As a teacher, I had one hell of a timetable to follow. The entire day was mapped out in tidy little 50-minute boxes, and the vast majority of my time was allocated for me. But as a full time writer and when launching two businesses, I had the whole day to play with. Like several people I’ve spoken with in the past week, the downside of such blank-page flexibility is making the most of this time and not falling prey to procrastination.
Through a lot of trial and error (and maybe a dash of procrastination along the way) I found strategies that helped me write and self-publish two novels. I’ll share what worked for me, in case it works for you.
Make a list and put it in order: At the start of the day (for me, it’s while eating breakfast), I make a list of everything I would like to achieve that day. Nothing is too small a task – my list contains ‘Reply to X’s email’, ‘Send photo to Y’ – all the little things take time too, and we don’t want them to fall down the cracks. Next, put the list in order, starting with what ‘must’ be covered today, moving into what ‘should’ be covered, and then end with the ‘coulds’ – you’ll complete these if you have time but it’s not the end of the world if you do them tomorrow. It’s also a good idea to put ‘heavier’ tasks earlier in the day too, like that piece of writing you’ve been putting off because it’ll take some brainpower. Now you’ve got the list, that anxious part of your mind that’s worried you’ll forget something can sigh, take a back seat and let you get on with it.
Commit to a 3-hour block: In Stolen Focus, Johan Hari talks about how three hours of flow in the morning can really set you up for the day. We’ve all had days when we’ve done 3 hours of work in 5 or 6 hours, and we know we’re better than that. So find a three-hour window and stick to it. For me, that window is 8am – 11am each morning. I’ve had my breakfast, I’ve made my list. Phone in the kitchen, laptop open, here we go. Working through your list, you’ll do more in those three hours than you’d otherwise do in a whole day. Work like this, and you’ll do more in a week than most people do in a fortnight.
Find an app that works for you: I’ve heard great things recently about NotePlan, and if you want an app that syncs your calendars and gives you reminders, check it out. For me, it’s Notes and Google Docs all the way – I like something that will sync between my phone and laptop, and I like to create my bullet point lists and tables in my own way, so the blank pages work for me here. Whatever you choose, you want something that you can easily refer to when you’re on the go. When you’re having a chat with someone and they ask you to drop them that link – open the app and make a note. Then when it comes to planning your day, you can refer to the Note and bingo – you’re the person that gets things done.
If you’re managing your own time and would like someone to talk through what works for you and help to hold you accountable, get in touch and book a free clarity call.
Bristol-based period care brand Grace & Green has launched a new TV campaign highlighting the lack of workplace period products in their spot, ‘Caught Short’.
Collaborating with JonesMillbank, Bristol-based B-Corp video production company, the ad was created after Grace & Green was named as Sky’s Local Heroes winner for the South West, securing funded media support through the Sky Zero Footprint Fund.
“This campaign is about making sure every employee can manage their periods at work without stress or stigma, and placing Grace & Green as the go-to period brand for businesses that care about their employees,” said Fran Lucraft, Founder and CEO of Grace & Green.
“Access to period products should be a right, not a privilege. We are so excited to see our brand on the small screen! Being a Bristol-based business, it’s incredible to see our work recognised locally and shared nationally.”
Abbie Howes, rostered director at JonesMillbank, added: “Getting caught short at work is a stress far too many women have endured, so it was really important to get that relatability across – whilst using light humour to highlight how ridiculous it is that it’s still not the norm for workplaces to supply period products.”
“Understandably if you’ve never been in the situation yourself it may never have crossed your mind, so we didn’t want this to feel judgmental or lecturing, but rather an issue that’s very easy to fix.”
The campaign is running across the Sky network throughout September alongside digital. For more information visit www.graceandgreen.co and www.jonesmillbank.com.
***
JonesMillbank are a full-service production company based at Nine Tree Studios, their 10,000sq ft film studio.
Producing branded content, TV ads and social content their clients include local, global and household brands such as Dyson, University of Bristol, DHL, Oxfam, Pukka and the NHS.
jonesmillbank.com
01173706372
[email protected]
The Royal Navy needed recruits. But the old playbook wasn’t working on Gen Z.
The Royal Navy’s success depends on recruiting thousands of 16–24-year-olds each year. But Gen Z’s changing expectations and behaviours were making that target more elusive than ever. Digital-first, aesthetically driven and authenticity-focused, this generation demanded an experience that a bloated and unfocused website couldn’t deliver.
The mission was clear: engineer a user-centred experience that inspired the next generation to get onboard. Alongside the client, we mapped a watertight site strategy based on doing fewer things better.
Success starts with understanding your audience. From our deep audience research, we knew half of Gen Z valued content they can’t get anywhere else. They’re less driven by patriotism than previous generations. They need to see themselves in the action.
Working closely with experts at the Navy, we defined benefits that few others could offer, such as on-the-job qualifications, seeing new horizons, and world-class equipment. Through rapid prototyping and continuous testing, we put these in front of potential recruits to shape the experience around their needs and expectations.
A digital brand refresh required bold decisions, including using a monochrome logo, a new font sharing angular characteristics with modern ships, and colours drawn from real-world naval touchpoints such as radar screens.
Content was also reimagined for Gen Z, including Stories – a new, bite-sized mobile-first format providing an outlet for unvarnished, real-life insights. It answers Gen Z’s most human concerns like ‘What’s a typical day like?’ and ‘Will I fit in?’
A new technical architecture delivered flexibility, scalability and military-grade security. The process involved migrating to Sitecore Managed Cloud – possible because of our experience with strict security requirements. Complete with headless content delivery and composable page composition, the Royal Navy can now meet short-term goals and long-term ambitions. And as Gen Z’s needs evolve, we can reshape the experience to match.
The impact? Immediate. The new experience naturally filtered candidates, increasing qualified applications while reducing ineligible ones. Industry validation followed, with 11 awards including a Webby, a Lovie and the Digital Impact Awards Grand Prix.
This wasn’t just a website redesign. It was a new blueprint for digital-first recruitment. By putting authentic experience at the heart of every decision, we created a five-star experience connecting with a new generation – on their terms.
From a structural perspective, success might look like this: smooth client onboarding, a fully scoped project, clear timelines, and budgets securely locked in.
Sounds like a recipe for success? But, here’s the catch — even with all these components in place, projects can still derail from time to time.
It’s rarely the project process or workflow tools that fail (especially with AI and automation accelerating efficiency). More often than not, it’s the human side, such as communication gaps, mismatched expectations, or even rising frustrations that throw things off track.
That’s why emotional intelligence and soft skills are essential to project management alongside your planning, processes and workflows. Examples such as communication, empathy, adaptability and self-awareness provide the glue that holds projects together, especially when deadlines loom and pressure rises.
In our experience, projects succeed because of the tools we use, and even more so because of how well we connect with clients, stakeholders, and teams, while staying aligned on the outcomes that matter.
Emotional intelligence isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a practical skill set that helps project managers deliver stronger outcomes for both teams and clients.
Here are a few ways emotional intelligence shows up in day-to-day project management:
For small businesses and creative agencies, where teams often juggle multiple priorities, these skills make all the difference. Strong emotional intelligence leads to stronger collaboration, clearer communication, and ultimately, better project outcomes.
Now that you’re aware of emotional intelligence, here are a few soft skills that complement it, providing further clarity and structure across the project cycle:
Soft skills like these may seem small, but in practice, they can determine how projects feel, and how successful they become.
To conclude, projects don’t succeed because of perfectly polished timelines or automated tools. They succeed because of the people involved — from project managers and internal teams to contractors, stakeholders, and clients.
Soft skills and emotional intelligence aren’t just extras; they are the foundation of clear communication, resilient teams, and smoother project delivery.
That’s the core of what we do at Tell ’em Mo: combining both skill sets to deliver people-first project management that creates clarity and structure, so businesses, creatives, and founders can thrive and hit their goals.
Need help with an upcoming project this Autumn/Winter? Let’s have a chat about what you need and how we can support you.
If you’ve always been curious about voice acting and voiceover (VO) but don’t know where to start, BRAVA’s Foundation Course is designed for you.
Taught by BRAVA’s CEO and principal coach, Melissa Thom, this low-cost, accessible group course is the perfect introduction to the art and business of VO, giving you a solid introduction to the foundational skills, techniques, and knowledge you’ll need in order to take your next steps with confidence.
