We are delighted to announce the eight young people who have been selected for the second round of the Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme, in partnership with Babbasa and eight creative businesses from the BCI membership community.
Launched with a successful pilot in 2023, the programme is aimed at young people aged 18-30 from under-represented backgrounds, wanting to gain more insight and real experience in the creative industries.
A long-term skills shortage and a lack of workforce diversity are two of the biggest challenges facing the creative industries. The internship initiative, part of BCI’s wider Talent Programme, is designed to help tackle those issues and create more inclusive workplaces.
For the second year of the scheme, another eight brilliant agencies from the Bristol Creative Industries member community have stepped up to provide paid placements for the interns over six months.
Clare Leczycki, Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme manager, explains the process for selecting this year’s cohort:
“Our aim was to make the application process as accessible and open as possible, to give the candidates different scenarios to share their skills and personality. To apply, candidates could share a short video, audio or written piece to illustrate why they were interested in participating in the programme and what they hoped to gain from it. We had over 60 applications for eight placements so it shows there is a lot of interest from young people wanting to work in the creative sector.
“Once applications closed, we held an insights day at the brilliant Gather Round workspace in St Paul’s, Bristol. This was a chance for the host agencies to meet the potential candidates, pitch their internship offers and share more about the nature of their business. We also ran an informal Q&A session for everyone to learn more about each other and the different job roles available in the agency world.
“From here, we shortlisted candidates for the formal interview stage during which we explored each young person’s skills and areas of interest to help us with the selection process. Having a two-part interview process allowed us to see the candidates in a variety of settings and learn more about them, which also helped with the matching process.
“Working in partnership with the team at Babbasa is a key part of our recruitment process. The organisation supports young people from underrepresented groups who are looking to pursue their professional ambitions, by providing them with employment support, such as mentoring, CV writing and interview preparation, to help them achieve their aspirations.
“The Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme, in partnership with the OurCity2030 Pathway into Creative & Tech, is an innovative example of how creative businesses can come together to offer opportunities to young people from ethnic minority and low income households.
“We would like to thank our interview panel Daniel Palmer, Marissa Lewis-Peart and Alli Nicholas for taking the time to meet all of the candidates. This was no small task. Their energy and insights were integral in making the selection process as smooth and effective as possible.
“In order to prepare for this year’s cohort, we have spent the last three months onboarding the host businesses with a variety of training sessions including equity, diversity and inclusion training from Babbasa, mental health training from Bianca Jones at Empower Develop People, and neurodiversity training from Devon Lowndes at Self Agency.
“Ensuring the workplaces are ready to welcome a young person and provide a meaningful placement is a key priority for our programme. Agency life can be pretty hectic and fast-paced, so taking time to consider the experience (onboarding/offboarding, bespoke work plan, mentorship and feedback) is integral to our internship offer. The eight interns have landed roles in content creation, marketing, press and PR, graphic design and strategy.
“The programme brings huge benefits to everyone taking part. We aim to provide the interns with a positive and enriching work placement, while the BCI team and host businesses have the opportunity to learn from the young people. Having different perspectives in the room brings fresh energy, innovation and new ideas.
“It’s a challenging time for many businesses so we are extremely grateful that the participating agencies are willing to invest time and money to support the next generation of creative talent from under-represented backgrounds.”
The agencies and Bristol Creative Industries members participating in the programme are:
Thanks also to Oakwood, Sunhouse Creative and Aer Studios for sponsoring the programme, and to Boomsatsuma and Gather Round as our venue sponsors.
The interns taking part in the 2024 programme are:
Read bios for the interns here.
Some of the interns explain what they hope to get out of the programme:
Kaden Gardner:
“Marketing and PR is an area of work that I have been interested in for a while, and is becoming more important with video work in recent years. I hope to gain some knowledge within this career path, and hopefully advance my videography skills as well.”
Inaz Hussain:
“I want to make more connections in the industry and learn about how the whole creative development process in order to establish myself as a multidisciplinary artist. I would love to establish a company or space to help bridge the gap for people to break into the creative industry without the barriers I faced.”
Wheri Dumuje:
“I hope to become a designer who helps everyone have equal access to the same services and throw light through research on areas that are often overlooked.”
Elma Hossain:
“I hope to become more confident in the skills I excel at, what roles interest me and build a solid network of people who have similar interests and goals as me. I’m also looking forward to making good friends and enjoying a great experience!”
Fyonh Bui:
“I hope to gain valuable skills and knowledge, become a reliable professional, inspire and guide junior designers in the future.”
Representatives of the host businesses explain why they are taking part in the programme:
Liam Britnell, Ambitious PR:
“We are excited and proud to be one of the agencies participating in this year’s BCI Internship Programme. We saw last from last year’s cohort the impact that the placements had, and the opportunities it offered to some amazing talent from across the city, so we knew we had to be part of it this time around. We are very much looking forward to welcoming our first placement to the Ambitious PR office.”
Chloe Cottle-Watkins, Armadillo:
“The BCI Internship Programme was a great experience for Armadillo last year. We hired two of the interns from the programme on a permanent basis, and they’ve both been excellent additions to our team.
“We absolutely recognise the benefits that having a diverse workforce has, not only on our business but on the creative industry and community as a whole. We’re proud to play even a small part in helping work towards that.
“Having met some of this year’s interns already, we can see so much potential waiting to be uncovered, and we’re really excited to witness the successes that will no doubt come out of this cohort.”
Alex Rife, The Collaborators:
“The Collaborators has always been about people first, so it’s natural that we want to help nurture young talent. We have a (borrowed) saying that “none of us is as smart as all of us”, so we’re excited to bring different perspectives into our business.
“We’re so grateful to Bristol Creative Industries and Babbasa for helping us to do this in a way that’s about driving real change in the wider creative industry, rather than feeling like a one-off tokenistic gesture. We’re delighted to be part of the programme and looking forward to getting to know this year’s cohort better.”
Abi Sargant, Taxi Studios:
“We are thrilled to be taking part in this year’s Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme, helping to shape a brighter future for the creative industries.
“We are looking forward to supporting our interns and nurturing their talent, all while gaining valuable insights and growing from the experience ourselves!”
Image credit: Big thanks to Sham Ahmed for capturing the brilliant images used in this post. Follow @shamphat on Instagram.
Bristol based Creative Agency joins the growing movement of companies using business as a force for good
Shaped By, a creative agency for the b2b world – based in Bristol, UK, has announced its certification as a B Corporation (or B Corp), joining a growing movement of companies that are reinventing business for the benefit of all people and our shared planet. Verified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, the achievement demonstrates that Shaped By meets high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability alongside a commitment to goals beyond shareholder value.
The news comes as the ongoing climate crisis and widening social inequality continue to pose urgent challenges to our economy. B Corp Certification assesses the entirety of a business’ operations and currently covers five main impact areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The certification process is rigorous, with companies required to reach a score of 80 points in the B Impact Assessment while providing evidence of responsible practices relating but not limited to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity, and corporate transparency. A business must also legally embed their commitment to purpose as well as profit in their company articles.
Shaped By is now part of a growing community of over 8,000 businesses globally that have certified as B Corps. The B Corp community in the UK is one of the largest and fastest-growing in the world, with over 1,700 companies spanning a range of different industries and sizes. Names include The Guardian, Innocent Drinks, Patagonia, Tony’s Chocolonely, The Big Issue, Finisterre, Elemis, and Sipsmith Gin.
Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, says:
“We are pleased to have B Corps of all shapes and sizes as part of our community — from startups to multinationals and across many different industries. Business is a powerful force and B Corps demonstrate that positive impact is possible in any sector. Welcoming Shaped By is an exciting moment for the creative industry. B Lab UK and the rest of the B Corp community are really pleased that Shaped By is paving the way for a new way of doing things.”
Nick Farrar, founder of Shaped By, says:
“Becoming a B Corp and joining the global community of businesses dedicated to building a better world was one of the first, and easiest, decisions we made after changes to the agency’s ownership last year. It aligns perfectly with our belief that design and creativity have the power to improve lives and positively impact the world around us. I’m looking forward to embracing what being a B Corp company means and committing to maintaining and improving our standards now and in the future.”
Noble Deeds charity competition to launch at ‘Be Better Bristol’ event
4th June, 2024, Bristol-based digital marketing agency Noble Performs has announced it will be launching this year’s Noble Deeds competition for Southwest charities and not-for-profits at its ‘Be Better Bristol’ event on 27th June at St Georges concert hall.
Now in it’s third year, the Noble Deeds initiative provides one local charity with pro bono digital performance marketing support for a six-month period and is opened every June as a competition which regional not-for-profits can enter. The prize fund increases each year in line with Noble Performs’ turnover growth and will stand at £25,000 for this years’ winners.
This year, the launch of Noble Deeds is being marked by a ‘Be Better Bristol’ event, which will see the local business and not-for-profit community come together for the evening to discuss how to do better and be better across the city for mutual benefit.
Designed to inspire new connections and collaborations, speakers include Nick Sturge from TechSpark, Mark Flower, CEO of Age UK South Gloucestershire and Caroline Amran from Babassa, which helps young people from less advantaged communities into work and education.
“We’re super excited to be launching our Noble Deeds charity competition at this year’s Be Better Bristol event. Our business is all about being better and doing better and making meaningful connections, which is why we chose to launch our business in Bristol in 2018. The city has a real sense of community and collaboration which is such a fit with our ethos and we’re always looking for ways to bring people together to share ideas for inspiration and innovation, said Kate Sikora, managing director, Noble UK.
“On that note, we’d love any interested local charities and not-for-profits who’d like to come along to our Be Better Bristol event on the 27th June to get in touch. As well as entering our Noble Deeds competition for pro bono digital marketing support, the evening will be a great opportunity to network with local businesses and community members,” she added.
Past winners of the Noble Deeds programme include Heart of BS13, a south Bristol social enterprise which supports people living in Hartcliffe, and Emmaus Bristol, which helps people out of homelessness and poverty (pictured).
Noble Performs Bristol hopes to replicate the impact of its US parent company as its UK business grows. Noble’s Nevada Deeds programme has been running for nearly 15 years and donates over US$200,000 to charitable causes each year.
Open to all Southwest based registered charities and not-for-profits who wish to enter themselves as potential recipients, the Noble Deeds support package up for grabs includes upskilling of the existing marketing team ensuring a long-lasting impact for the winning organisation.
To enter, registered charities or not-for-profits must be Southwest based and complete a simple application form, which will be live on the Noble Performs website from Friday 28th June until Friday 12th July.
The entries will be judged by a panel made up of an internal committee of the UK Noble team, with the winner selected by the end of July 2024.
The Bristol-based charity that wins a place on the programme will secure a package of digital marketing support and skills training tailored to suit its specific needs, however this could include; SEO, PPC, Analytics and Paid Social. The package of support is anticipated to run from September 2024 to February 2025 depending on specific requirements.
To find out more about Noble Deeds please visit https://nobleperforms.co.uk/deeds/
To register your interest to attend the Be Better Bristol event on the 27th June please contact event organiser: [email protected]
All About the Cooks, a website launched in Bristol to enable people to make money cooking from home, has announced that it will close at the end of May. Despite being a runner-up in the BBC Food & Farming Award in 2023 that led to a successful nationwide expansion earlier this year, the company has been unable to find investors to fund the future of the company.
As the company grew, its founder – Claire Ladkin – and her team acknowledged the need for more advanced technology to support the increasing number of cooks joining the platform. A major development that could only be achieved through significant investment.
Over the past few months, Claire reached out to hundreds of potential investors but could not find the right partners to support her vision. She said: “Despite continuous growth in sales and an increasing number of cooks joining the platform, we have found it impossible to secure the money needed to reach our full potential. The current economic climate makes it extremely challenging for companies that focus on consumer-facing products to raise investment.”
On Tuesday, the team of four behind All About The Cooks shared on social media: “We are heartbroken to announce the closure of All About The Cooks. We had big ambitions to make it possible for more home-cooks to make money from their talent and to revolutionise the way we eat at home. Over the past three years, we’ve had the privilege of working with so many incredible people, and we want to say thank you to all our supporters for being part of this journey.”
All About the Cooks will officially shut down its website on the 31st of May 2024. As we continue to witness the weekly closure of Bristol businesses, this adds to the growing list of recent disheartening news.
