The Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme seeks to open the door to young people from underrepresented backgrounds and provide them with a real opportunity to break into the creative industry.

Okori Lewis McCalla

Why?

Two of the biggest challenges facing the creative industries right now are a long-term skills shortage and a lack of diversity in the sector.

BCI members have asked for support on both fronts and we’ve been working hard to create a solution. That’s why, building on the success of previous short-term initiatives like the SXSW Apprentice and Ben Martin Apprentice Award, we’re launching a new collaborative long-term opportunity: the Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme.

 

Jasmine Thompson

About the programme

The programme is aimed at young people (18-24yrs) from underrepresented backgrounds wanting to gain more insight and real experience in the creative industries. Working in partnership with Babbasa & 14 creative businesses in Bristol and Bath, the scheme is offering a variety of roles in advertising, marketing, design, digital and animation. 

Each intern will complete two 3-month paid internships. The programme will provide a mix of professional skills training, creative skills training, inspirational talks, networking events, mentoring and opportunities for future employment for the interns as well as ED&I training for the businesses involved.

Application Process

Applications are managed by our friends at Babbasa, a local youth empowerment organisation that supports diverse young people to achieve their career goals regardless of their background.

To apply for the BCI Internship Programme applicants must identify with the following:

  • registered with Babbasa
  • aged 18-24
  • from an ethnic minority background and/or low income background
  • Based in Bristol

* the deadline for applications for the first cohort was 28th March 2023. Application dates for the 2nd cohort to be announced.

 

Chris Thurling, Chair, Bristol Creative Industries

Coming together to make a difference

“We all want to make our industry more diverse and inclusive, but when you run a small business it’s not always easy to know how to make a practical difference. By coming together as the Bristol Creative Industries community to support the internship programme, members can do their bit to help young people get that all important foot in the door.”

Louise Lepic, Animation Lead, Mr B & Friends

Creating a stronger presence

“Increased diversity can only make our industry stronger and initiatives like the BMAA are an essential part of the journey to bring talented young people from all walks of life through our doors.”

Meet the 2023 cohort

We’re thrilled to introduce the first 14 interns taking part in the BCI Internship Programme….

Bios coming soon!

Abdifatah Kheyre

Six

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Abdur-Rahman Shafi 

Noble Digital Performance

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Ahmed Ismail

Newicon

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Amy Smith

Halo

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Kayjay McDonald-Ferguson 

saintnicks

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Laurel Beckford

ThirtyThree

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Mohd Wani

Atomic Smash

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Omar Ibrahim

Aer Studios

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Priscilla Kodjo

Diva

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Sara Matloob

Mr B & Friends

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Seren Spooner

Armadillo

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Sophie Kirk 

TMW Unlimited

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Touka Mostafa

McCann Bristol

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Yasmina El Khatib

Aardman Animations

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Participating businesses

Meet the 14 BCI members taking part this year….

Aardman Animations

Animation production company

Aardman is an Employee-Owned, multi-Academy Award® and BAFTA® award winning animation production company based in… Read more

Aardman is an Employee-Owned, multi-Academy Award® and BAFTA® award winning animation production company based in Bristol.

Aardman produces animated content for global audiences across a variety of platforms using a variety of techniques.  

Visit Aardman’s website

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Aer Studios

Creative technology studio

Aer Studios is an industry leading creative technology studio. Our design and technical teams create… Read more

Aer Studios is an industry leading creative technology studio. Our design and technical teams create meaningful digital experiences that manifest in websites, apps, games, and digital products that have a positive impact on people and planet.  

Visit Aer Studio’s website

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Armadillo

CRM agency

At Armadillo, we use data and insight to help us create marketing campaigns with the… Read more

At Armadillo, we use data and insight to help us create marketing campaigns with the aim of changing consumer behaviour, improving their relationship with the brand, and earning a higher return on investment for our clients. We do this by using campaign data to create targeted and segmented campaigns, so consumers receive specific communications based on their consumer behaviour & preferences. 

Visit Armadillo’s website

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Atomic Smash

Website Performance Agency

Atomic Smash is a multi-award-winning website performance agency specialising in WordPress and WooCommerce. We help… Read more

Atomic Smash is a multi-award-winning website performance agency specialising in WordPress and WooCommerce.

We help our clients achieve their goals through the constant evolution and improvement of their digital platforms and pride ourselves on the high quality of our work, which gets recognition locally and internationally.

Visit Atomic Smash’s website

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Diva

Creative Agency

Diva is an award-winning creative agency for some of the world’s best video games developers… Read more

Diva is an award-winning creative agency for some of the world’s best video games developers , publishers, and entertainment brands.

We cover every aspect of the creative process for our clients, from strategy and communications through to concept creation and delivery across all channels.

Visit Diva’s website 

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Halo

Design Studio

Halo produces insight driven good ideas that look great and people love. We shape brands… Read more

Halo produces insight driven good ideas that look great and people love.

We shape brands that matter to people. Brands that demand attention, change behaviour and change the game. Done with intelligent insight, bold strategy and commercial creativity.

Visit Halo’s website

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McCann Bristol

Advertising & Communications Agency

McCann Bristol is part of McCann Central, the UK’s largest integrated agency. In our Bristol… Read more

McCann Bristol is part of McCann Central, the UK’s largest integrated agency.

In our Bristol office, we have around 50 people working across account handling, creative and design, PR and social, media and digital development.

We are also part of McCann Worldgroup, a global agency network that delivers culture-shaping work for some of the world’s biggest brands.

Visit McCann Bristol’s website 

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Mr B & Friends

Brand Design Agency

We deliver positive change through strategic thinking, creative execution and digital engagement. Mr B &… Read more

We deliver positive change through strategic thinking, creative execution and digital engagement.

Mr B & Friends works with ambitious clients across the UK and beyond. Positive change comes in many shapes and sizes: as large as a brand transformation programme, or as modest as a website refresh or literature review.

Our talented team are dedicated to helping our clients develop more meaningful relationships with their customers through brand, creative and the digital channels.

Visit Mr B & Friends’ website

 

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Newicon

Software Development Agency

Newicon is a software development agency specialising in IoT projects, enterprise web and portal systems… Read more

Newicon is a software development agency specialising in IoT projects, enterprise web and portal systems and mobile applications for an array of sectors including but not limited to aerospace, marine, engineering and health care organisations.

We’re experts in four key service areas: innovation, design, software and cloud. What that really means is that we help businesses to use smart technology to work towards a better tomorrow.

Visit Newicon’s website

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Noble Digital Performance

Performance Marketing Agency

Noble specialises in online digital marketing. We work with our clients to help them grow… Read more

Noble specialises in online digital marketing.

We work with our clients to help them grow their businesses using performance marketing strategies such as Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Campaigns and Social Media Marketing (SMM).

Visit Noble’s website

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saintnicks

Integrated Creative Agency

We are a strategic creative agency that brings out the best in brands. With offices… Read more

We are a strategic creative agency that brings out the best in brands.

With offices in Bristol and London, we make campaigns and content for clients who want to go further – we’re an end-to-end agency.We get closer to our clients, their businesses, the issues and the opportunities that face them.

Visit saintnicks’ website

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Six

Creative Consultancy

We are a creative consultancy who design cultures, brands and digital experiences to be more… Read more

We are a creative consultancy who design cultures, brands and digital experiences to be more human.

We deliver growth by focusing on where it comes from. Whether it’s your customers, colleagues or partners, we recognise your key audience are exactly that – the key to your success. Our super-power is the ability to unlock the way they think, feel and act. Helping you connect with them on a more human level.

