The photo above shows the Bristol WordPress team at WordCamp Bristol in 2019 – a moment when the community was thriving. By less than a year later the World had changed and, despite best efforts, Bristol WordPress People had ceased to operate. There has been a void in the city’s WordPress community since.
The exciting news is that a small group of us have been meeting to discuss how we can reignite this once-thriving group. I’m happy to announce that Janice Tye, one of the original organisers of Bristol WordPress People has re-instated the official Meetup and scheduled some networking events at the King William Alehouse, 20 King St, Bristol BS1 4EF. Whether you’re an old friend or a new face, you’re invited to join us:
Tuesday, February 4th – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Thursday, March 6th – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Tuesday, April 6th – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
At its peak, Bristol WordPress People was a hub of inspiration – hosting expert talks, lively networking sessions, and delicious food thanks to sponsors like Atomic Smash and 34SP. This was more than just a meetup; it was a friendly, creative community where people shared knowledge, learned new skills, and helped each other thrive.
Whether you’re a seasoned WordPress pro, someone curious to learn, a website owner in search of advice, or someone with tips and stories to share, we need your help to revive our once-loved group.
Let’s rebuild this community together. Join us at the King William Alehouse and help shape the future of Bristol WordPress People.
See you soon!
Nine Tree Studios, Bristol’s biggest independent studio, has launched a WhatsApp Community to give back to local filmmakers, photographers, creatives, and production companies.
Primarily it’s a free loyalty programme offering studio discounts and freebies, including:
There’s also groups for advice and jobs, and private channels for production companies and studios to collaborate and share advice.
“We’ve always wanted our space to be able to support Bristol’s creative community” said Russell Jones, Co-Founder of Nine Tree Studios.
“Nowadays email newsletters feel old and clunky and aren’t really suited to what we wanted, like offering free studio hire to those who need it, and promoting and discussing events.”
“By virtue of having members we also hope it’ll be a space for freelancers, screen professionals, studios and production companies to share advice, post jobs, collaborate, and generally chit-chat.”
You can join the community at https://chat.whatsapp.com/D64qZ5CmnxCASYEevxDFEV and visit https://www.ninetreestudios.co.uk/community for more information and terms.
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Nine Tree Studios is Bristol’s largest independent studio.
Suitable for set builds, commercial productions, photography and HETV, the space features two main studios – a 4,640sq ft soundstage and a 567sq ft infinity cove – plus a podcast suite, green rooms, production offices and a 9,000sq ft backlot.
For more information visit www.ninetreestudios.co.uk or email info@ninetreestudios.co.uk.
Looking for a unique and meaningful venue for your next business event or networking session? Weston College’s The Grove Training Restaurant is open on selected Tuesdays in 2025, offering a perfect blend of exceptional food and the opportunity to support the next generation of hospitality professionals.
By hosting an event at The Grove, located at our Knightstone Campus in Weston-super-Mare; you’re giving our Catering and Hospitality students valuable hands-on experience. From food preparation to serving, they gain essential skills in a realistic workplace environment—all while you and your guests enjoy expertly crafted dishes.
With a warm, friendly atmosphere, seated two-course dinners start at just £15 per head. Every dish is prepared using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, with menus changing monthly to keep things fresh and exciting.
Hosting your business or private event here is not just as a treat for your taste buds – it’s an investment in our learners’ futures.
Contact us today to book your event or to learn more about our menu and services!
The creative sector is rapidly evolving, with new talents and innovative minds shaping industries such as graphic design, media production, games and animation, art, photography, performance, theatre, fashion, and design. To ensure this sector remains vibrant and continues to thrive, it’s crucial that we support the next generation of creatives, offering them the resources and connections to jump-start their careers.
At Weston College and University Centre Weston, we’re dedicated to nurturing the talent of tomorrow through a wide range of creative pathways. Whether learners dream of becoming graphic designers, media producers, animators, or fashion designers, our courses equip them with the skills, experience, and knowledge necessary to succeed in today’s competitive job market. But there’s a vital element that makes this journey complete: real-world engagement from creative businesses.
