Bristol Archives | Page 12 of 51 | Bristol Creative Industries

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.”

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.

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.

Survive until 2025 – WTF!!!

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.

The opportunities are still there.

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

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.

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.

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:

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:

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.

‘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).

AI – an innovation with integrity

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.

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.

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.

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.

The agencies

Here are great posts from some of the agencies about why they took part and their experiences during the events:

Bristol Creative Industries Talent Programme

A key focus at Bristol Creative Industries is boosting workforce diversity in creative businesses and helping to grow the talent pipeline for our members.

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 30^th Encounters and opening the call for entries.

Submit films for Encounters film festival

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.

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.

Meet the panelists

Amy Gettings

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.

Todd Sayer

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.

Nathalie Crease

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 Garrett

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.

The discussion

“The music industry feels like it’s on a downturn, how do you make the design aspect accessible?”

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.

“How can creatives ensure that they’re being culturally appropriate in the way they take inspiration?”

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”.

“How does music influence your designs?”

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]

Hosted by Nick Clarkson, the first Halo Revelations event, “Putting AI to Work,” was eye-opening to the many possibilities Artificial Intelligence brings to branding and marketing. The event promised to reshape approaches to these crucial aspects of business, and it did not disappoint.

Kerry Harrison (Content Generation with AI, Essential Toolkit Strategies)

Kicking off the talks, Kerry Harrison, shared insights into the groundbreaking tools shaping the future. From creating the world’s first AI gin to utilising tools like ChatGPT Bard, Bing, and Claude Co-Pilot for writing, Kerry emphasised the role of AI in saving time on research and planning. AI, according to Kerry, is a powerful ally that generates ideas and information quickly, allowing for the creation of first drafts and structures.

One key takeaway was the importance of understanding what AI can and cannot do. Kerry stressed that while AI is a valuable tool, human intelligence is essential for strategy, creative thinking, and research. The message was clear:

Neil Collard (Adopting AI, A Mindset Revolution)

Neil Collard delved into the adoption of AI, citing Moore’s Law and Martec’s Law as foundations for understanding the rapid evolution of technology. His presentation centered on the AI Maturity Model, emphasising the importance of alignment, commitment, and ambition.

Neil urged businesses to be ahead of the curve, stating that delays in adopting AI could result in being left behind. He presented a thought-provoking idea: the alignment-adoption-ambition framework, encouraging businesses to sacrifice the sacrosanct and be open to change for success.

Tanya Sharma (Enhancing the customer experience with AI)

During her talk, Tanya Sharma focused on the transformation of customer experience through AI. She emphasised the importance of the client and customer relationship:

AI, when used, introduces new opportunities in customer experience, offering personalised interactions at scale, enhancing customer support through chatbots, and optimising marketing strategies through data analysis and predictive modelling.

Hannah Strickland and Paul Bailey (Navigating the Intersection of AI and Brand Dynamics)

Stepping in for Nick Ellis, Hannah Strickland, and Paul Bailey demystified the hype around AI integration. They revealed that Halo has seamlessly integrated AI into their workflow. During the talk, they gave a case study on a recent branding project they completed for a client, in which they used AI-generated images for the brand. The pair emphasised how AI can provide longevity and quick delivery for a client when on-brand images are created, through the use of AI and specific image prompts

AI can be used in agencies for numerous areas from social content to strategy planning. In practice image prompts can be used as a distinctive asset for a brand. ChatGPT was praised as a valuable collaborator, a partner in ideation that provides a fresh perspective.

Both Hannah and Paul encouraged a simplified approach, suggesting that AI is like having a parent with infinite patience, allowing strategists to think freely.

From content creation to customer experience, the event showcased AI as a catalyst for unlocking success. The key takeaway was clear: AI is not here to replace but to empower, and adopting it responsibly is the key to staying ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of business and creativity. Don’t be left behind – It is time to Integrate and experiment with AI.

City of Bristol College has been accredited with the matrix Standard, a recognised quality benchmark. This achievement highlights the college’s success in delivering high-quality information, advice and guidance (IAG) services, further enhancing its reputation as a leader in education and student support.

Achieving the matrix Standard accreditation confirms that City of Bristol College has successfully demonstrated its ability to provide high-quality IAG services to its students and stakeholders.

Roger Chapman, Head of the matrix Service for The Growth Company, applauded the college’s accomplishment, saying: “This is a fantastic achievement for City of Bristol College and I would like to congratulate the team on their success. We believe that at the heart of high-quality advice and support services are strong leadership, excellent service and a focus on continuous improvement, all underpinned by effective use of resources.

“The matrix Standard is designed to benchmark organisations against best practices in these areas. With this accreditation, City of Bristol College demonstrates its commitment to delivering outstanding guidance and support to its students and clients, ensuring they have the tools to succeed both academically and personally.”

