The photo above shows the Bristol WordPress team at WordCamp Bristol in 2019 – a moment when the community was thriving. By less than a year later the World had changed and, despite best efforts, Bristol WordPress People had ceased to operate. There has been a void in the city’s WordPress community since.
The exciting news is that a small group of us have been meeting to discuss how we can reignite this once-thriving group. I’m happy to announce that Janice Tye, one of the original organisers of Bristol WordPress People has re-instated the official Meetup and scheduled some networking events at the King William Alehouse, 20 King St, Bristol BS1 4EF. Whether you’re an old friend or a new face, you’re invited to join us:
Tuesday, February 4th – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Thursday, March 6th – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Thursday, April 3rd – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
At its peak, Bristol WordPress People was a hub of inspiration – hosting expert talks, lively networking sessions, and delicious food thanks to sponsors like Atomic Smash and 34SP. This was more than just a meetup; it was a friendly, creative community where people shared knowledge, learned new skills, and helped each other thrive.
Whether you’re a seasoned WordPress pro, someone curious to learn, a website owner in search of advice, or someone with tips and stories to share, we need your help to revive our once-loved group.
Let’s rebuild this community together. Join us at the King William Alehouse and help shape the future of Bristol WordPress People.
See you soon!
The West of England is one of the government’s 11 priority areas for the creative industries, culture secretary Lisa Nandy will announce today.
The other areas, to be unveiled during an economic growth summit in Gateshead, are the North East, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Greater London, South Wales, Glasgow, Edinburgh-Dundee corridor, and Belfast.
The West of England is also one of six mayoral combined authorities that will receive additional funding, to be agreed as part of the government’s spending review. The others are the North East, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, West Yorkshire, and West Midlands.
The government will also announce £40m in funding over the next financial year for the following creative industries funding schemes:
Another announcement is that four cultural projects, including one in the West of England, have received £16.2m from the Cultural Development Fund.
The Tropicana in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset has been awarded £2.7m to complete the final development phase of the Grade II listed seafront complex into a flagship cultural centre.
Councillor Mike Solomon, North Somerset Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said:
“The much-loved Tropicana is a key destination at the heart of Weston-super-Mare’s seafront. I’m delighted that our bid for £2.7m from Arts Council England’s Cultural Development Fund has been approved by the UK government.
“This now enables us to carry out additional work to the building including finishing, fit out and providing increased accessibility so that more people can enjoy cultural activities and entertainment there. Reinventing this iconic landmark building will create new jobs, support local businesses, and deliver a year-round experience-led economy for the future.”
The other priojects that have received funding are:
A total of £3.6m in grants from the Creative Growth Programme has been provided to 127 creative businesses in 12 regions across England.
Recipients include these local businesses:
As announced in the industrial strategy green paper, the government is working on a full plan for the creative industries which will be published later this year. It will cover areas including funding and skills.
Feeding into the sector plan is the recently announced Creative Industries Taskforce, led by Baroness Shriti Vadera and Sir Peter Bazalgette. Sir Peter, the former chairman of Endemol UK and creative director of Endemol Group Worldwide, was last year appointed as chancellor of UWE Bristol. Read our interview with him here. In that interview, he said:
“Private investment is currently not good enough. The British Business Bank, which encourages investment in small and medium sized enterprises, is not really attuned to the way the creative industries run, the way small creative businesses work, and the criteria by which they have to be judged and invested in. We need to make progress on public and private investment.
“We also need to make progress on research and development tax credit definitions. The UK has a narrow definition of R&D, which is different to the one in other countries in Europe which includes the creative industries so creative businesses can claim tax credits for the innovation that they carry out.
“We need a more flexible apprenticeship scheme because small companies find it difficult to use the apprenticeship levy.”
Another member of the taskforce is Lynn Barlow, UWE Bristol’s assistant vice-chancellor for creative and cultural industries engagement.
In announcements ahead of the sector plan, the government says the British Business Bank, which supports £17.4bn of finance to smaller businesses, will increase its support for creative companies, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which has an annual budget of £9bn, will strengthen its support for the creative industries.
