Placement 1 – Six

In his internship placement with Six, Abdi acquired valuable insights into the organisational structure of a creative agency. Spending weeks in various departments, he notably enhanced his proficiency in After Effects and gained substantial expertise in creating typography-style videos.

Placement 2 – Diva

In his current placement at Diva, Abdi aspires to further his knowledge in After Effects skills and expand their proficiency in presentation design. By the conclusion of his current placement, Abdi’s aim is to attain the confidence necessary to begin applying for junior-level positions.

Placement 1 – Noble Digital Performance

At Noble, Abdur-Rahman gained a good understanding of a lot of different disciplines within digital marketing including SEO, paid ads, analytics, and social media, using a range of different programmes and tools including SEMrush and GA4.

Placement 2 – Armadillo

In his current placement at Armadillo, he hopes to learn about project and account management, and to develop an in-depth understanding of processes and best practices, using tools such as Trello and Forecast, that can help him to become proficient in managing projects from start to finish. He hopes to improve his understanding of resourcing, time management, and the ability to work on multiple projects at once.

Placement 1 –  Newicon

In his first internship, Ahmed worked at Newicon, focusing on web development and sharpening his skills in using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. He also acquired knowledge of Figma design and website development working on internal and external projects. He thoroughly enjoyed his time, gaining insights into agency life and project planning from beginning to completion.

Placement 2 – Atomic Smash

At Atomic Smash, Ahmed aims to enhance his proficiency in Figma and simultaneously create various types of websites, such as Shopify stores and WordPress sites along with learning more meeting skills. By the end of his internship, Ahmed aspires to have developed a meaningful portfolio that includes website designs. He is actively involved in internal projects to further enhance his web development skills in the hope of becoming a junior software developer or designer.

Born and bred in Bristol, Amy’s passion lies in filmmaking and everything media.  Since finishing her filmmaking dgree, Amy is excited to break out into the world of media and film.

Amy’s first three month internship is at marketing agency Halo.  This is a whole new exciting journey for Amy! She started off with the strategy team, learning all about how a brand agency works. In her second week, she was working on Halo’s own brand campaign, exploring ways to film it and the concepts behind the idea. She is joining the client partners for week three.

All in all, Amy is enjoying her placement with Halo and can’t wait to learn more.

Kayjay is a multi-disciplinary designer. His creative background is in graphic design and photography, but he has experience in various areas outside of these including, exhibitions, social media management, and website design. Kayjay is interested in CICs and volunteering as he enjoys working in a team to achieve a common goal. 

Placement 1 – saintnicks

At saintnicks, Kayjay was immersed in brand strategy and project management. The agency experience allowed him to develop his decision-making skills and learn more about the different roles in the creative industry.

Placement 2 – Halo

Now at Halo, Kayjay is looking forward to working with the design team on client projects and delving into the role of a client partner. Kayjay is passionate about working closely with the strategy and digital team on social media analytics and content creation. 

Placement 1 – AER Studios

At AER Studios, Omar delved into various aspects of software development, collaborated with cross-functional teams & spent time in project management & design, where he created his portfolio. His focus was in website creation, using CSS and HTML & JavaScript and even created Magic 8 ball game.

Placement 2 – Newicon

Now at Newicon he is really excited about diving into new projects and learning even more about software development. He wants to create cool websites and apps that people can use and enjoy. 

Placement 1 – Diva

At Diva, Priscilla learned the importance of a healthy work life balance, forming good connections/relationships and developed her technical skills in several different programmes such as Maxon Cinema 4D, Adobe Suite, Procreate and After Effects.

Placement 2 – Time Machine Designs

At her new placement at Time Machine Designs, whilst working as a 2D concept artist, she hopes to learn how to navigate a hybrid work structure, apply her research skills in concept art and work as a team player.

Placement 1 – Mr B & Friends

At Mr B & Friends, Sara’s focus was on a creative brief to reinvent space and develop a new brand. At first Sara worked on the meaning behind the brand, focussing on the purpose and target audience then moved onto developing the design, using Miro and PowerPoint to showcase the tone of voice, photography style & colour palette. Sara also used Adobe Illustrator to demonstrate her new brand across two visual activations and pitched her new brand to the team.

Placement 2 – TMW Unlimited

At TMW, Sara wants to experience working with each team and gain insight into the different kinds of projects they work on as well as the skills needed to succeed in their roles.

Sara wants to pick up more design software, motion design and video editing and also wants to gain insight into the work of the experiential team who plan in person experiences for clients.

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Sophie is a multi-disciplinary craftsperson passionate about telling stories through nuanced and multi textured design. During her time with the creative agencies, she hopes to develop and refine her design skills and creative instinct, in order to set herself up for a career in the Art Department in HETV and Film.

Placement 1 – TMW Unlimited

At TMW Unlimited, she spent time as a junior artworker, becoming familiar with InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop, accustomed to following briefs and liaising with client services.

Placement 2 – McCann

Currently a 360° intern at McCann, Sophie has tried her hand at strategy, researching and creating decks for pitches. She mostly looks forward to spending time in the Creative team, where she hopes to improve her confidence in pitching ideas and observing the creative process of the team.

Placement 1 – McCann

At McCann, Touka learnt the importance of agility when starting out in the creative industry and agency world. Even if you know where your passion lies, exploring new avenues and skills is always rewarding and broadens your creative process and capabilities. Touka spent most of her time at McCann working with the Media team, executing and managing TV campaigns, analysing data and understanding how to create a meaningful campaign to reach targeted audience.

Placement 2 – Six

At Six, Touka is looking forward to learning more about the industry and the ways different agencies operate. Additionally, Touka is excited to focus on her journey to becoming a junior strategist by learning from her mentors common work frames, methodologies, ways of research and implementing strategy.

Placement 1 – Aardman Animations

In her first internship at Aardman, Yasmina got the opportunity to undertake her dream role of making props and puppets on a stop-motion feature film by working on the upcoming Wallace and Gromit film. She learnt how to use ZBrush and created important connections in the field as well as defining a clearer path for her future.

Placement 2 – saintnicks

In her second internship at saintnicks, Yasmina is hoping to gain broader knowledge in a new creative field and diversify her portfolio through more use of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and learning new software such as Blender and and Adobe XD.

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

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

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

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 

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

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 

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

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

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

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

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.

Two months into the programme, we’re sharing an update on what the interns have been getting up to.

Read more here

Our interns are now in their second placements.  Read Programme Manager Clare Leczycki’s update here.

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.

“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 journey here.

“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.”