Head of Student Experience, Jenna Cains, expressed pride in the accomplishment: “We are incredibly proud to have achieved Matrix accreditation, a testament to our unwavering commitment to supporting the personal development and careers-related learning of our students. This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our outstanding student experience team and student support services, whose tireless efforts in preparing for the Matrix assessment have truly set us apart.

“Achieving Matrix accreditation is a huge milestone for us and a reflection of the exceptional work of our team. Their dedication to enriching students’ personal and professional growth has been fundamental in meeting the rigorous standards of the assessment. This recognition underscores the importance we place on delivering high-quality career support and personal development, ensuring every student is empowered for success.”

By meeting the matrix Standard’s rigorous criteria, the college demonstrates its ability to adapt to the evolving needs of students and the community while maintaining a focus on excellence.

My name is Michael James, I am a driven postgraduate part of the Bristol UWE Alumni. I am known for:

Thriving in social environments and building strong professional relationships.
Demonstrating an unwavering work ethic and relentless pursuit of goals.
Embracing challenges as opportunities for growth and learning.
Balancing academic rigor with a love for sports and active lifestyle.

My current area of work is UX/UI design and digital marketing, with a passion for enhancing brand images in the digital space. Currently exploring opportunities to collaborate on projects that push the boundaries of digital design and marketing. Keen to contribute my skills to forward-thinking teams and exciting initiatives in this dynamic field.

Launched with a successful pilot in 2023, the Bristol Creative Industries programme, in partnership with Babbasa, is aimed at young people aged 18-30 from under-represented backgrounds who want to gain more insight and real experience in the creative industries.

The structure of the internship programme means that our interns spend Monday to Thursday working within the agencies and come together as a cohort on a Friday for a skills and training day.

The Friday sessions allow them to reflect on their internship experiences and pick up a range of other skills such as CV writing, building brilliant LinkedIn profiles, networking, how to navigate the workplace, and developing healthy work habits.

Other sessions were focused on technical skills and included managing a creative brief, digital accessibility, data analytics and SEO. As part of the programme, the group also attended the Building Brands Conference and worked on social media for Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

Alongside the practical skills sessions, this year’s cohort was tasked with working on a live brief to develop a suite of material that could be used to educate, inform and inspire other young people considering a career in the creative industries.

Often, opportunities in the creative sector pass young people by, simply because they don’t know enough about the sector and the wealth of opportunities available. Across the region, we know that BCI members are worried about the potential long term skills shortages and a lack of diversity within the sector. To address this we need to get the creative industries in the minds of young people much earlier so that they view the creative industries as a viable and fulfilling career choice.

The live brief allowed the interns to work as a team, showcase and develop their skills and specialisms, and produce work they could include in their portfolios going forward. It’s also a lasting legacy that we can build on to support our outreach activities with local schools, colleges and universities.

Project objective

The group began by discussing the brief and fleshing out the nuances and areas they wanted to focus on. Getting into the creative industry for a young person, particularly from an under-represented group, can be challenging, so we were keen to use this opportunity to create some assets and resources that would help young people better understand the different roles and departments with a creative agency.

The group split into groups (based on their individual strengths) to develop the strategy and research, production elements (filming and interviews), and design the digital assets.

The team:

Developing the brief

As part of the initial research, the strategy team looked at the importance of diversity in the creative industries. Based on their own experiences and some further research, they explored some of the reasons why young people can find it hard to get into the industry.

They also undertook some research into some of the potential barriers to entry for young people whilst also exploring why diversity is so important in creative teams.

In order to address some of these issues to demystify what it means to work in a creative agency, the interns looked at the different team structures, job roles and types of projects, campaigns and products that are produced.

From their own experiences and their research, the team felt representation was key in promoting these job roles to the next generation of talent. They selected six people from the BCI membership, all from diverse backgrounds, to share their insights, pathways, and top tips for working in a digital agency.

The film crew sourced equipment, put together a production schedule and interview questions, and spent two days visiting our guest interviewees in their place of work gathering content. It was an intense shoot but everyone worked as a team and played to their strengths. They captured six interviews which then needed to be edited and shaped into bitesize content.

Meanwhile, the design team made the digital assets that the content would feed into, creating infographics, and social media post templates. They used the BCI branding as a guide but wanted to bring in elements to make sure the designs appealed to a young audience and were both inclusive and representative.

Examples of the interns’ designs

Once the interviews were complete, the team spent time pulling out the key quotes and messaging that could then be used for some social media posts which included top tips for working in the industry, pathways to creative careers, potential barriers to work, and the importance of diversity in the sector.

As part of their workflow, the group presented their research and designs back to the BCI team for feedback and suggestions. We are so impressed with their work and are keen to use it to create a resource pack we can send out to education providers and youth groups to help spread the word about creative jobs.

The interns will soon complete their Bristol Creative Industries internship placements and are looking for their next opportunity. If you have a role that you think may be suitable for one of this year’s interns, please get in touch with [email protected] asap before they get snapped up!

Useful creative industries career resources for young people

Here are some useful resources to help young people find opportunities in the creative industries, including internships and junior level roles: