Access Creative College (ACC) has begun work on Phase Two of its campus in Bristol City Centre, which will see it occupy the former site of legendary music venue, Bierkeller. The development represents an investment of £4.5m by the college, as it looks to give the space a new lease of life with a host of cutting-edge sound facilities and classrooms for ACC’s range of creative courses.
The Bierkeller site has remained unused since it closed its doors to music fans back in 2018. Over the years, the venue welcomed some of the biggest names in music to its stage, including Nirvana, The Stone Roses and Arctic Monkeys, to name just a few. At over 13,000 sq. feet, ACC’s Phase Two development will more than double the floor space of its Bristol Campus, as the college looks to develop the talent and skills that are so vital to the future growth of the creative industries in the city and beyond.
Mark Smithers, Access Creative College Bristol Centre Manager commented, “Bristol has a rich heritage of creativity and it is an exciting place to be teaching the next generation of digital and arts professionals. As we break through into the former Bierkeller site next door, it will soon be home to some of UK’s leading creatives of tomorrow as we bring it back to life as an education and state-of-the-art events space.”
ACC’s Phase Two facilities will include an events space and stage, a music studio and production pods, where students will be able to mix music, create podcasts and record video and sound. There will also be a range of classrooms equipped with all the latest tech, as well as a number of breakout spaces and student collaboration areas.
Smithers continues, “As an organisation we have been in Bristol for the best part of two decades now. The opening of the first phase of our city centre campus meant we could expand our offering to students, providing a broader range of courses with cutting edge facilities for the very best learning experience. We couldn’t be happier to now take that to the next stage with this new development.”
Following an initial investment of £5m, Access Creative College launched Phase One of its new digital and games campus back in March 2019 and has since rolled out a range of courses including Esports Management, Creative Computing, Software Development, Games Art, Games Technology, Film, Video & Photography and Graphic & Digital Design.
Jason Beaumont, Chief Executive at Access Creative College, added, “As we approach our 30th academic year, this Phase Two development is proof if our intentions for further growth. We understand that by listening to the needs of our students and the wider industry, we’ll be in the best position to provide meaningful education and continue our track record of high student achievement and progression.’
“We are continuing to adapt our curriculum to support the increasingly digital market and of course working closely with industry and employers to best prepare our learners for careers remains a core focus of ACC’s approach to Further Education.”
Having previously operated out of its campus in Hengrove for over 18 years, ACC was Bristol’s first college with a sole focus on the creative industries. Artist Development, Music Technology & Production and Vocal Artist courses, which were previously run from the South Bristol site, will now be brought into the main campus in the city centre, where ACC’s Phase Two facilities will play a pivotal role in skills development.
This announcement follows a significant year for Armstrong Learning group, the owners of the College, during which it secured investment from Apiary Capital and welcomed the National College for the Creative Industries (NCCI) to its portfolio. ACC has also recently announced a number of new senior appointments, including former Minister of State for Universities Jo Johnson, as the college’s new chair, and former Ofsted inspector and Adult Learning Inspectorate Steve Stanley as Director of Evaluation and Impact.
For more information on the development, please visit http://www.accesscreative.ac.uk/bristol
AMBITIOUS has recently delivered a national campaign for PillTime, working with Dr Hilary – securing 11 TV and radio interviews, with the total reach of the campaign over five million.
About the campaign
PillTime is an NHS certified online pharmacy and their mission is to make life more manageable for people who take multiple prescriptions every day.
They do this by providing pills in a pouch with the time of day stamped on the packet. This prevents people from taking the wrong medication and most importantly not taking too much.
The aims of the campaign were to raise awareness of the added pressures on non-professional carers as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and inform the public about the tools offered by PillTime to make caring for loved ones easier.
Our activity started by commissioning a piece of research amongst unpaid or non-professional carers to see how they were feeling – and if they felt they were getting enough support. We set about creating a news story to primarily secure broadcast coverage because we wanted to get people talking about unpaid carers on International Carers Rights Day – a key awareness day we had identified as an platform to secure media coverage, an opportunity for newsjacking and a PR platform to use these findings to create newsworthy earned media content.
PillTime already had a working relationship with the nation’s favourite GP – ITV’s Dr Hilary Jones – and AMBITIOUS were able to offer interview time with him to radio and TV stations. With his medical background, Dr Hilary was able to articulate the stressors on unpaid carers and highlight how people who are worried about a loved one taking the right medication might be able to get some peace of mind.