The culture secretary will also announce that shorter apprenticeships will be be available from August 2025, which the government says “recognises the particular needs of the creative industries, as one of our first steps towards a more flexible growth and skills levy”.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said:
“From film and fashion to music and advertising, our creative industries are truly world-class and play a critical role in helping us deliver on this government’s mission to drive economic growth in all parts of the UK.
“Our £60m funding boost will support creative and cultural organisations across the UK to turbocharge growth by transforming local venues, creating jobs, supporting businesses and spreading opportunity across the country.
“But this is by no means the limit of our ambitions, which is why the creative industries are at the heart of the forthcoming industrial strategy and will continue to play a key part in this government’s plan for change.”
If you’re in Year 11, have a creative passion and you’re thinking about what comes after your GCSEs, come and see us at our Open Day on 25th January.
At Access Creative College (ACC) Bristol of Broadmead, we offer courses in music, media, games, esports, and computing. Our industry expert tutors teach from a bespoke, creatively designed campus tailored to maximise your learning experience so you leave us set for success.
Our campus is fully kitted out with all the tech you need to kickstart your career, including the below, plus much more!
When you study at ACC, you join both a local and national collaborative community of passionate, like-minded creatives with a shared goal – to build a successful career and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Over the last 30 years, some of the creative industry’s biggest names have passed through our doors and gone on to shine in their respective fields including Ed Sheeran, Rita Ora, Jess Glynne and more. Will you be next?
Throughout the year, we run two different types of events – Taster Days and Open Days. Our next event in Bristol is an Open Day, giving you the chance to experience first-hand what it’s like to study with us.
On the day, you’ll get the chance to tour the campus, try out our tech, learn more about us and our courses, meet staff and student ambassadors and get a chance to ask any questions you may have.
Find out where your creative talent could take you. Book your place at accesscreative.ac.uk/eventsnow.
Bristol-based strategic design agency Rhombus have launched their refreshed brand to better align their visual language with their evolving purpose. Known for their work in crafting transformative brands, websites, and campaigns, the studio has repositioned itself to emphasise collaboration, creativity and strategic problem-solving.
For Rhombus, design is about finding the right balance between strategy and creativity to solve problems, inspire audiences, and drive meaningful change. As their work has grown, so has their purpose – partnering with progressive organisations and people who are on a mission to do things differently.
Despite the visual overhaul, Rhombus maintains its strategic approach to projects, which the studio describes as a balance between insight-driven strategy and creative execution. This involves viewing each project through a lens of problem-solving and potential, whether in the context of branding, web development, or campaign creation. From crafting distinctive visual identities to building engaging websites and powerful campaigns, their work is designed to spark change, grow audiences and connect brands with the people who matter most.
While the studio’s external identity has evolved, its core values and processes remain the same, providing clients with the same thoughtful, collaborative approach they have come to expect.
Each change is intended to communicate Rhombus’ values more effectively:
The Rampersand: The new logo integrates an ‘R’ with an ampersand, symbolising the studio’s focus on people and process. It’s about collaboration between their team and partners, and the transformation that creates for organisations and individuals alike.
Basel Grotesk: The introduction of Basel Grotesk as the primary typeface reflects a blend of modern aesthetics and historical design influences. Inspired by modernist typography, it is bold, flexible and designed to elevate the studio’s visual language.
A new colour palette: The updated palette features a range of colour, each with a specific purpose: Process, Optimism, Transformation, Play, and Rigour. This deliberate selection reflects both the diversity of Rhombus’ work and the intentionality they bring to every project.
From raves to rebrands, Rhombus’ journey to becoming an agency has been anything but traditional. It began in Bristol’s vibrant DIY music scene, where they learned to build brands through a hands-on approach. Designing rave posters provided their first design experience, with their signature brand colours paying homage to the day-glo stock they once plastered across the city.
This transformation is not about change for the sake of it, but a deliberate step forward to align who Rhombus is with what they stand for. Their work is about finding the perfect balance – creativity and process, imagination and rigour, people and purpose.
They remain the same studio, but with a renewed purpose to shape brands that don’t just look great but move all of us forward.
Explore Rhombus’ new site here
Nine Tree Studios, Bristol’s biggest independent studio, has launched a WhatsApp Community to give back to local filmmakers, photographers, creatives, and production companies.