Looking to the future, and as Sir Peter Bazalgette said:
In every scenario the Creative Industries are set to be of central importance to the UK’s future success. We have two great assets: the English language and our creativity, but the skills and business models of this sector are of increasing importance.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bazalgette-review-sets-recommendations-for-continued-growth-of-uks-creative-industries
Employers supporting FE and HE providers offer crucial curriculum overviews which is needed for all learners. Without this, we are unable to prepare them for their future career and, simply put; they will not be industry ready. We value the support from employers who can be involved from a curriculum perspective, who offer projects, workplace experiences and more so we can provide robust, ready and industry savvy individuals. The Creative Sector businesses can inspire learners during their study through this engagement. We have found that this is especially vital for learners unable (or not looking) to go to university; or that want to stay local and contribute to their local economy. They can hear, experience and look to local employers for their next steps into industry.
How Creative Industries Can Get Involved
If you’re a local business in the creative sector, now is the time to step forward and engage with emerging talent. There are countless opportunities to connect with learners and help shape their future careers. We’re calling on creative companies to work with us by offering guest lectures, work experience placements, project work or attending our career events. Your involvement can make all the difference, providing learners with invaluable industry insights and hands-on experience that will give them the edge they need to flourish post-education.
This November, Weston College is hosting its annual careers event, which will bring together over 1,000 FE and HE students. This is a fantastic opportunity for creative businesses to meet fresh, enthusiastic talent and discover how they can contribute to the growth of local industry. Whether you’re looking to exhibit, scout new recruits, or simply share your experiences, we encourage you to take part. The event will be held in Weston-super-Mare on the 19th of November.
Why Partner with Weston College?
Weston College is passionate about supporting learners who want to stay local and contribute to the creative economy in the region. With Bristol 30 minutes away by train, learners are keen to look at exploring careers on offer. By partnering with us, you’re not only supporting the career aspirations of young creatives but also fostering a robust local workforce that can fuel innovation in your own business. Our creative pathways provide a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to make their mark in graphic design, media production, games and animation, art, photography, theatre, and more.
We believe that by building strong connections between education and industry, we can create a thriving creative community in Weston-super-Mare and beyond. We are here to support our learners but we also support business and want to listen, act and implement skills needed.
Let’s Connect
If you’re a creative business eager to inspire and work with emerging talent, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re interested in delivering a guest lecture, offering work experience, or promoting career opportunities, there are many ways to get involved. Your support can open doors for our learners and help develop the future of the creative industries.
For businesses interested in exhibiting at our annual careers event or partnering with Weston College in any capacity, please email us at employers@weston.ac.uk to register your expression of interest. Our passion is to support learner and industry so please do get in touch.
If you are looking to recruit a live events tech, Weston College can help businesses access fully funded* apprenticeship training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
There is still a post pandemic impact on the sector, resulting in disruptions to staffing, increased costs, and significant supply chain delays. As the industry strives to recover, this new apprenticeship provides a timely solution by developing a new generation of talented technicians capable of supporting the growing demand for live events across the UK and beyond.
The exciting Live Event Technician Apprenticeship program, designed to address the critical shortage of skilled professionals in the live events industry begins starts in November so dont miss out!
Live Event Technicians work in a wide range of settings, including concerts, festivals, theatrical productions, exhibitions, and conferences. Their core responsibility is to prepare, build, set up, and operate industry-standard equipment to deliver seamless live performances. In this dynamic role, technicians interact with a variety of professionals, including venue staff, production managers, designers, performers, and producers..
The Live Event Technician Apprenticeship offers a structured pathway for both new entrants and existing employees to gain the necessary technical skills and practical experience. Employers can use this program to recruit new talent or upskill current staff, ensuring that they are equipped to meet the high standards required for live event production.
For those looking to secure the future of their business and contribute to the growth of the live events sector, this apprenticeship is an ideal solution. To find out more, contact employers@weston.ac.uk
*For 16-21-year-olds and up to 25 if a young person has an Education Health Care Plan.