AMBITIOUS launched the campaign on International Carers Rights Day to further highlight the worry, stress and anxiety carers in the UK are facing. PillTime also wanted to show support of the awareness day in a meaningful and genuine way and offer people who are worried about taking the right prescriptions a solution.
Campaign results with national reach
AMBITIOUS introduced PillTime to a range of regional and national media platforms and were able to secure some fantastic interviews with Dr Hilary talking about the research on a day of significance for the brand.
Quality earned media coverage was achieved across 11 TV and radio interviews, with the total reach of the campaign over 5 million. The flagship coverage on International Carers Rights Day was ITV Borders who used the interview in their early evening bulletin which reaches close to 100,000 viewers per week.
Paul Stonuary, Head of Marketing, PillTime, added: “AMBITIOUS are not only a team of great minds and fantastically creative thinkers, they are also an endearing group of people to work with. They took the time to really understand my business and what I hoped to achieve. The results were far beyond what I might have expected.”
For more information about this campaign or our PR, content, social media or digital marketing services, please contact AMBITIOUS via our website or at [email protected].
Jo Johnson and Steve Stanley appointed following investment
Access Creative College, an independent college for the creative industries, which launched a new state-of-the-art campus in Bristol in 2019, has made two senior appointments. The move signals its continued commitment to education and learning within the creative industries in the city.
The announcement follows a significant year for Armstrong Learning group*, the owners of the College, during which it secured investment from Apiary Capital, announced its new Bristol facilities and welcomed the National College for the Creative Industries (NCCI) to its portfolio.
Jo Johnson has been appointed by Access Creative College as Chair. The former Minister of State for Universities brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in education, technology and the creative sectors. Jo will provide leadership and guidance to the College, helping the team to navigate the educational environment in which it operates during a period of growth.
Steve Stanley has been appointed as Director of Evaluation and Impact. He has worked in education for 33 years. Around half of which, was as an inspector at Ofsted and the Adult Learning Inspectorate. As a former inspector, he brings an aptitude for assessing the impact of the curriculum on learning. As an educator, he has expertise in how education can make a positive difference to the futures of young people and adults.
Jason Beaumont, Chief Executive at Access Creative College, comments,
“Welcoming Jo and Steve to the team is big news for us. They will help us to have a voice on a national scale and deliver education and learning that students want and industry desires.
“The creative industries will be a very different place post Covid and we are aware of the challenges ahead. But, with the creative industries sector having grown at a rate more than twice that of the total UK economy over the last decade, we are confident that it will bounce back.
“By adapting to change, bringing in the right expertise and listening to the needs of our students and the wider industry, we’ll be in the best position to provide meaningful education for the new creative economy and continue our track record of high student achievement and progression.
“There are exciting times to come. As we approach our 30th academic year, we are focused on growth at our existing sites and in new cities. We are adapting our curriculum to support the increasingly digital market and we are extending our commitment to support BAME learners, staff and minority communities within the College network.
“Our passion to help young people from a diversity of backgrounds prosper in the creative industries remains constant, and at the heart of what we do.”
*The Armstrong Learning Group owns Access Creative College and Coaching Connexions and delivers creative industry apprenticeships under licence to NCCI Ltd. as part of a partnership with South Essex College and DfE.
Top team news today and bringing it home for Bristol … AMBITIOUS has been awarded Best PR Agency of the Year at The Drum Recommends Awards for the third year running.
Having previously picked up Best PR Agency for under 40 staff, 2020 sees Team AMBITIOUS pick up the award across small, medium and large agency categories.
Organised by The Drum, a global media platform and the biggest marketing website in Europe, the awards are one of a kind in the industry. There are no entries to submit, work to design or papers to write. Winning can only be achieved through the high regard of clients, supported with their ratings and feedback.
The Drum Recommends database contains over 64,000 ratings left by brands, businesses and organisations. Client feedback covers rating for services, such as PR strategy, content planning, media relations and social media, along with ratings for performance levels – from effectiveness to value for money.
Lis Anderson, Director, AMBITIOUS: “We’re so proud of the team and really appreciate the feedback that our clients have given us. Client service is a big part of our agency life, it’s central to everything we do and everyone works hard to deliver that. We’ll be doing some virtual celebrating and look forward to a big team knees up when we’re back in the office.”