Whether you’re completely new to VO, coming from acting, broadcasting, marketing, advertising, or another creative discipline, or even an experienced VO artist who has never undertaken any specific training, this course offers a friendly, live, and bespoke learning experience.
What to expect
Over three live, interactive online sessions, you’ll:
You’ll also get a taste of BRAVA’s professional, personalised coaching style. By the end of the course, you’ll know exactly what’s involved in taking your training further.
This course also serves as your direct entry into Stage 1: Narration – our intensive one-to-one coaching programme that prepares you to record your first professional narration demo and enter the market.
Course details
Not sure if VO is right for you? That’s exactly why this course exists.
In just three evenings, you’ll understand how the VO world works, get live feedback on your voice, and find out if this is something you’d love to pursue.
The group is limited to just 12 people, so you’ll have space to ask questions, get feedback, and feel supported.
Dates: 9,10 and 11 September 2025 (Tues, Weds, Thurs) – 7pm | Online
Price: £180 (inc VAT)
Why BRAVA?
At BRAVA, all of our training is live and tailored to you. There are no pre-recorded modules and we work with people of all ages and experience levels from 20 yrs+, with backgrounds in acting, broadcasting, marketing, advertising, and more.
You’ll benefit from the expertise of professional coaches who understand the nuances of the craft and the business. Many people are surprised by how much there is to learn and how much they can grow, even in just three weeks.
To book, please visit: https://www.brava.uk.com/voiceover-foundation-course
Written by Tony Allen, this article has previously appeared on the ADLIB Blog.
As part of ADLIB’s series ‘Design for Change’ they caught up with Ken Day-Night, Founder & AI Creator at Create Studio AI.
This blog explores how AI is transforming creative workflows, featuring insights from a design leader who’s helping creators and small businesses harness emerging tools to scale storytelling, boost experimentation, and redefine the future of design.
I’ve spent most of my career in the creative industries. Starting in architectural visualisation, where I worked on high-profile developments, translating complex designs into compelling visual narratives. More recently, I’ve shifted into the world of AI, exploring how creative professionals can leverage technology to scale storytelling and content creation. My focus now is helping creators, entrepreneurs, and small businesses use AI to produce high-quality visuals, video, and copy without the need for huge teams or resources.
AI has reshaped how we approach almost every stage of the creative process. Where we used to spend hours on concepting, drafting, or rendering, AI now accelerates these steps, giving us more time to focus on strategy and refinement. We regularly use tools for image generation, video editing, voiceovers, and automated copywriting. One strategy that’s worked well is thinking of AI as a rapid prototyping partner, producing fast iterations so we can explore more creative directions before locking in decisions. It’s improved speed, quality, and creative experimentation across the board.
The biggest challenge is rethinking how we value creativity. It’s easy to fall into the trap of using AI to churn out generic work, but the real opportunity is using it to push creativity further. Generating more ideas, testing more directions, and reducing repetitive tasks. AI has made it possible to work leaner without sacrificing quality, which is a huge advantage in today’s fast-moving creative landscape. The key challenge remains balance: ensuring that AI enhances creative thinking, rather than replacing it.
Definitely. I look for curiosity over credentials. People who are willing to explore new tools, adapt quickly, and experiment fearlessly stand out. Traditional technical skills are still valuable, but mindset is becoming more important, especially comfort with ambiguity and an ability to guide AI tools toward creative goals. Prompting skills, a good design eye, and the ability to judge and refine AI output are crucial now. Essentially, creative thinking remains the superpower, but it’s paired with the ability to harness and direct AI effectively.
I’m always following the fast-moving creator economy, especially where it intersects with AI. Communities around Midjourney, Veo, Flux, and grassroots indie creators on X (Twitter) and even LinkedIn, are constant sources of fresh ideas and use cases. I’m particularly interested in multi-modal AI, where visuals, audio, and text are seamlessly integrated, causing an explosion of short-form content. It’s clear that AI is lowering the barriers for creators, making high-quality content achievable for almost anyone.