If you’d like to reach out to the team to show your support, you can contact them at [email protected].
JMP Partners with Wesport to encourage Women and Girls to get active through extension of ‘Bristol Girls Can’ Campaign
JMP, a Bristol-based creative content and campaigns agency, is thrilled to announce its partnership with Wesport to drive the inspiring ‘Bristol Girls Can‘ campaign forward into 2024 and 2025. This collaboration marks a new milestone in empowering women and girls across Bristol to embrace physical activity and lead healthier lifestyles.
‘Bristol Girls Can’, is the local activation of the widely acclaimed Sport England ‘This Girl Can’ campaign, has been successfully run for the past nine years under the stewardship of Bristol City Council. Now, Wesport, the Active Partnership for the West of England, takes the reins to continue the impactful work of encouraging movement, fostering confidence, and building community among women and girls in the region.
JMP’s responsibilities include campaign development, messaging, content creation, social media engagement, and website management.
The ‘This Girl Can’ campaign seeks to tell the real stories of women and girls who get active or play sport in the way that’s right for them, for all shapes, sizes and abilities. This campaign is aimed to create a supportive and inclusive environment where women and girls feel encouraged, empowered, and celebrated for their participation in physical activities.
“We believe in the power of community and collective action to drive positive change,” said Steve Nelson, CEO of Wesport. “Together with our key partners, we are committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, fun, and empowerment that inspires women and girls across Bristol to lead active, healthy lives.”
Managing Partner at JMP, Matthew Joy, also added: “We are incredibly excited to partner with Wesport on the ‘Bristol Girls Can’ campaign. This initiative is not just about promoting physical activity; it’s about creating a sense of community across the Bristol area for women and girls and to inspire positive change and one we are excited to play a part in with other key local partners”.
The partnership invites community members to join the conversation, share their stories, and contribute to the campaign’s ongoing success.
Individuals are encouraged to reach out via email at [email protected] to share their experiences, and insights around the local challenges that women and girls face in accessing movement and physical activity, as well as those that are already active to share what works for you and what got you started.
As part of the campaign there will be a newly formed professional network community with an initial event being held on the 26th June. This network will be created to bring together organisations from across the city, all with a common goal of inspiring women and girls to get active across Bristol.
About JMP:
JMP is a Bristol-based creative content and campaigns agency dedicated to creating impactful storytelling and engaging content for brands and organisations. With a passion for creativity and innovation, JMP partners with clients to deliver compelling campaigns that resonate with audiences and drive measurable results.
About Wesport:
Wesport is the Active Partnership for the West of England, serving the communities of BANES, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire. As a sports charity, Wesport is committed to promoting physical activity, fostering inclusivity, and improving the health and well-being of individuals across the region.
For more information about the Bristol Girls Can campaign and upcoming initiatives, follow on social media and visit the website.
Web: bristolgirlscan.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/bristolgirlscan
For any inquiries, please contact [email protected]
Boomsatsuma is transforming Creative Industries education with the launch of Bristol Film School and Bristol Creative Technology Centre.
For the last three years, boomsatsuma has been delivering cutting-edge, industry aligned film, photography and games degrees. The next step in the region’s leading creative training providers’ evolution sees Bristol Film School become home to filmmaking and photography degrees, with Bristol Creative Technology Centre (BCTC) housing Bristol Games Studio, alongside the entrepreneurial Venture Studio.
CEO and Founder Mark Curtis says:
“Boomsatsuma has developed a reputation for changing lives. Through our innovative courses we are helping to nurture and develop highly skilled, talented young people, whether that’s at college or degree level. Our new structure focuses on preparing students for successful careers. We are committed to ensuring Bristol remains a powerhouse of creativity and we want the Film School and BCTC to become cornerstones of the city’s successful Creative Industries sector.”
Bristol Film School
Bristol Film School has ambitious plans. Dr. Susan McMillan, Executive Dean, explains why this dynamic rebranding is important for the company, the city and its students:
“The new name, Bristol Film School, says ‘what’s in the tin’ making it clearer to those who don’t know us what we do, how we do it and where. Bristol is globally renowned for its film and television production, and we are trailblazers in shaping new talent to ensure its success, working alongside our wonderful industry partners.”
Bristol-based director of Netflix hit The Crown, Philippa Lowthorpe, three-times BAFTA Award winner, sums up the mood from industry:
“Changing the name really positions boomsatsuma where it should be – as a leader in film and TV in the South West and nationally. Bristol needs its own Film School. It’s incredible we don’t have one. This is fabulous news.”
Bristol Creative Technology Centre
BCTC builds on boomsatsuma’s growing connections with the region’s creative technology sector and its’ ambition to combine degree level learning with the delivery of entrepreneurial, commercially viable projects for partners.
A key development has been the foundation of an in-house incubator, Venture Studio. Led by Richard Blows, Head of BCTC, a team of Game Art graduates and students have been engaged as freelance developers to recreate the world’s first historically accurate digital reconstruction of Hadrian’s Wall for Microsoft Flight Simulator, in partnership with Time Machine Designs.
BCTC Production Manager Mark Fisher comments:
“I had the opportunity to work on the Hadrian’s Wall project through being a boomsatsuma Game Art graduate. I started at boomsatsuma as a college student on the Games, VR and VFX course. Once I finished that I moved onto the Game Art degree and as soon I finished that I was able to start on the Hadrian’s Wall project. Being able to go straight into a job was an amazing feeling and it has been an amazing experience from start to finish.”
To find out more about boomsatsuma degrees and the opportunities available through Bristol Film School or BCTC, come along to our next Open Day on 15th June.
We are delighted to announce that new directors have been appointed to the Bristol Creative Industries board.
The five individuals will deliver additional strength and depth to the board which will hugely benefit Bristol Creative Industries, our members and the wider creative sector in the south west.
They bring a host of skills and experience including digital marketing, film production, CRM, data analysis, website marketing and creative industry education.
As we said in our new year message at the start of 2024, driving value for Bristol Creative Industries members is our top priority, and we remain committed to creating opportunities for our community to learn, connect and grow their businesses.
To continue with this mission, we have key focuses that the new board directors will help us deliver thanks to their excellent expertise and contacts. They will contribute directly to:
Our priorities also include the BCI Talent Programme which supports the next generation of diverse talent in the creative industries and is currently open for sponsorship opportunities.
The appointment of the five new board directors follows Lis Anderson and Heather Wright becoming co-chairs of BCI.
Heather Wright, co-chair of Bristol Creative Industries, said:
“We are delighted to welcome these uniquely talented, inspirational and hardworking industry leaders who have stepped up for BCI and for our sector. They will strengthen our team and make it possible for us to achieve our ambitions for members.”
Joining Lis Anderson, Heather Wright, Gail Caig, Marissa Lewis-Peart, Julian Davis and Steven Coombe on the Bristol Creative Industries board are:
Adam Millbank brings over 16 years of commercial film production experience, serving as a founding director of B Corp registered companies JonesMillbank and Nine Tree Studios.
With his roots in documentary filmmaking, Adam has honed a talent for uncovering the essence of stories, establishing profound connections with his subjects. While he remains a practitioner, he also dedicates significant time to nurturing relationships with agencies and brands, earning him a reputation as a trusted partner in the industry.
Adam now collaborates with globally recognised brands, leveraging his expertise to drive innovative projects.
He maintains a keen interest in the intersection of education and creativity, aiming to foster greater connectivity within the Bristol creative industries around film and video and create a space for collaboration through Nine Tree Studios.
Tom Harber is an experienced creative agency leader specialising in digital experiences and creative technology solutions.
Tom has held leadership positions in industry leading creative agencies across both the UK and Australia that have be recognised at prestigious awards including Cannes Lions, BIMA and The Effies. Tom eventually landed back in the South West to head up creative technology studio, Aer Studios.
Proudly B Corp Certified, Tom and his team have been ranked in the top 100 best workplaces in the UK and have recently been appointed to the BBC UX Design roster as the only agency representing the South West region.
Tom’s passion is in creating meaningful digital experiences that have a positive impact on people and planet. He believes that bringing the creative and technology sectors closer together can have a huge benefit to the South West.
