fund) and runs the Analogue to Digital heritage project. The model relies on a network of more than 60 guest speakers and industry partnerships including No Signal Radio, Rinse FM, BMC Radio, and Handle Recruitment, alongside an alumni network that has reportedly placed participants at Sony, UTA, and Atlantic Records. The organisation is led by founder Natalie Wade, Managing Director Makeda McMillan (a former programme participant), and Director of Operations Emma Randle, supported by a team of approximately 28 staff.
Revenue is generated through donations via JustGiving, corporate partnerships (notably Relentless), and grants from a portfolio of funders including The Nest Programme, Method Music, AriseHealth, 4th Floor, 2020INC, and The Paak, with additional support from Arts Council England via NPO designation. Reported outcomes include support for more than 2,037 young people cumulatively, a claimed 100% full-time employment placement rate for programme completers, and a 4.97/5 average participant rating. The organisation was also selected as the Official Charity Partner for the Music Week Awards 2022.
Small Green Shoots firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Small Green Shoots
- Legal name
- Small Green Shoots Ltd
- Website
- https://smallgreenshoots.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Small Green Shoots is a UK-based charity founded in 2009 that delivers free, in-person employability programmes for underrepresented 18-24 year-olds pursuing careers in the music and creative industries, operating as a National Portfolio Organisation from London.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Small Green Shoots industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Employability Training
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)
Keywords
Where Small Green Shoots is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Small Green Shoots business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations: One-time and recurring donations accepted through JustGiving platform. General charitable donations from supporters.
- Corporate Partnerships: Partnership funding from brands such as Relentless for specific programmes like Freeform Forum. Provides mentorship programmes and prize funds.
- Funder Grants: Funding from organizational funders and grant-making bodies to support operations and training programmes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free employability programmes for young adults |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Small Green Shoots product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Small Green Shoots is a UK charity and National Portfolio Organisation that delivers free in-person employability and training programmes for underrepresented young adults aged 18-24 seeking careers in the music and creative industries. Its core offerings include the 6-month Young Shoots Programme based at Tileyard London and the 8-week Short Sharp Shot intensive programme, both of which combine paid training, mentoring, and industry secondments to place participants into full-time employment.
Product overview
Small Green Shoots is a National Portfolio Organisation charity (Charity NO. 1160814) founded in 2009, dedicated to increasing career opportunities for underrepresented Young Adults in the music and creative industries. It is not a technology product but a career development organization offering free in-person employability programmes. The core offerings consist of two main training programmes: the Young Shoots Programme (a 6-month employability programme at Tileyard London offices) and the Short Sharp Shot Programme (an 8-week intensive training programme for 18-24 year olds). Additional offerings include the Creative Connects Programme for funding support, and project-based initiatives like the Analogue to Digital Heritage Lottery project. Special initiatives such as the Relentless Freeform Forum partnership provided mentorship with industry professionals. All programmes aim to create pathways to sustainable careers rather than short-term internships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Young Shoots Programme A free 6-month employability programme for underrepresented young adults, delivered at Tileyard London offices. Participants are recruited as employees working 3 days per week, trained in areas suited to the music and creative industry, given a personal development pathway, and mentored for secondment placement within the industry.
- Short Sharp Shot Programme A free bespoke intensive 8-week development training programme for young people aged 18-24 who would like to work in the music or creative industry. Provides training in digital content, Adobe Suite, Google Analytics, marketing, web development, and music business fundamentals, with industry guest speakers and 1-to-1 mentoring.
- Creative Connects Programme A programme that helps artists and arts organisations secure funding by developing fundable ideas, crafting strong applications, and providing ongoing support throughout the funding and reporting process.
- Relentless Freeform Forum A mentorship partnership programme pairing 12 mentees aged 18-25 with four leading creatives (ENNY, Elliot Hensford, TSB, and Tajana Tokyo) for one-to-one guidance, networking opportunities, and a £10,000 prize fund plus work experience with Complex.