Experiment without fear. AI is moving so fast that the only way to stay relevant is to engage with it directly. Test tools, run projects, and see what works for you. Don’t wait for the perfect tool or workflow; the learning happens through use. But at the same time, keep your creative judgement sharp. The value you bring is in taste (knowing what’s good), what’s impactful, and how to guide AI to help achieve that.
Beyond AI creativity, the rise of no-code platforms has been game-changing. It’s given creative professionals the ability to launch products, build websites, and test business ideas without relying on developers. That shift from being solely a designer to becoming a creator or entrepreneur, has changed how I see design itself. It’s no longer just about visuals, but about using design thinking to solve problems end-to-end, from concept to execution, with AI and no-code unlocking speed and scale like never before.
saintnicks has been nominated for ‘Best Community Development’ at the Digital Impact Awards for their work across social media with POSCA UK.
The Digital Impact Awards set the benchmark in digital stakeholder engagement, celebrating the best digital communications from brands. This nomination recognises the creativity, strategy, and measurable impact of saintnicks’ partnership with the Mitsubishi Pencil UK team.
Inbound activity to POSCA’s social media channels has quadrupled, and the brand’s own response actions have increased more than tenfold. The brand was sent and tagged in over 10,000 pieces of social content in just the first four months of 2025.
Cath Eaton, Social Media Manager at saintnicks, said:
“In just a short time, our partnership with Mitsubishi Pencil has built a vibrant, engaged community on social media, that delivers real results. This nomination for the Digital Impact Awards is a fantastic recognition of the dedication and collaboration behind our work – something the whole team is incredibly proud of.”
If you’re looking for an agency that truly gets social media, content, and community management, explore saintnicks’ brand, campaigns, content and digital expertise here, or reach out to their Client Services Director, Francois d’Espagnac.
The total number of jobs in the UK’s creative industries fell in 2024 compared to the year before, new government figures has revealed.
Employment data from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) showed there were 2,409,000 creative sector jobs in the year to December 2024, down from 2,419,000 in 2023. In the 11 years prior to 2023, the sector saw successive annual job increases.
The decline in 2024 was driven by a fall in employed roles which fell to 1,713,000, down from 1,744,000 in 2023. In contrast, the number of roles for self-employed individuals and freelancers increased last year to 696,000, up from 675,000 the year before.
Within sub-sectors of the creative industries, music, performing, and visual arts experienced growth, with the total number of jobs increasing from 288,000 in 2023 to 312,000 in 2024.
The avertising and marketing sub-sector also saw a growth in total jobs, rising to 262,000 from 253,000 in 2023. Freelancers in that sector also rose, from 55,000 to 61,000.
Jobs in the film, TV and music sector increased from 208,000 in 2023 t0 214,000 in 2024, although freelancer roles fell from 80,000 to 75,000.
Publishing saw a sharp decline with total jobs falling to 166,000 in 2024, from 217,000 in 2023.
In the cultural sector, total jobs increased 666,000 from 700,000, although self-employed roles fell from 330,000 to 319,000.
Demographic data for the creative industries showed 17% jobs were disabled people, and 37.4% were female workers at 37.4%.
Ethnicity figures showed 82.7% of jobs were held by people from the white ethnic group, 9.9% from the Asian or Asian British ethnic group, 2.8% from the black, African, Caribbean or black British ethnic group, 2.3% from the mixed or multiple ethnic group and 2.3% from other ethnic groups.
In the cultural sector, the following applied:
Of the 2,409,000 jobs in the creative industries, 7.3% (178,000) were located in the South West. This is an increase on the 169,000 south west jobs in 2023.
London still dominates the sector though, with the capital home to 30.4% of creative industries jobs. The second biggest region was the South East with 16.4%.
See the full creative industries employment data here.
Freelancers have long been a significant proportion of the creative and cultural sectors, representing around a third of all workers and more than double that in the overall economy.
In the creative industries sector plan released in June, the government committed to appointing a “freelancer champion” to advocate for freelancers.
Earlier this month, Creative UK published a paper outlining a vision for the freelancer champion role.
The key ask was the launch of formal and structured inquiries into the major systemic barriers freelancers face, such as unfair pay, lack of employment protection and late payment. It also called for:
The creative industries are facing a rapidly shifting employment landscape driven by technological innovation and evolving generational expectations. Businesses that adapt to these changes will thrive; those that don’t risk falling behind.