Tom Bowden-Green‘s experience combines senior consultancy (10+ years) and academic leadership (10+ years), designing and delivering training to support business development and career growth in marketing. His current focus is on bringing together regional and academic expertise to support business growth within the creative industries.
Tom studied his PhD at the Digital Behaviour Lab at University of Bath School of Management. His research and teaching now focuses on applying psychology to creative processes.
His recent work at Bristol Business School includes investigating behaviour change with Bristol City Council, researching the Bristol brand with Visit West, and understanding the effectiveness of social media advertising.
Tom created and led the MSc Digital Marketing at UWE Bristol and led several successful Digital Marketing Bootcamps. He co-hosts the The Digital Behaviour Podcast.
David Darke is the co-founder and operations director of Atomic Smash, a website performance agency based in Bristol, specialising in optimising WordPress, WooCommerce and Shopify.
Since its inception in 2010, Atomic Smash has prided itself on a caring team culture, emphasising continuous learning, creativity, and problem-solving. In this role, he has been recognised for kindness in leadership by being nominated as a Kindness Leadership Leading Light.
David’s approach to business reflects a deep understanding of the web’s potential to transform how companies and individuals communicate and conduct business.
Kate Sikora is the co-founder and managing partner of Noble Performs, a digital performance marketing agency based in Bristol renowned for helping organisations achieve remarkable results.
Highly commended as the IOD Director of the Year 2023 and serving as a Taan European Governor, Kate is committed to driving excellence and innovation in the digital marketing landscape.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Kate finds joy in family life, practicing yoga, and exploring new culinary creations in the kitchen.
Bristol based PointZeroGroup has acquired world leading employee experience agency Home.
The acquisition sees Home join a growing network of employee communications and experience agencies in Bristol under the PointZeroGroup banner, further strengthening the city’s reputation as a hotbed for creative brilliance in this field.
The addition of Home to the PointZeroGroup adds employee experience to their service lines for the first time and strengthens their already burgeoning global client portfolio. All group clients now have access to a full suite of employee and candidate propositions.
PointZeroGroup now consist of Home (employee experience and internal comms), RewardPointZero (benefits communications), That Little Agency (social and digital), and BrandPointZero (employer brand). All group agencies are based in Bristol.
PointZeroGroup founder and BrandPointZero Managing Director Andy Bamford said,
“We have admired Home for a long time. Their work in employee experience and internal communications is second to none and a great addition to the PointZeroGroup. They have built an enviable group of experts that we’re now proud to call colleagues. We look forward to collaborating with the team at Home as we grow together in the coming months.”
Home will continue to operate from their office at Unicorn Park, Whitby Road.
The Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Thangam Debbonaire, Labour MP for Bristol West, met boomsatsuma staff and students to find out more about the challenges and opportunities facing the independent training and funding for the regions Creative Industry sector, joined by representatives from Better Society Capital, Bristol & Bath Regional Capital and Access – the Foundation for Social Investment.
The visit to Leadworks, one of boomsatsuma’s six training centres across Bristol, Friday 10th May, gave the MP first hand insight as to how boomsatsuma delivers education differently, bringing opportunities to the often-marginalised communities across the city. The award-winning Bristol-based disruptive educator has seen demand for its courses from students feeding into careers within the regions’ thriving creative industry sector rise year on year.
Thangam Debbonaire, MP, engaged in discussions delving into the potential for ethical funding routes for the betterment of communities, culture and education. She states:
“It was great to visit boomsatsuma and see how their brilliant facilities and staff are enabling students to take their talent to the next level. I’m proud of Bristol’s vibrant cultural life. As Culture Secretary in a Labour government, I’ll work with institutions like boomsatsuma to secure the creative talent pipeline our city needs so that it can continue to generate joy, jobs and wealth that we all benefit from.”
boomsatsuma has been supported with around £800k investment from City Funds, the place-based impact investment fund managed by BBRC, which underpinned significant expansion and enabled higher capacity. City Funds is a £10m fund created for investment from Better Society Capital, Bristol City Council and Access: The Foundation for Social Investment.
Founder Mark Curtis explained:
“It’s great to have this opportunity to have a dialogue with our local MP, who clearly shares our passion for culture, sports and (can see) their importance to the local society and economy. It’s encouraging that there is top level recognition that these sectors are important and require training pathways, beyond Maths and Engineering, to meet the needs of the employers and also fulfil the passions to give the next generations a voice.”
Mark continues:
“A significant challenge for providers like boomsatsuma is that although we could meet the demands of expanding student numbers and align new courses with the regions’ skills agenda, we have had no direct access to central Government or the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to support our growth and demand. We have increased our engagement with Business West and West England Combined Authority over the past year and today’s visit will hopefully help consolidate our position in the local creative training landscape.
“While we enjoy very positive relationships with our education partners (at Cabot Learning Federation and Olympus Academy), it’s unfortunate that we are capped by the current system that restricts our ability to grow and scale into new markets and territories. Without systemic change we can only reach a limited number of young people.
“Sometimes to make a difference you have to actually do things differently. We are hoping the next administration will support us in this.”
Stephen Muers, CEO, Better Society Capital said:
“Boomsatsuma is a brilliant organisation helping to channel Bristolian talent into creative jobs. Organisations like this which help people access the UK’s thriving creative industries are invaluable and we are so glad to support Mark and the team. We appreciate boomsatsuma’s hospitality, and it was great to be able to show Thangam Debbonaire a wonderful example of the role social investment can play in a really important local business.
Social investment can help transform lives and we are eager to work with the next government to unlock billions more pounds of private investment into tackling the UK’s social issues and grow the economy.”
Ed Rowberry, Chief Executive, BBRC, said:
“BBRC is delighted to have invested in boomsatsuma by deploying blended finance at the local level via City Funds. The blend of finance, sourced from Better Society Capital, Access and Bristol City Council has enabled boomsatsuma to continue to deliver on its important mission to provide pathways for young people particularly those from Bristol’s marginalised communities, into the region’s creative and digital workforce.”
Pictured:
The Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Thangam Debbonaire, Labour MP for Bristol West, with boomsatsuma staff and students, Better Society Capital, Bristol & Bath Regional Capital and Access – the Foundation for Social Investment. Outside of Leadworks, Bristol.
Picture by Jett Morgan, Year 2 Photography level 3 student at boomsatsuma College
UWE Bristol will host Showcase, its annual degree show, next month, offering visitors the opportunity to discover a new generation of talent from the College of Arts, Technology and Environment.
More than 1200 students from over 40 courses will exhibit their work at Bower Ashton, Arnolfini, Spike Island and the university’s Frenchay Campus from Thursday 6 until Wednesday 12 June.
An annual highlight for the university and the city of Bristol, members of the public are invited to attend the free in-person exhibitions which will include a selection of undergraduate and postgraduate work from animation, architecture, art, creative technologies, design, engineering, fashion, filmmaking, media, performance, photography, product design and writing.
Elena Marco, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Head of College of Arts, Technology and Environment said: “We are thrilled to share our students’ work publicly and give them the chance to demonstrate their ingenuity and creativity to a wider audience. This is a critical point in their careers, and they should be proud of everything they have achieved so far.”
Further information on the Showcase is listed below:
UWE Bristol Frenchay Campus:
A public opening night takes place on Thursday 6 June, with student work from architecture, product design, creative technologies and engineering on display at R Block, The Foundry and Z Block between 18:00 and 21:00. Registration is required – to book visit Eventbrite.
The Frenchay Campus Degree Show continues, featuring work from architecture, product design and engineering on:
UWE Bristol City Campus:
On Friday 7 June an exclusive private preview evening (by invitation only) will take place across the University’s City Campus – at Bower Ashton, Arnolfini and Spike Island – featuring the work of graduating students from art, design, animation, fashion, media, writing, performance, photography, and filmmaking.
The City Campus exhibitions open fully to the public on Saturday 8 June (no need to book). Opening times are:
For those who can’t make it in person, a digital showcase launches on 3 June and features exciting work from hundreds of graduating students from 40 programmes. Designed to celebrate new talent and support professional practice, enterprise and employability, each graduate has curated their own portfolio with links to their own sites and social channels.
More information on the Showcase is available on the UWE Bristol website.