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🌟 The Production Hub @ Squire Mill

About The Production Hub @ Squire Mill

Squire Mill is the only dedicated youth-led carnival, outdoor arts and parade production space in the North West. The site supports young people aged 11–25, including those who are care-experienced, neurodivergent or at risk, to design, build, maintain and prepare creative work for public events. They develop technical, creative and leadership skills using professional fabrication tools, textiles facilities and large-scale makes, enabling youth work to appear in civic celebrations, festivals and community events across Greater Manchester.

"It’s a place where I can be myself, try new things, and be part of something bigger. I’ve made friends, learnt loads, and had opportunities I never imagined"

Building the production space for young people’s creative work.

At Squire Mill, we work beyond weekly sessions. Young people step into real-world production – crafting puppets, costumes, props and large-scale structures that go out into community celebrations, festivals and civic events across Greater Manchester and beyond. The space isn’t just about making, it’s about seeing: their work, their ideas, their presence in public life. If you can imagine it, then you can make it! 

We believe all youth provision deserves scale, visibility and reach. That’s why Squire Mill is built to move work into place – supporting partner youth organisations, amplifying creative voices and strengthening the regional youth arts infrastructure. If you’re a young person, a youth group or a community partner ready to create at scale, this is your place to learn, build and shine.

 

Visit us

Squire Mill
Unit 20, Micklehurst Road, Mossley, OL5 9LR
0161 870 6895 / email [email protected]

Please note that the workshop is available to visit strictly by appointment only.


All activity at Squire Mill follows our safeguarding, youth-voice and access framework. Find out more about how to get involved.

 

If you can imagine it, then you can make it!

Step In – Your First Taster Session

You walk into the space, try something new, meet new people, and get a feel for what’s possible. No pressure. No experience needed. Just curiosity.

Get Inspired – See What’s Out There

You explore stories, costumes, music, films, puppets, artworks and ideas from around the world. You start thinking, “I could make something like that… or something totally new.”

Build Your Skills – Learn by Doing

You begin learning real hands-on skills: making, designing, performing, filming, crafting, running events, or building giant creations. You get better every time you show up.

Dream Big – If you can imagine it you can make it

You sketch, test ideas, mess around, and start shaping your own creative vision. You’re encouraged to think big. No idea is too ambitious.

Make It Real – Design & Build Something of Your Own

You work alongside artists, mentors, friends and makers to turn your ideas into actual things — costumes, puppets, music, movement, films, or installations. You’re no longer just learning. You’re producing.

Take It Out Into the World – Share What You’ve Made

Your work gets seen. In festivals, streets, schools, neighbourhoods, on stage or online. You see people react, celebrate it, and feel proud of what you helped create.

Lead the Way – Help Others Start Their Journey

Once you’ve gained confidence, you begin supporting the next group of young creatives. You share what you’ve learned, help run sessions, and find your leadership voice.

Step Into Work – Get Paid to Do What You Love

With the skills and experience you’ve built, you can take on real roles: artist assistant, workshop leader, performer, designer, maker, technician, project lead. You move from participant to professional.

Pass It On – Shape the Future

You help build the movement. You mentor others, create new opportunities, and become part of a creative family that keeps growing. You’re not just making art — you’re building the next generation.

Fancy exploring event production? Squire mill is the place to be!

Training in Production at Squire Mill

Squire Mill is where young people learn how to produce real events from the inside out. Through hands-on roles in planning, logistics, rehearsal, scheduling, risk management, crew coordination and delivery, participants train as emerging producers while working on live commissions for festivals, parades and civic celebrations across the UK.

Instead of simulated projects, every activity connects to a real deadline, a real audience and a real team – giving young people the confidence, responsibility and industry awareness needed to move into paid production roles. Participants learn how to run a parade safely, prepare kit for transport, brief performers, manage volunteers, problem-solve on site and lead teams under pressure.

With access to professional facilities, equipment storage, rehearsal space and a working outdoor arts workshop, Squire Mill acts as a live training ground where young people step into producer, coordinator, backstage and event leadership roles. Progression routes lead into freelance work, festivals, large-scale outdoor arts, cultural organisations and wider creative careers.

Squire Mill doesn’t just train makers – it develops the next generation of producers, logistics leads, stage managers and event directors, rooted in real experience and supported by industry professionals.

Some recent creations from Squire Mill

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Pop your email address in the box here and we’ll send you updates about our work, including how to get involved. We promise we won’t inundate your inbox, but you will be able to unsubscribe at any time.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.