At an event in the Bristol office of Bristol Creative Industries member RWK Goodman on 11 September, Alice Macleod, a specialist in human behaviour and social science, will deliver a dynamic and thought-provoking session on how shifting societal norms and AI are remoulding work environments and workflows.
Tailored specifically for professionals across creative disciplines, this session will unpack the latest workplace trends, explore how AI is reshaping roles and processes and offer concrete strategies to stay ahead.
You’ll also hear from Marissa Lewis-Peart, BCI board member and senior UX designer at Tesco, and Katie Green from Western Training Provider Network (WTPN) in an exciting fireside chat, where we will be exploring driving ambition and progression, from an employee and national business perspective.
Register for the event here.
Webinar: How to make better career decisions
Landscape for freelancers in 2025
Bristol Creative Industries jobs board
Post a job on the Bristol Creative Industries jobs board
A groundbreaking new festival is set to transform Bristol into an international beacon for technology, creativity and culture this October.
Taking place from from 6-11 October 2025 in and around Bristol’s Old City, BTF+ will offer an accessible and impactful experience for founders, technologists, creatives, investors and culture-makers.
The festival, curated by techSPARK in collaboration with Bristol Creative Industries and MyWorld plus headline partner Ghyston, will feature bold keynotes and panels alongside breakthrough tech demonstrations in several venues. They range from the prestigious Bristol Beacon and Bristol Old Vic to more intimate locations.
Attendees will experience cutting-edge tech showcases, immersive performances, live music and future-facing learning opportunities. Businesses involved will be able to speak, raise their profile and connect with potential partners and investors.
Inspired by legendary festivals like South by Southwest in Austin, BTF+, an evolution of the much-loved Bristol Technology Festival, is designed for start-ups, scale-ups, creators, storytellers, founders, technologists and anyone with curiosity about what’s next.
Whether attendees work in film or fintech, programming or performance, strategy or software, the festival provides a platform to grow businesses, launch ideas, discover emerging trends and help shape the future of their industries.
All profits from the festival will be reinvested into supporting local talent, start-ups and communities. It has been created with inclusivity and accessibility at its heart, through low-cost tickets and many free events to ensure broad participation reflecting Bristol’s spirit.
BTF+ is being brought to the South West with the intention of further cementing the region’s reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative not just in the UK, but in Europe. The event will look to drive growth, investment, and job creation across the region, emulating the impact seen from SXSW in Austin, Texas.
The compact city setting allows people and ideas to move freely, encouraging discovery and purposeful connections. Days will feature talks and workshops from regional talent across tech, creativity and culture, alongside national-level speakers sharing inspiration and insights. As evening falls, music and networking events will provide opportunities for attendees to connect, share experiences and celebrate together.
Confirmed speakers so far include:
Ben Shorrock, co-founder of BTF+, said:
“BTF+ represents an exciting evolution for Bristol’s tech and creative communities. This festival embodies everything that makes our city and wider region special – the collision of technology, creativity and culture in a place that excels at all three.
“The event will be a platform where breakthrough innovations meet artistic expression, where established corporations can connect with emerging talent, and where the brightest minds come together to build the future.”
For our involvement in BTF+, we’ll be running an exciting two days of events on 7 and 8 October, with some high profile and inspiring speakers from across the creative industries. Look out for announcements over the coming weeks.
Early bird tickets for the BFT+ Summit which takes place on 6-10 October, and tickets to free events during the festival are available now. Find out more here.
saintnicks has been shortlisted for the second year running in two categories at the Sports Business Awards 2025, recognising the agency’s standout work with Ascot Racecourse:
Outstanding Social Media Strategy
Excellence in Content Marketing
The Sports Business Awards celebrate and reward the achievements of the teams working behind the scenes to enable sporting excellence through sports marketing – championing creativity, resilience, adaptability, and resourcefulness.
Callum Joynes, Head of Content at saintnicks, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to be shortlisted at the Sports Business Awards among the best names in the sports industry. These nominations are a recognition of the strategy, creativity, and collaboration behind our work across brand and social media with the team through Royal Ascot and beyond. Proof that incredible results can be achieved when a brand and agency share the same vision.”
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