Primarily it’s a free loyalty programme offering studio discounts and freebies, including:
There’s also groups for advice and jobs, and private channels for production companies and studios to collaborate and share advice.
“We’ve always wanted our space to be able to support Bristol’s creative community” said Russell Jones, Co-Founder of Nine Tree Studios.
“Nowadays email newsletters feel old and clunky and aren’t really suited to what we wanted, like offering free studio hire to those who need it, and promoting and discussing events.”
“By virtue of having members we also hope it’ll be a space for freelancers, screen professionals, studios and production companies to share advice, post jobs, collaborate, and generally chit-chat.”
You can join the community at https://chat.whatsapp.com/D64qZ5CmnxCASYEevxDFEV and visit https://www.ninetreestudios.co.uk/community for more information and terms.
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Nine Tree Studios is Bristol’s largest independent studio.
Suitable for set builds, commercial productions, photography and HETV, the space features two main studios – a 4,640sq ft soundstage and a 567sq ft infinity cove – plus a podcast suite, green rooms, production offices and a 9,000sq ft backlot.
For more information visit www.ninetreestudios.co.uk or email [email protected].
Article by Nick Farrar, Founder and CEO, Shaped By
I spend time at the end of each year writing an ‘It’s a wrap’ piece for the Shaped By team. This year, Alex Waite ✎ , our marketing director, suggested that I write a version for a wider audience. I’m not sure who that audience would be, but I guess if you’re in the creative sector, or trying to break into the creative sector or fancy understanding a little more about our agency and our world, then it could be of interest.
So a very quick intro – I’m Nick, CEO of Shaped By, a UK-based creative agency operating predominantly in the B2B tech sector and these are some of my thoughts on the last year and the year(s) ahead.
BTW, these are my thoughts and not based on any scholarly knowledge – I’d be interested to hear what you think.
I’ve heard this quite a lot over the last few months, and it’s really bugging me.
I’m a firm believer that negativity is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Expect the worst, and the chances are you’ll get the worst.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand this has been a super tough year for a lot of people – it’s not been plain sailing for us by any stretch.
But, we should be used to operating in difficult times – the opening words of my ‘It’s a wrap’ 2022 were, “Let’s be honest, running an agency in a stable economic environment seems like a long and distant memory.” And that hasn’t changed since.
Since starting Workbrands (our previous agency that relaunched as Shaped By in 2021) we’ve gone through a lot:
All very tough times in their own way, but as a sector we’ve always adapted and come through. We’re in the business of solving problems. We face troubles head on. Adapt our approach, change the way we do things, we’ve innovated and, most importantly, been positive.
Why does Survive until 2025 bother me so much? Firstly, it seems to suggest there’s a magic ingredient that will be added to the mix in 2025, making it more promising than 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 or 2024.
But, nobody’s offering an inkling about what that magic ingredient is. Without sound advice or knowledge this misplaced optimism or ‘Hopium’ isn’t helping anyone.
Secondly, it also feels like people are throwing the towel in – a ready-made excuse for not succeeding. As I say, a self-fulfilling prophecy.
We need to provide more support and encouragement, focus on the problems, and find solutions to help us all succeed.
Setting yourself up for success now is no different to how it’s always been – as my good friend Andy Brown says, it’s a constant focus on balancing the three things that make an agency work:
On the surface our business is pretty simple – but getting each of these right, all the time, is a real challenge.
New business is always a hot topic at agency gatherings, and for good reason. Maintaining a strong pipeline isn’t just difficult – it’s existential. But, there’s a tendency among agency owners to lose sight of something fundamental: we’re (most of the time) operating in the B2B sector, and that requires a certain mindset shift.
Why does this matter? Too many of us are treating new business like a quick-win sales game. The reality is that it’s a long-term, relationship-driven process. As with any B2B transaction, prospects don’t just stumble into your agency ready to sign a six-figure project. They need to see you, hear from you, and trust you long before you even know they exist.
There are two things I feel us agencies need to get better at:
Investing in consistent brand-building. It’s not just about great case studies or a killer creds deck. Prospective clients need to know what your agency stands for, what makes you unique, and why they should choose you—even before they have an RFP in hand.
