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

About the programme

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.

The Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme is aimed at young people (18-30yrs) from underrepresented backgrounds wanting to gain more insight and real experience in the creative industries. Working in partnership with Babbasa & some of our member businesses in and around Bristol, the scheme is part of the OurCity2030 Pathway into Creative & Tech and offers a variety of roles in advertising, marketing, design, digital and animation. 

 

 

Applications now open!

Applications are being 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:

  • aged 18-30
  • from an ethnically diverse and/or low economic background
  • based in Bristol
  • registered with Babbasa

APPLY HERE

Host an intern

The deadline for committing to host an intern in 2024 has now passed but you can still register your interest for the next round, which will kick off in early 2025.

Interns complete two 3-month paid internships. The programme provides 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, mental health and neurodiversity training for the businesses involved.

You must be based in Bristol (or be willing to pay reasonable travel expenses).

Key points to note:

  • Training for businesses will take place during March and April
  • Interns will be with you from June-November
  • Host businesses pay a participation fee to support the running of the programme
  • Interns are employed by you and paid the real living wage

If you’re interested in getting involved in 2025, please email [email protected] for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme intern graduation

Lis Anderson, Co-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.”

Meet the 2023 cohort

We’re thrilled to introduce the first group of interns who took part in the Programme…

Abdifatah Kheyre

After completing placements at Six and Diva, Abdi is going travelling for a while but… Read more

After completing placements at Six and Diva, Abdi is going travelling for a while but has some exciting plans to launch a new project with a friend. on his return.

”The programme helped me find myself, be a better human and chase my dreams.”

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Abdur-Rahman Shafi 

After completing placements at Noble and Armadillo, AB has been offered a continuation at his… Read more

After completing placements at Noble and Armadillo, AB has been offered a continuation at his first placement at Noble where he will be doing an internship extension, with a view to being promoted to digital marketing executive after six months.

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Ahmed Ismail

After completing placements at Newicon and Atomic Smash, Ahmed is considering his options in design… Read more

After completing placements at Newicon and Atomic Smash, Ahmed is considering his options in design and software development.

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Amy Smith

After completing placements at Halo and Aardman, Amy has been offered a role as a… Read more

After completing placements at Halo and Aardman, Amy has been offered a role as a production runner at Aardman on an upcoming project.

“This internship really has made my dream career happen. The continued support throughout has been great. I have also made some friends that I will have for life.”

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Kayjay McDonald-Ferguson 

After completing placements at saintnicks and Halo, Kayjay is looking to continue with his freelancing… Read more

After completing placements at saintnicks and Halo, Kayjay is looking to continue with his freelancing projects in design and strategy and is set to start a bootcamp coding course.

”I took many learnings from the experience, but above all I learnt the importance of being an active learner. In a work setting it is important that you can communicate with the different departments and not be afraid to ask for what you want. In both agencies I felt comfortable to be myself and felt listened to. I like that the internship was tailored to what I needed.”

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Laurel Beckford

Since completing a placement with ThirtyThree,  Laurel has been working with Babbasa on the organisation’s… Read more

Since completing a placement with ThirtyThree,  Laurel has been working with Babbasa on the organisation’s social media campaigns and is looking for further work in film production and social media.

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Mohd Wani

Since completing a placement at Atomic Smash, Mohd has gone on to study an MA… Read more

Since completing a placement at Atomic Smash, Mohd has gone on to study an MA in information experience design at The Royal College of Art.

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Omar Ibrahim

After completing placements at Aer Studios and Newicon, Omar has started a front-end web development… Read more

After completing placements at Aer Studios and Newicon, Omar has started a front-end web development bootcamp and will continue to study whilst trying to get more work experience. He is looking for a junior level role in front-end web development.

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Priscilla Kodjo

After completing placements at Diva and Time Machine Designs, Priscilla is staying on at  Time… Read more

After completing placements at Diva and Time Machine Designs, Priscilla is staying on at  Time Machine Designs as a freelance concept artist.

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Sara Matloob

After completing placements at Mr B & Friends and TMW Unlimited, Sara has applied to… Read more

After completing placements at Mr B & Friends and TMW Unlimited, Sara has applied to study with the Chartered Institute of Marketing and hopes to build a career focused on public relations and the experiential sector.

”I loved seeing how many agencies were interested in diversity and inclusion and I really enjoyed the networking opportunities that came with the internship programme. I also enjoyed learning new skills during our Friday sessions and watching all of the interns develop new skills that they’re proud of.”

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Sophie Kirk 

After completing placements at TMW Unlimited and McCann, Sophie is continuing to pursue her career… Read more

After completing placements at TMW Unlimited and McCann, Sophie is continuing to pursue her career in film and television art departments, with her improved graphic design skills opening up more opportunities for freelance work.

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Seren Spooner

After completing her first placement at Armadillo, Seren was offered a permanent role as a… Read more

After completing her first placement at Armadillo, Seren was offered a permanent role as a Junior Digital Designer.

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Touka Mostafa

After completing placements at McCann and Six, Touka has recently accepted an account executive role… Read more

After completing placements at McCann and Six, Touka has recently accepted an account executive role at Armadillo, one of the other participating agencies.

”Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t always a straight path, and I was never comfortable to put my hand up and say I want to learn more. But I have to say, I’m so glad I sat in the uncomfortable space for a little bit because I pushed past that point, I managed to develop and grow in so many different ways. ”

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Yasmina El Khatib

After completing placements at Aardman and saintnicks, Yasmina hopes to continue her education and study… Read more

After completing placements at Aardman and saintnicks, Yasmina hopes to continue her education and study a modelmaking course with a focus on fabrication. For now, she is looking for a design and creative role to allow her to save for her masters.

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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 interns graduation

Graduation celebration

The graduation event brought together the brilliant interns plus many of the programme contributors, friends… Read more

The graduation event brought together the brilliant interns plus many of the programme contributors, friends and family to reflect on the successes and learnings from the scheme.

Read more here

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Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme

Placement switch update

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

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

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Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme interns

An update on the interns’ activity

Two months into the programme, we’re sharing an update on what the interns have been… Read more

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

Read more here

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Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme

BCI launches Internship Programme

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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“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

The deadline for applications to be part of the next cohort is midnight on Sunday 14th April 2024

Apply here