AMBITIOUS works across B2B and corporate clients covering healthcare, trades, education, professional services, tech and property sectors. Being based in Bristol and benefitting from a strong network, the PR agency also works with a number of clients across retail and hospitality supporting their market entry into the South West region.
Connect with us on social media – LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter or drop us a line at hello@ambitiouspr.co.uk
AMBITIOUS has been appointed by Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing to support the opening of its fourth UK and largest venue to date in Bristol with PR led marketing.
Founded in 2016, Whistle Punks is the first brand to bring axe throwing to the UK high street. Set to open mid-November, Whistle Punks Bristol boasts six lanes, a pumping soundtrack, a bar and a Pizzarova residency. An example of the continued growth of competitive socialising, Whistle Punks has designed an unforgettable experience to bring different people together in city spaces and inspire interaction between strangers. People are encouraged to step outside their comfort zone and try something new.
The brief for AMBITIOUS focuses on building the brand in Bristol and core inbound local markets as well as supporting launch activity including outreach to online and offline influencers.
Jemma Morgan, Marketing Director of Whistle Punks, said, “AMBITIOUS has a wealth of local knowledge, connections and corporate and consumer market experience.”
Sarah Woodhouse, Director, AMBITIOUS commented: “Whistle Punks has captured the zeitgeist for competitive socialising and we are looking forward to creating a successful market entry campaign.”
Whistle Punks sessions are 70 minutes long and take place on a lane consisting of two targets, each lane fits up to 10 players. The session begins with tips and coaching on how to safely and successfully sling an axe by expert instructors who stay with the group throughout the session. Once the practice is over, the competitive spirit kicks in and a tournament takes place in each lane. As soon as a winner is announced, then it’s celebration time in the adjoining bar.
Whistle Punks was the first to enter the UK market with axe throwing as a competitive social activity in a dedicated venue. Founded in 2016, the brand now has four locations across the UK in London, Manchester, Birmingham and the new premises in Bristol, which will boast no less than six axe throwing lanes.
Whistle Punks is leading the way in providing an unforgettable experience, which is all about bringing together new and different individuals and connecting them through the activity of axe throwing. Players reap the social and emotional benefits of a shared, competitive activity delivered in a safe environment.
Whistle Punks has recently received funding from Edition Capital, who are helping to fund the business’ expansion with the opening of further sites across the UK.
Whistle Punks was co-founded and is co-owned and managed by lifelong friends John Nimmons and Jools Whitehorn. After successfully running Battle Bows and London Bubble Football for a number of years, John and Jools founded Whistle Punks after witnessing the new boom of social competitive activities first hand.
Sustainability is a key Whistle Punks brand value. For every Exclusive Lane package booked, Whistle Punks donates £2 to Trees for Cities, a charity that plants trees in urban areas and communities across the UK.
For more informaiton about the launch and opening offers, please contact Greg at AMBITIOUS – [email protected]
Following a successful exhibition in 2018, AMBITIOUS PR is supporting the return of the Bristol Gaming Market this weekend. The gaming expo is set to draw over 2,000 gaming enthusiasts from across the region to the Passenger Shed for a one-day gaming extravaganza.
With the highest concentration of gaming companies in the South West (and the 7th highest in the UK), Bristol is home to studios such as the award-winning Mobile Pie and Reach Robotics, the company behind augmented reality game, MekaMon.
Following the success in cities including London and Doncaster, Replay Events, the company behind the PLAY Expo is holding the Bristol Gaming Market to give gaming enthusiasts and collectors from across the region a chance to browse hundreds of tables of video games, tabletop games and mechanise for sale.
“We are witnessing a real growth in retro gaming as collectors and gaming enthusiasts stay loyal to classic games and are willing to travel the distance to get their hands-on classic games like Console Passion and Deadpan Robot.” Commented Andy Brown, Managing Director, Replay Events.
The Bristol Gaming Market will take place at The Passenger Shed, next to Temple Meads train station in the centre of Bristol, on Sunday 22nd September. Early entry tickets (giving access from 11am) cost £5.00 and are pre-bookable at: www.bristolgamingmarket.com/tickets. Tickets after 12:00 cost just £2.00. Children under 16 can enter for free when accompanied by a paying adult after 12pm. Tickets are available on the door. The Bristol Gaming Market closes at 16:00.
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