Playing the long game. B2B buying cycles are complex, involve multiple decision-makers, and often take months (if not years). The seeds you plant today might not bear fruit until H2 2025 or beyond. That’s why your new business efforts need to be steady, intentional, and built on trust.
It’s ironic that agencies preach the value of branding and strategic marketing to their clients but often fail to apply these same principles to themselves. Agencies aren’t exempt from the realities of B2B marketing—we’re part of it.
One thing that Alex Waite said to me when he joined the Shaped By team was that we needed to build our ‘reputation through repetition’ and I refer to that a lot. You need to define your positioning and messaging and then nail your colours to the mast. Bang the drum in front of the right people at the right time and, as long as you have something people want to buy, you’ll see results.
We launched Shaped By as a new agency in 2021 – a new name, a new proposition and a new audience. At that time, I made a choice that we would have to invest significantly in our new business function – investing in experienced, full-time marketing and new business people to build the brand. Three years on and we’re enjoying the fruits of our labour.
It was seen as a bit of a risk and a lot of our peers didn’t agree with the approach. But our return on marketing investment (ROMI) has gone from washing its face in the first year of the new agency to 6+:1 this year – still room for improvement, but it’s going in the right direction and, for me, justifies the intent and ambition we have in our approach for driving new business.
Keeping our promises & happy clients
I’m often counting my lucky stars that we’re in the creative sector. I feel there’s a romanticism from people on the outside looking in that it’s a great space to work in. And on the whole, that’s true. We spend a lot of time solving people’s problems through creative thinking and amazing design—a privilege that’s not lost on me. On the whole, it’s usually a great experience.
We’re fully aware that everyone client-side (and subsequently agency-side) seems to be under increasing amounts of pressure – facing challenges on a daily basis – budget constraints, changing goals, tighter timelines, ever evolving briefs and priorities.
These challenges are a fact of working life, they happen. And when they do there are two approaches to take. And one works a lot better than the other.
First, there’s the outdated, old school ‘client and supplier’ mindset which sometimes rears its ugly head. The relationship becomes transactional: “I’m the client and here’s what’s gonna happen”. It’s a rigid, non-collaborative approach.
Then there’s the better, logical way – where clients and agencies collaborate. We understand the realities of the situation and work with each other to find the best possible solution. It’s not about compromise; it’s about being realistic and mature, seeing challenges for what they are, and tackling them together.
Agency client relationships work better when they go from supplier to partner. It’s something that can take time to nurture, and it has to be a two way thing. Without it, you can’t push boundaries or explore new ideas, or think of paths less trodden.
If people aren’t receptive to opening up to each other then the chances of success when the pressure is really on are slim.
There’s a huge amount to say about how to make the most of your client agency relationship and it’s something we’re very passionate about.
The subject ‘Getting the most out of your creative agency’ has been covered in our podcast series ‘The Changemakers’ and as a panel session at our two day event ‘Bring your own Bold’. You can take a look at both of them here:
Changemakers
In this episode of our podcast series, Wei Kee – our client services director – chats with Dave Corlett – our business director – about her experiences of getting the most out of your agency. Listen on:
Bring your own Bold (BYOB)
In this session of our two day event, Wei and creative director Tom Ovens were in conversation with Maria McLaughlin, Senior Director, Global Brand + Creative at Abnormal Security and Ben Long, Creative Director at Rubrik, as together they explored what makes a strong client/agency relationship.
The panel discussed the value of true collaboration, along with some of the common challenges that arise early in these relationships and how to navigate them.
You can watch the whole episode on our Youtube channel here.
A subtle change in direction?
‘Brand is back’ is a term bandied about in the B2B sector over the last year or so – it’s certainly something we’re seeing evidence of from talking with clients, the opportunities we’re getting, insight from our own research and thought leadership and also evidence from wider resources.
It’s definitely there. More conversations about positioning, messaging and visual identity, less short-term thinking about lead or demand gen campaigns.
Is this a disillusionment in the market with the effectiveness of lead generation? Is it a realisation that many, many firms are swimming in a sea of sameness. Is it a greater understanding of buyer behaviour? Or changes with buyer behaviour – more focussed on personal reasons for choosing vendors rather than solely focussing on business needs?
Inevitably, it’s a combination of all these and more. But, it’s the reason we love the challenge of working with B2B brands and helping them engage with their audiences.