Visit Six’s website

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ThirtyThree

Employer Branding & Recruitment Marketing Agency

ThirtyThree is an advertising agency that specialises in promoting jobs instead of products. For example,… Read more

ThirtyThree is an advertising agency that specialises in promoting jobs instead of products. For example, we work with McDonald’s but, instead of trying to persuade people to buy their food, our job is to advertise their jobs, persuading people that this would be a good place to have a career.

We do that in the UK, and around the world. And we do it for companies like ASOS, Lidl, KFC, Royal Mail, The British Army, and a lot of companies in sectors like law, finance, pharmaceuticals & business that you probably haven’t heard of….yet!

Visit ThirtyThree’s website

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TMW Unlimited

Integrated Creative Agency

We’re an integrated creative agency. We believe that ideas should work everywhere and that brilliant… Read more

We’re an integrated creative agency.

We believe that ideas should work everywhere and that brilliant results are what really matter. We combine deep digital, advertising and experiential expertise, with a strong heritage in local marketing and award-winning creativity to make it all happen.

From offices in Bristol, London and Reading, our teams bring together a range of multi-channel specialisms. These include fully integrated, digital, social, live experiences and retail activation, across sectors spanning B2B, FMCG, automotive, the public sector, technology, mobile and more.

Visit TMW Unlimited’s website

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Internship News

Here you’ll find regular updates on the Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme and our interns’ progress.

Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme

Launch article

Bristol Creative Industries has teamed up with Bristol-based social enterprise Babbasa and 15 creative businesses to launch… Read more

Bristol Creative Industries has teamed up with Bristol-based social enterprise Babbasa and 15 creative businesses to launch a city-wide internship programme.

Read more here

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Previous Interns

The Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme builds on previous initiatives that have helped young people gain valuable experience and kick start their careers in the creative industries.

Jasmine Thompson Ben Martin Apprentice Award

Jasmine Thompson

Illustrator

Jasmine Thompson won the Ben Martin Apprentice Award in 2017 when it was called the… Read more

Jasmine Thompson won the Ben Martin Apprentice Award in 2017 when it was called the SXSW Apprentice. Jasmine now works as a freelance illustrator on projects that range from murals to storyboards, political cartoons and live illustration. She was commissioned to create a mural at the Royal Shakespeare Company and is currently working on a book cover design brief.

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Marissa Lewis-Peart Ben Martin Apprentice Award

Marissa Lewis-Peart

Midweight UX Consultant

“Nothing compares to gaining real industry experience and I’m so glad to have been given… Read more

“Nothing compares to gaining real industry experience and I’m so glad to have been given this opportunity.  Winning the Ben Martin Apprentice Award has provided me with connections to people within the industry and the rare opportunity to experience some of the biggest creative agencies in Bristol and learn about the various roles within these agencies, all in one go! Having this experience and support has really helped me to feel more confident in getting ready to start my career.” You can read more about Marissa’s journehere.

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Okori Lewis-McCalla Ben Martin Apprentice Award winner 2020

Okori Lewis-McCalla

Product Designer

“To even be shortlisted for the Ben Martin Apprentice Award was quite flattering but to… Read more

“To even be shortlisted for the Ben Martin Apprentice Award was quite flattering but to win the award is an honour and something I’m very grateful for. More than anything, it’s empowering and has reaffirmed to me that you can and should just be yourself.”

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Portfolio Review Night

“We work with many young people from underrepresented backgrounds from across the city, and one of the sectors they most want to break through into is the creative one. This programme in partnership with BCI is aiming to breakdown those barriers to entry and provide a foot in the door for some of the city’s brightest talent. We are incredibly excited to officially open the application process and look forward to helping applicants find the role for them.”

Poku Pipim Osei, CEO & Founder of Babbasa

Membership of Bristol Creative Industries is FREE for students and graduates who have left education within the last 12 months.

Register for student membership here

If you’d like to apply for a Bristol Creative Industries internship, please get in touch with Babbasa.

Apply here