PechaKucha Nights are in-person events, hosting talks that follow a 20×20 presentation format (20 slides, 20 seconds each). They are centered around creative people and creative projects.
They’re coming (back) to Bristol…
The PechaKucha brand and 20×20 presentation format was created in Japan in 2003 (It translates as “chit-chat”). There are now 1,200+ cities worldwide hosting PechaKucha Nights.
I’ve done a couple of 20×20 talks myself in various locations and lived in Tokyo for nearly 6 years where I attended many PKN’s at what I guess is their official ‘HQ’. I’m a Designer / Artist / Inventor but loved learning little snippets and insights from the lives of photographers, illustrators, coders, sculptors, architects…
PKN’s are so fun.
There’s minimal character divide between speakers on stage and people in the audience, everyone’s the same and there to have fun and support each other. No-one’s hard selling or driveling on, they’re just telling mini-stories and sharing their projects, ideas, processes and emotions.The presentations are often imperfect, that’s part of it.
Bristol’s full of creatives but many of the events I’ve attended have been sector specific and business or networking focused. I don’t want to know what great services a company does, I just want to have fun, and maybe make some new pals as a bonus!
Earlier this year I got a bit too excited and thought, you know what? I’m going to bring Pecha Kucha to Bristol. Within a couple of days of my official request, Bristol became an Authorised City and I became the organiser. Only then it dawned on me how much work it is going to be, but still, I’m going for it!
There are three main areas I’m working on and looking for help in;
Speakers, Sponsorship and Attendance
The first event is on 25th November, 18:00~20:15 at Dareshack, Wine Street, and the theme is ‘HAPPINESS’.
Aiming for 8 speakers, 20 sponsors and 200 attendees!
More info : https://bristol-pkn.carrd.co/
Tickets : https://hdfst.uk/e114662/
Mailing list : https://eepurl.com/iX7lk2
Insta : https://www.instagram.com/pkn_bristol/
The government has started a review of the cirruculum to ensure creative subjects are part of education, Lisa Nandy said.
Speaking at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, the culture secretary criticised the previous Conservative administration for not supporting arts and culture, and said the new government will “reignite the imagination of the next generation because a complete education is a creative education”.
With education secretary Bridget Phillipson, she said she has launched “a review of the curriculum to put arts, sports and music back at the heart of our schools and communities where it belongs”.
The government will also, Nandy said, launch a review of Arts Council England to “ensure arts for everyone, everywhere because we will never accept that culture is just for the privileged few, to be hoarded in a few corners of the country, and we will never accept there is a trade off between excellence and access”.
Other focuses outlined by the culture secretary included “making the TV industry far more representative of the country”, working with mayors and councils to grow creative sectors such as tourism, film, and gaming, and shortly launching the BBC charter review “to ensure the BBC survives and thrives well into the latter half of this century”.
In his conference speech, Keir Starmer also referenced creativity, saying:
“Everyone deserves the chance to be touched by art. Everyone deserves access to moments that light up their lives.
“And every child deserves the chance to study the creative subjects that widen their horizons, provide skills employers do value, and prepares them for the future, the jobs and the world that they will inherit.”
The creative industries were also discussed in other parts of the conference, including in a pavilion run by Creative UK.
One panel focused on improving working class access to the creative industries, following research released earlier this year which found that in film, TV, video, radio and photography just 8.4% of people identify as being from a working-class background.
On the panel was Line of Duty actress Vicky McClure who said:
“If it wasn’t for the likes of Jed Mercurio [Line of Duty writer] and Shane Meadows [This Is England writer], working class lads from Birmingham and Uttoxeter, I wouldn’t be here.”
The panel discussed the need for funding to be targeted at underrepresented groups wanting to enter the creative industries. Watch a recording of the event here.
A key focus at Bristol Creative Industries is boosting workforce diversity in creative businesses and helping to grow the talent pipeline for our members.
As well as our groundbreaking Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme with social enterprise Babbasa and Bristol-based agencies, we provide opportunities for members and have committed to an annual programme of round tables with key post 16 education providers in the region including colleges, academies and universities.