- Analogue to Digital A Heritage Lottery-funded project celebrating the impact of Pirate Radio in the 1990s through an intergenerational documentary, exhibition, and 24-hour radio show created by Young Shoots and Sharps participants in partnership with No Signal Radio, Rinse FM, and BMC Radio.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of Shoots programme graduates move into full-time employment in the creative industries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Small Green Shoots
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Small Green Shoots technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Small Green Shoots partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- RelentlesscoreGround-breaking partnership with energy drinks brand Relentless for Freeform Forum programme. 12 mentees aged 18-25 paired with mentors (ENNY, Elliot Hensford, TSB, Tajana Tokyo). Mentors provided one-to-one guidance and networking opportunities. Programme concluded with mentees showcasing projects. £10,000 prize fund awarded to selected mentee plus work experience with Complex.
- No Signal RadiominorPartner for Analogue to Digital project - 24-hour radio show created by Young Shoots and Sharps participants.
- Rinse FMminorPartner for Analogue to Digital project - contributing to 24-hour radio show.
- BMC RadiominorPartner for Analogue to Digital project - contributing to 24-hour radio show.
- Handle RecruitmentminorProvides 1-to-1 mentoring for Short Sharp Shot programme participants on interview techniques and career guidance.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Small Green Shoots competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Creative Access: UK non-profit that supports people from underrepresented backgrounds into careers in the creative industries through mentoring, paid internships and training. Closely comparable mission, target demographic and creative-industries focus.
- A New Direction: London-based charity connecting children and young people with creative and cultural opportunities. Comparable mission opening creative-industries access for young Londoners from underrepresented backgrounds.
- House of St Barnabas: London charity running employment and training programmes for adults facing barriers to work, including pathways into the creative sector. Comparable model combining training with wrap-around pastoral support.
- Only Connect: London charity delivering training, education and creative arts programmes to people in the criminal justice system and disadvantaged communities. Overlaps in employability focus and creative-arts delivery.
- Brixton Finishing School: UK training programme aimed at getting young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds into the creative and digital industries. Operates from a London base with intensive short-course models similar to Short Sharp Shot.
- Roundhouse: London-based charity providing creative opportunities for 11-25 year-olds, including training, performance and employment pathways into the creative industries. Comparable youth-focused arts charity operating in London.
Broad incumbents
- Creative Industries Federation: UK membership body representing creative industries, including on skills, diversity and workforce policy. Indirect peer through shared advocacy on creative-industry access and diversity pipelines.
- National Youth Theatre: Established UK charity developing young talent for theatre and performance, with structured training and industry pathways. Larger and longer-tenured organisation operating in the same youth creative-careers space.
- The Prince's Trust: Large UK youth charity delivering employment, education and training programmes for disadvantaged young people. Operates at significantly greater scale but addresses the same employability and skills barrier challenges.
Emerging players
- Idea Foundation: UK creative media education charity working with young people from low-income backgrounds. Operates at smaller scale but shares the bridge-to-creative-industries career model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Small Green Shoots social profiles
Digital presenceSmall Green Shoots compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Small Green Shoots financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Small Green Shoots leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Small Green Shoots funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Small Green Shoots 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 Small Green Shoots
What does Small Green Shoots do?
Small Green Shoots is a UK charity and National Portfolio Organisation that delivers free in-person employability and training programmes for underrepresented young adults aged 18-24 seeking careers in the music and creative industries. Its core offerings include the 6-month Young Shoots Programme based at Tileyard London and the 8-week Short Sharp Shot intensive programme, both of which combine paid training, mentoring, and industry secondments to place participants into full-time employment.
Is Small Green Shoots a public or private company?
Small Green Shoots is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Small Green Shoots founded?
Small Green Shoots was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Small Green Shoots based?
Small Green Shoots is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Small Green Shoots make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and funder Grants.
Who are Small Green Shoots's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Creative Access, A New Direction, House of St Barnabas, Only Connect, Brixton Finishing School and Roundhouse. Broad incumbents are Creative Industries Federation, National Youth Theatre and The Prince's Trust. Idea Foundation is listed as an emerging player.
Does Small Green Shoots have an API?
No public API is recorded for Small Green Shoots.
What industry is Small Green Shoots in?
Small Green Shoots's product category is Youth Employability Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAJ, Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAD, Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth). Its NAICS code is 61161.