Creative Forces UK

Creative Forces UK was founded to address a gap in the support available to military personnel, veterans, and their families who have creative talents. The organisation emerged from the recognition that while many transition programmes focus on sectors like finance, IT, and cybersecurity, the creative industries often remain overlooked despite offering equally viable career paths. Based in London, United Kingdom, the initiative is currently run voluntarily by Wendy Faux MBE and Dougie Brimson, who are actively seeking funding to expand its reach. Their military background informs the primary focus: serving full-time or part-time personnel, veterans, and their families.

Core Mission and Focus

The central aim of Creative Forces UK is to develop networking and personal development opportunities within the creative industries for those connected to the armed forces. The organisation emphasises that creative talents are often set aside during service, lying dormant until personnel leave. When transition does occur, the available opportunities are predominantly aimed at financial, IT, and cyber sectors—yet the skills transferable into those fields are equally sought after in creative work. Creative Forces UK works to amplify existing skills, qualifications, and courses, while also supporting networking opportunities for freelancers and those entering or already working in the creative industry. The organisation is currently planning its first conference specifically focused on the creative industry.

Services and Specialties

While specific service offerings are still being developed, Creative Forces UK focuses on bridging the gap between military communities and creative sector opportunities. Based on its stated keywords and mission, the organisation likely provides or facilitates the following:

• Networking events and personal development workshops for creatives with military backgrounds
• Signposting to educational institutions and industry partners offering relevant training
• Support for freelancers working in fields such as writing, filmmaking, photography, design, textiles, and fashion
• Information on qualifications and courses tailored to creative industry careers
• Transition guidance for personnel leaving service who wish to enter creative sectors
• Community-building among military-connected artists, filmmakers, documentary makers, and media professionals

Who Benefits from Creative Forces UK

Creative Forces UK is designed for individuals who serve or have served in the armed forces—whether full-time or part-time—and their families. It is particularly relevant for those whose creative talents were set aside during service and who now seek to pursue careers in the creative industries. The organisation also supports veterans transitioning out of service who may not have considered creative pathways due to the predominance of corporate-sector transition programmes. Freelancers working in the creative industry, as well as those about to enter it, will find networking opportunities and personal development resources through Creative Forces UK. The organisation’s emphasis on amplifying skills, qualifications, and courses makes it a useful starting point for anyone in the military community looking to explore or advance a creative career. Based in London, United Kingdom, Creative Forces UK is still in its early stages but represents a targeted effort to bring the creative talents of the military community to the forefront.