Welcome to PLACED Academy

PLACED Academy was launched in 2019 to provide free-to-access creative programmes about the built environment for young people from across the Northwest, empowering young people to shape the places we live, work, and spend time.

At PLACED Academy, we offer a long-term pathway into the built environment, not one-off interventions. From age 11, young people can take part in creative experiences that build knowledge, confidence, communication and problem-solving skills, along-side real-world insight.

Starting with PLACED Academy Foundations, moving through to our flagship PLACED Academy Studio, continuing into Alumni support and Pathways opportunities as they study, train, and take their first steps into early careers.

Young people can begin their PLACED Academy journey at any stage, with no previous experience required, joining a programme that suits their age.

“The Academy is an incredible opportunity that you shouldn’t pass up. The skills, knowledge, connections and most importantly fun that these events will present you with is not something to be ignored! It’s truly a once in a lifetime opportunity that you will come to regret should you not take this chance to expand your horizons.”

Lori, Academy Graduate

Sponsorship opportunities 2026-27 now live

PLACED Academy is a series of programmes from PLACED, a social enterprise delivering creative education and engagement programmes about the built environment across the Northwest and beyond since 2011.

Your sponsorship delivers meaningful social impact and clear social value, backed by robust reporting. We capture outcomes across reach, participation, and progression alongside qualitative insight from young people and partners, in a clear end of programme impact report.

Your sponsorship supports the full Academy programmes, from Foundations right through to Pathways, delivering greater social value by reaching more young people at every stage, so every pound goes further.

Take a look at our sponsorship rates via the brochure here, or visit our Support the Academy page.

PLACED ACADEMY FUNDERS 2025-26

Our PLACED Academy Programmes would not be possible without the support and generosity of our sponsors. Our funders for 2025-26 are shown below. Head to Support the Academy to find out how you can join us.

As a social business and as part of our wider commitment to delivering a positive impact for the communities in which we work, PLACED also reinvests any surplus we make in our wider work to enhance the programme and increase the impact.

In 2024-25, PLACED contributed £44,500 to the Academy.

Gold SPONSORS

Silver SPONSORS

Summer school partnership

Summer school VENUE

BRONZE SPONSORS

“Do it. It opens so many doors and gives you a better understanding of the built environment. Plus, it lets you meet new interesting people who have passion for the built environment like you”. 

Liam, Academy Graduate

If you’d like to be informed about future programmes directly, you can sign up to our mailing list here.