As an aside, on that note that firms are swimming in a sea of sameness, here’s an interesting stat for you (taken from the Dentsu ‘Superpowers Index 2024).
There’s a massive gap between buyer perception and marketers:
There’s a lot of work to be done to shrink these margins.
I have to write about AI – it was either AI or the Jaguar rebrand.
I love AI, AI is great and we’re only scratching the surface of what we can do with it and how it can help. We’re on a journey at Shaped By to adopt it into the agency. Innovation with integrity is what we’re calling the process. The impact is, and will continue to be, incredible.
But, there are areas where it just isn’t doing it for me, I fear it’s going to get worse, and it’s having an impact on us all. It happens when people are lazy. Relying too much on the technology as an end-to-end solution. Not caring about the output and the damage it can do to a brand – whether that’s a company brand or a personal brand.
Here are a couple of negative impacts I’m noticing. Not so long ago, you could still get results with well-researched, well written, well-timed and well-intended comms. We used to do some great personalised campaigns that bore good results. But not now. The volume of AI-written and AI-automated sales messages has made it a LOT harder to get in touch with people. We’re always looking for new ideas and approaches to get in touch with our audience. Some are working, some not so much but the issues of landing your message are real. And that’s a problem, but the challenge of doing things differently also represents an opportunity to differentiate.
Another issue for me is the sheer volume of AI generated drivel masquerading as content. Your social feeds will be full of it, you can (usually) spot it a mile away – it’s a list, it’s a LinkedIn carousel, it’s formatted in that certain way ChatGPT does. It’s generic, ill-targeted and very, very boring.
Buyers are crying out for thought leadership, they crave reading and listening to content from subject expert matters. This is another area for brands to stand out – brands that can demonstrate genuine expertise and deliver it in ways that are memorable, easy to understand, easy to share and hyper-relevant for the audience have a real opportunity to steal a march on their competition.
Finally, are we starting to see some briefs come in about using AI purely as a cost-saving measure? It’s a question worth asking, especially when authenticity and emotional connection are central to the work we do. Using AI strategically can unlock incredible potential, but relying on it solely to trim costs – especially in creative work – risks undermining the very elements that make a campaign effective.
Don’t get me wrong – AI has its place. We’ve seen it deliver exceptional results in specific contexts when it’s the right tool for the job. But creativity is about impact, not just efficiency. If AI is being used with integrity, to enhance ideas or streamline production, it’s a fantastic asset. But if the primary goal is cutting corners, it runs the real risk of falling short.
Thank you for reading this ramble, I hope you found some of it of interest – it would be great if you could leave any thoughts, comments or questions below.
Have a great end of year and Christmas!
Last month, in the Gather Round main event space at Brunswick Square we hosted an evening showcase event for the TRACKING course students ran by Noods Levels CIC and Fiasco.
The students had the chance to showcase their work alongside talks and panel discussions on navigating the early stages of a design career in Bristol. For students, the event was an opportunity to network, gain insights, and raise a glass to all the hard work they poured into their time on TRACKING. For others, it was a great moment to come together to celebrate and support Bristol’s buzzing design community.
We heard wise words from the panel James Ratcliffe, Founder and Creative Director of Rhombus Studio and Alex Holmes, Graphic Designer at Noods Levels CIC and Kendra Futcher, Chair of West of England Design Forum; plus gems of advice from our hosts Izzy Cross, Director at Noods Levels and Ben Steers, Co Founder and Director of Fiasco.
Nathalie Crease Head of Marketing at Fiasco commented:
‘As a certified B Corp company, we’re determined to use our influence to help make the design industry more accessible for the next generation. Whether this is through internships, talks, or partnerships like this one with Noods Levels—it’s really important to us as a studio that we’re encouraging creatives from all backgrounds to pursue a career in design.’
Over a period of eight weeks, the six young designers on the TRACKING course tackled a challenging brief set by Fiasco. Their task was to create a brand for a fictional new design industry event series, ON TRACK, aimed at breaking down professional and social barriers for young people entering the field. Guided by Fiasco mentors, Exec Creative Director Ben and Design Director Julia, the budding designers worked to create an event poster, including a logo and supporting graphics.
