Birmingham’s Punch Records has opened applications for Community Routes 2026, its flagship free creative development programme offering 50 fully funded places for 18 to 25 year-olds across Birmingham and the West Midlands. The programme supports the next wave of DJs, vocalists, broadcasters, photographers and digital artists breaking into the creative industries and, crucially, staying in the region.
Applications open today, 8 April, and close 29 June 2026. Competition is fierce: last year saw more than 250 applications for just 50 places, underlining both the appetite for accessible creative opportunities and the depth of talent already sitting in the city.
The 2026 programme kicks off with an intensive week-long summer residency in Birmingham, described as a bootcamp-style environment led by industry professionals. Participants then move into a structured programme of mentoring, workshops and networking, building skills across areas including leadership, producing, budgeting and career navigation. A small number of participants will also be commissioned with a budget to bring their own creative projects to life.
Five pathways are available for the 2026 cohort:
- DJ
- Vocal Performance
- Radio Broadcasting
- Photography
- Digital Arts
The headline addition for 2026 is a paid performance opportunity at Shambala Festival, running from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August. Shambala confirmed its 2026 return following a sold-out 25th anniversary edition in Northamptonshire, and the festival’s first wave of 2026 artists includes Bob Vylan, Hollie Cook and Emma-Jean Thackray among an eclectic bill spanning punk, jazz and reggae. The festival has deep Birmingham roots, with its early story rooted in student-led events in the city and a local record shop that became a creative hub, making the pipeline from Punch’s programme to a nationally respected festival stage a particularly meaningful one.
Community Routes has been building momentum since its launch. In 2025, Punch extended capacity to bring over 60 creatives into the intensive residency, with the programme culminating in an industry networking event attended by over 40 industry names, delivered in partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation. Further masterclasses followed in areas covering finance, marketing, networking and branding.
Bradley Morrison, Head of Marketing & Communications at Punch Records, said: “Community Routes is a huge opportunity for aspiring creatives in Birmingham. The residency, if you’re one of the chosen ones on this year’s programme, is a chance to fast track your skills, learn from the best and hottest creatives in the industry and get noticed within your chosen industry. It is a major springboard for your career.”
Community Routes alumnus Lamar Riviere added: “Community Routes has shown me that being able to connect and share your vision is just as essential as the skill itself.”
Applicants must be based in Birmingham or the surrounding areas of the West Midlands and aged 18 to 25 (priority age range). Community Routes is generously supported by The National Lottery Community Fund. Applications are open now at wearepunch.co.uk/community-routes.
Image credits: Ryley Morton
In this article: Punch Records, National Lottery Community Fund, Shambala Festival, Bob Vylan, Hollie Cook, Emma-Jean Thackray, Birmingham, West Midlands, Northamptonshire. Generated by Wikidata Schema Link Builder.
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