Our aim is to promote creative careers to staff and career advisers, drive applications to our internship programme and explore how we can promote the creative industries to students already studying.
By joining the Bristol Creative Industries Talent Programme as a partner, you’ll help to fund all of our activities that support underrepresented groups entering the creative industries. Your support is vital to ensure we have a healthy and diverse talent pipeline.
For more details, contact Alli Nicholas, BCI membership and operations manager, at alli@bristolcreativeindustries.com, or Lis Anderson, BCI co-chair, at lis@ambitiouspr.co.uk
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Projects – of all sizes, in all sectors and with various budget constraints can put the most cool headed staff member under pressure. With various stakeholders involved, tight deadlines, organisation management and staff availability alongside budget and time constraints; the presence of a skilled project manager to guide the effort and ensure alignment among all participants is crucial for project success. Organisations employing various project management methodologies excel in sticking to budgets, adhering to schedules, meeting scope requirements, upholding quality standards, and realising the benefit of how a successful outcome can make to a business.
Develop your staff in project management, and drive your business forward through a part funded Project Management Skills Bootcamp.
Course: Skills Bootcamp in Project Management
Option 1 Course start: 13th September 2024 (2 week break in learning for half term 25th of October and 1st November)
Option 2 Course start: 10th January 2025 (1 week break in learning for half term 21st February)
Duration: 10 weeks
Cost for Large Employer: £681.75 per person (30% contribution towards the cost of training)
Cost for SME Employer: £227.25 per person (10% contribution towards the cost of training)
Delivery Location: Bristol Training Institute, 12 Colston Avenue, Bristol, BS1 1XH
Eligibility: Funding is ringfenced for Employers based in the West of England Combined Authority region of Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Course Content: This course is suitable for employers to upskill their staff. The course content is under pinned by the Association for Project Management (APM), Project Management Qualification (PMQ) and will reference the APM Book of Knowledge (BoK) 7th Edition.
Units covered include:
Evidence from employer to confirm that the training provided via the Skills Bootcamp has resulted in either a new job role or an enhanced role for the employee that now utilises their new skills gained via this Skills Bootcamp.
Contact us today to register your interest on employers@weston.ac.uk or visit our previous bootcamp information page: https://www.weston.ac.uk/ProjectManagementEmployers
Graduate exhibition showcases Bristol’s emerging talent at the Royal Photographic Society.
Bristol Film School at boomsatsuma proudly announces the opening of ‘Blossom Season’, its 2024 Graduate Photography Showcase at the prestigious Royal Photographic Society (RPS) in Bristol, this Saturday. The exhibition showcases exceptional work from the first graduating cohort of BA (Hons) Documentary Photography and Print.
Exhibition details:
Dates: June 15 – June 30, 2024
Location: Royal Photographic Society, 337 Paintworks, Arnos Vale, Bristol BS4 3AR
Opening Hours: Thursday to Sunday 10am – 5pm
Private View and Reception: June 15th, 3pm – 7pm (please contact us for tickets)
The showcase features innovative photography on a diverse range of subjects – from sports to fashion – and demonstrates the high level of creative and technical skills developed on the course. The unique degree, run by award winning photographers, emphasises our students’ hands-on experience and industry engagement but with a strong focus on the ‘art of photography’.
Sam Fordham, Head of Photography at the Bristol Film School, says:
“It’s a privilege to see our students’ hard work and dedication culminate in this outstanding exhibition. Their ability to tell powerful stories through photography is a testament to their talent and the supportive, dynamic environment we strive to create on our photography degree.”
From Sunday 16th June, the exhibition is open to the public, offering an excellent opportunity for artists, industry professionals, and the local community to engage with the next generation of photographers. Admission is free and many of the exhibited works will be available for purchase.
Interested in Photography? Come to boomsatsuma’s open day at the Royal Photographic Society on Saturday 15th June from 1130. Talk to award-winning photography team and get a sneak preview of the exhibition.
Check out the new Photography and Print Degree .
Image Credits: Amber Mylius-King (article body -first image), Matthew Roderick (article body – second image)
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