The final artworks were all showcased in a ‘gallery’ here at Gather Round for all attendees to view and celebrate. The guest list for the evening featured founders of small creative businesses, established freelancers in the design industry and members of the co-working space as well as the students and their mentors.
Izzy Cross, Noods Levels mentioned that…
“It was such a great atmosphere and the perfect way to top off our third term of TRACKING. Our mission is to boost the Portfolios, Networks and confidence and this event really encapsulated that. We are very grateful for Fiasco Design who ran this project and for gathering round who hosted the amazing evening.”
Noods Levels are now fully in planning mode for 2025 so keep an eye on their website and follow their socials to be the first to hear about their next initiative.
And if you’re looking for a spot to host an event, our main event space at Brunswick Square is perfect for panel talks, networking events and gigs. Get in contact with our events team for more info: [email protected]. To keep up to date with the latest news and events, give us a follow on Instagram.
We were delighted to take part in this year’s Discover! Creative Careers Week, an industry-led initiative designed to provide young people aged 11-18, from England, with encounters and experiences of the creative industries through in-school, workplace and online opportunities.
In partnership with Speakers for Schools, these brilliant Bristol Creative Industries members provided virtual work experience sessions covering PR, marketing, advertising, film, TV and more:
Stuff Advertising | Modular Digital | Carnsight Communications | Fable & Verse | McCann | AMBITIOUS | Team Eleven | Hybrid | Sunhouse Creative | Taxi Studio | Stratton Craig | Shaped By | Enviral | Conscious Solutions | Fiasco Design | The Bottle Yard Studios | Beeston Media | JonesMillbank | Studio Giggle | Distortion Studios
The sessions, managed by Bristol Creative Industries membership and operations manager Alli Nicholas and internship programme manager Clare Leczycki, featured talks about life in the creative sector, myth busting, the huge variety of different roles, and career pathways.
In between the talks, the young people were split into groups to research roles in the industry and consider their own values. They also worked on an example marketing campaign, including the problem they were they trying to solve and the marketing strategy. At the end of the final day, they presented their ideas.
We were really impressed by the young people who took part. Big thanks to attendee Imani Joseph-Obiorah for sharing this great post about the first day. Click on the image to read a larger version on LinkedIn.
Here are great posts from some of the agencies about why they took part and their experiences during the events:
Nina Whittaker, Stratton Craig:
“Having discovered copywriting through a careers event myself, I know that events like Discover Creative Careers Week can genuinely change lives.
“A platform like this helps demystify the often lesser-known world of creative careers, opening minds to possibility and hopefully inspiring a new generation of talent. The whole process was imaginative, incredibly well-organised, and a privilege to be a part of. And it was easy to see that the students found it beneficial – they were engaged, curious and enthusiastic, and I was really impressed by their insightful questions, comments and feedback.”
Sally Knapton, Sunhouse Creative:
“It’s never felt more important to be supporting the creative industry and inspiring future talent is absolutely key to this. It was impressive to hear the students’ pitches off the back of three days of agency interactions – encouraging for the future of the creative industries!
“On a personal note, it took me a fair amount of trial and error to discover the brand design side of the industry even existed! So making ourselves visible and talking more about our part of the industry is something I feel really passionately about.”
Katharine Eriksson, McCann:
“McCann Bristol’s involvement with DCCW gave me the opportunity to show and say what I’d love to say to my younger schoolgirl self.
“I truly hope we managed to make an impact on the young people, show them their voices absolutely matter, and that they are welcome with open arms to the advertising industry and McCann!”
Daisy Martin, McCann:
“It was a great opportunity to bring attention to the variety of roles we have here at McCann. Hopefully, we were able to provide some insights on how advertising agency’s work and what we all get up to in our day-to-day.
“The questions at the end were really well thought out and insightful and makes me think many of the listeners would thrive in the advertising industry.”
Patrick Mbele, McCann:
“Speaking was an incredibly enjoyable experience. It was refreshing to see their genuine curiosity and enthusiasm as we talked about my role and the path I took to get here.
“Their questions were thoughtful and engaging, making the conversation lively and meaningful. I hope the session sparked some ideas and confidence in them to explore their own unique paths.”
Nick Farrar, Shaped By:
“We have a number of work experience students here each year and we’re always really enthused at how genuine and enthusiastic young people are about what our sector can offer.
“Inviting people into your studio is always good fun, it’s an investment of time that we never regret, but it was great to have a chance to reach a much wider audience for a short amount of time. Giving them access to a wide range of agencies over a two-day period is a top opportunity.”
Richard Spruce, Stuff Advertising:
“It was great to be involved in DCCW and I was really impressed with the students.
“To see how far they had come in a matter of days was quite incredible and speaks volumes to their attitude and all of the great help and advice Bristol Creative Industries had been able to offer them.”
A key focus at Bristol Creative Industries is boosting workforce diversity in creative businesses and helping to grow the talent pipeline for our members.
As well as our groundbreaking Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme with Bristol-based agencies, we provide other opportunities for members such as participating in Discover Creative Careers Week.
We have also committed to an annual programme of round tables with key post 16 education providers in the region including colleges, academies and universities.
Our aim is to promote creative careers to staff and career advisers, drive applications to our internship programme and explore how we can promote the creative industries to students already studying.
By joining the Bristol Creative Industries Talent Programme as a partner, you’ll help to fund all of our activities that support underrepresented groups entering the creative industries. Your support is vital to ensure we have a healthy and diverse talent pipeline.
For more details, contact Alli Nicholas, BCI membership and operations manager, at [email protected], or Lis Anderson, BCI co-chair, at [email protected]
Bristol’s globally respected Encounters film festival will make a comeback in September next year following a change of management which sees Dave Taylor-Matthews take over as Executive Director.
The festival – widely praised for its knack of discovering new talent – cancelled its 2024 edition and cast doubts about the future after it was hit by a series of challenges triggered by Brexit’s impact on access to European funding and the pandemic.
But now Dave Taylor-Matthews, a veteran producer of festivals and live cinema events in the UK and beyond, is working on a re-launch – fixing 24 to 28 September 2025 as the dates of the landmark 30th Encounters and opening the call for entries.
He says:
“There is no way that Bristol, a UNESCO City of Film, nor the sector was prepared to let go of a festival which has a 30 year track record of showcasing brilliant short film, nurturing emerging film-makers and identifying talent and whose alumni include such stand-out figures as Andrea Arnold, Rungano Nyoni, Ruben Östlund, Martin McDonagh, Lynne Ramsay, and Denis Villeneuve.
“We are determined to lead the fight against ‘enshittification’ and are powering ahead with a 2025 programme which will screen bold and inventive new works, feature headline events of wide appeal, provide a space where new creative projects and partnerships are born and where all film fans feel welcome. 30 years of Encounters deserves an epic celebration!”
Entries are being invited now via www.filmfreeway.com/encountersfilmfestival for live action, animated, documentary or experimental films of under 40 mins in length and (to make up for the 2024 festival’s cancellation), completed on or after 1 January 2023.
There will be cash prizes for the top performing films in competition for the international and national grand prix plus the chance to qualify for entry to the British Independent Film Awards or BAFTAs &/or get nominated for a European Film Award.
Among those welcoming the return of Encounters to Bristol’s events calendar are Aardman co-founder David Sproxton; Mark Cosgrove, Cinema Curator at Watershed, and Natalie Moore, manager of Bristol Film Office and of the Bristol UNESCO City of Film programme.
Natalie Moore says:
“For thirty years, Encounters has played a pivotal role for Bristol; nurturing and springboarding film talent, leading industry conversations, and elevating our international profile. The festival’s return in 2025 is fantastic news for both filmmakers and audiences, and the 30th edition promises to be a celebration of everything Encounters does best – gathering film lovers, filmmakers and industry figureheads to enjoy the best shorts around and create film experiences to remember.”
To stay up to date with Encounters’ news, sign-up for the free e-bulletin via the festival’s website at www.encounters.film or find/follow the festival’s accounts on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo or YouTube.
Over the years, Gather Round has been a home to many creatives but two industries have always been prevalent: music and design. With the likes of Crack, Pirate Studios,Fiasco Design and The Discourse being proud members of our community — it was high time we hosted a hangout to ask our network to discuss the indisputable overlap.
Last week we gathered in our cosy meeting room to listen to some of Bristol’s creative moguls discuss the profound parallels of music and design. With Pizzarova supplying slices of the good stuff, we took to our seats and immediately the vibe felt like old friends getting together.
Amy is the Managing Director, Co-Founder and driving force at Hey! What? studio, a design agency specialising in music, festivals, food, drink and attractions. With a background steeped in the free party scene, Amy draws inspiration from underground culture and has worked alongside some big names in the music industry including Glastonbury Festival, Eats Everything and Massive Attack.
While studying design at university, Todd spent his nights out pitching his skills to DJs, promoters, and venues, turning casual conversations into creative opportunities. He quickly built up an impressive repertoire and founded Electric Mustard 12 years ago, a design agency catering to music, events and culture. More recently, he’s started his own record label, People Like Music. He’s been a key player in The Official Charts rebrand, the making of Drumcode’s website and Ben Howard’s tour artwork.
Music and design have always been a theme in Nat’s life. While studying design at university, you’d spot her on street corners, handing out flyers that she’d created for the events she was busy organising. Her career has taken her through the music world, working with DHP, Rock City Promoters, and the Colombo Group, where she managed iconic venues like XOYO and Jazz Café. And now she’s Head of Marketing at Fiasco, a Bristol design agency.
Ed is the MD and founder of The Discourse, a design agency that helps businesses and charities shift the narrative. His creative journey started at just 15, working in a record shop in the 90s in Stokes Croft and being a big part of Bristol’s underground scene. Ed simultaneously runs his own record label and a design studio right in the heart of Bristol.
Our first question was one poised on many of the audience’s lips. Todd jumped in and explained that when the cost of design is too high – “collaboration is key”. Amy emphasised that being accessible is crucial and that she has no desire to “gatekeep” information from emerging brands. “DIY is part of the culture, it’s how most events and sound systems started” and she intended to honour that philosophy. Working with smaller artists and brands always comes “full circle”, Ed pointed out. When you work with a grassroots organisation you get to grow alongside them and share their success. Nat made a point that “there is money in the industry, it’s just distributed unevenly” at which there was a collective nod of agreement throughout the room.
With culture so deeply ingrained in design and music, it’s impossible to ignore. Kendra raised an important question when it comes to appropriation. Nat stressed the importance of teams understanding music and design and hiring correctly for those roles. The panellists all agreed that working to what you know is important and one attendee, Blaise, expressed that, “Bristol is a melting pot of culture and backgrounds – creatives should tap into this”.
Ed talked about the intrinsic link of album artwork and his early days as a DJ, he explained that when he was doing a set, back in the 90s, the record covers were so important for him to transition his tunes. “When you’re mixing records, the artwork becomes a part of the experience,” he said. “We’re not just talking design – we’re talking art.”
The discussion then progressed to talk about the designer’s physical process when creating and how music influences that. Todd said that listening to a lineup when designing posters is “key to getting in the right headspace”. He spoke about music having so much “emotion and intangibility” that it can be a great creative source. Amy agreed and shared an anecdote about the speaker in Hey, What?’s studio is often causing rifts amongst the team due to the eclectic mix of music tastes.
The event’s conversation highlighted the intersection of two creative realms that are central to Gather Round’s community. From the role of grassroots collaboration to the emotional energy music brings to design, the panellists left us inspired and buzzing with ideas.
This event was one of five others that we put on to celebrate Gather Round’s fifth birthday. Previously, we’ve talked Breaking Boundaries, Community: A Force for Good and Building Creative Resilience. Got FOMO? Don’t worry, the ‘Gather Round Presents’ series of free events for the creative community was so popular we’ve decided to keep it going next year. Our next free event will be hosted in our brand new space early 2025. Keep your eyes peeled.
Thinking of hosting your own event? Our production spaces are up for hire and we’ve got a whole host of options to suit your needs. Whether it’s a team workshop, a community event or an intimate panel talk – we’ve got you covered. Tucked just a stone’s throw away from the city centre (although you’d never know the hustle and bustle is right outside), our production spaces have soft lighting, colourful decor and a cosy energy. The cosy meeting room is our newest room available for hire; to celebrate the launch of this space, we’re offering 50% OFF your first booking with us. Get in touch with our events team to explore the options. Just drop Hannah an email: [email protected]
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