What kind of creative networking groups are there in the UK?

With three decades of recruitment and coaching experience under our belts, we know the value of networking. And it doesn’t always have to mean donning a name tag and speaking to strangers. From virtual networking events and talks, to professional working groups and meet ups: here’s our guide to finding the best UK networking groups for creatives.

Why is networking so important for creatives?

Networking is arguably important for any career. But for creatives, and particularly freelance and contract workers: building a network of good contacts is essential. Creative sector work thrives on collaboration – no marketing campaign or social media strategy is the work of a single brilliant mind. Industry leaders like Architectural Digest,  The Society of British Interior Designers (SBID) and Forbes all champion networking for creative careers. And we quite agree, here’s a few reasons why:

What kind of networking groups exist for creative professionals?

Networking used to mean going to a conference or trade event. And those events still have their place. But there are lots of different types of groups you can join for regular events, informal meet ups, job opportunities and support:

Professional Membership Associations: For regular events, training, mentorship and webinars it might be worth joining a professional membership organisation like IPSE (for self-employed professionals), CIPR for PR professionals and Charity Comms for communications professionals working with charities. Some events and resources are free or ticketed for non-members too, so it’s worth checking them out, even if you don’t want to join up.

Online Networking Groups: These types of networking platforms and groups are ideal for job opportunities, finding collaborators, resources and general support. Some of the main groups include The Dots, Hive Collective, and Yuno Juno.

Digital Creative Communities: These types of online groups are focused more on peer support, and knowledge-sharing rather than professional opportunities. So if you want to ask questions, ask for advice or exchange ideas and thoughts on the creative industry – check out organisations like Creative UK, The Design Hub, Women in Technology and Code Untapped. Many digital communities also focus on underrepresented groups, and can help provide a safe space to discuss industry challenges too.

Meetup Groups and Events: Perfect for people who prefer casual and informal networking over corporate events. Meetups are great for getting to know your peers, finding collaborators and sometimes even mentors. Regular creative industry meetups include Copywriters Unite,a regular pub meet up in London, Manchester, Leeds, and Bristol.There are plenty of opportunities for designers too. Dribble Meetups are an international design community with events all over the UK from casual coffee shop chats to large-scale events. Other groups include The Marketing Meetup (virtual and in-person), Sheffield DM, and The Marketing Social in Liverpool.

How much has in-person networking returned since Covid-19 restrictions ended?

The pandemic has shifted the way we network. But there are some important advantages to these shifts. Virtual networking is more accessible for creatives with medical conditions, disabilities, carers or anyone else who might otherwise miss out. Joining via Zoom, Teams or Google Meet also takes the pressure off for many neurodivergent creatives, and other people who don’t enjoy attending large events. But is there an appetite to get back to in-person networking? That depends on who you ask.

According to a study by Handshake, 67% of Gen Z respondents no longer believe they need to have in-person interactions to form meaningful professional connections. But given the sheer number of networking and industry events listed across the UK being advertised  – it’s clear that creative professionals still want to meet away from screens. And according to the Skills and Education Group, in person networking has made a welcome return.

Which areas have a high number of networking groups?

Networking can be a great way to find other people in your industry in your region. Most big cities and regions have regular networking events or groups. London, Bristol and Manchester all have thriving networking groups for creatives that hold regular in person and online events.

In London, major events include DigiMarCon – a two day digital marketing and media and advertising conference which takes place in September. Creative co-working spaces like Second Home run regular events programmes (and co-working is a great opportunity for informal networking in general). There are also regular events listed on Eventbrite, and meetups like Copywriters Unite.

But there’s plenty going on outside of the capital. In the south west, membership organisation Bristol Creative Industries is driven by a belief that creatives can achieve more collectively than alone.

As well as in-person and online networking events, workshops and talks – the organisation also connects members with jobs via its directory and jobs board and encourages collaboration across the region. Bristol, for example, is also home to several other networking groups including The Square, We Mean Biz, and the film professionals’ group South West Talent Connect.

Manchester has a thriving creative networking culture. Like Bristol, it’s a growing hub for creative talent, home to BBC studios, tech companies, and creative agencies. One of the biggest networking groups in the area is the Shout Network, which is a north-west wide business networking organisation. Connected North is also a huge regional event with keynote speakers from digital leaders which launched in 2022. There are also several meet-up groups in Manchester including The Marketing Meetup.

How to find networking groups in your creative discipline?

Aside from doing a quick google search, there are plenty of places to find in person and online networking groups for your discipline or interest. Social media networks like Facebook or LinkedIn are a great place to start. Over on Facebook you’ll find Freelance PRs, Creative Networking, Founders Freelancers and Rebels and Noi Club for jobs and opportunities in marketing, PR, digital and social.

On LinkedIn you can find groups including the Copywriter Network Group, UK Marketing + Communications, and Marketing, PR, Media and Digital Jobs and Career Opportunities Network. For digital and tech networking and professional opportunities there are lots of communities on Slack including freelance platform YunoJuno , non-profit digital network Digital Charities and tech community UK Tech.

Where and how to find online and hybrid networking events?

For general information, start with an online search or use event listing sites to filter between in person and event type. But if you’re looking for a specific discipline or type of working group, here are a few that host regular online and in-person events:

Creative Equals:

https://www.creativeequals.org/

Aimed at: Creatives and organisations who want to make the industry more diverse and inclusive

Types of networking: (IRL and online events)

Creative Equals is a consultancy focusing on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) consultancy and it runs regular in-person and online events including workshops, talks and the RISE: For Creativity conference.

Creative Mornings (international):

https://creativemornings.com/

Aimed at: Global creatives

Types of networking (IRL and virtual meetups)

Creative Mornings began in New York in 2014 with a simple concept: free breakfast and a short talk for creatives  one Friday morning a month. It’s since spread across the word with live networking events and talks in the various chapters including Cardiff, London, Derby and Edinburgh. Regular online networking events include Virtual Field Trips, which include themes such as job search tips, building content strategy and communicating ideas.

PoCC:

Aimed at: What the acronym stands for: People of colour navigating the creative industry

PoCC is a creative members network for creative professionals of colour designed to drive cultural shifts in their industries. It offers a mix of WhatsApp groups as well as networking and talks.

Ladies, Wine & Design (international):

https://ladieswinedesign.com/

Aimed at: Women and non-binary creatives

Types of networking (IRL and virtual meet ups)

The global non-profit is aimed at addressing the statistic that only 0.1% of  creative agencies are founded by women and non-binary people. Ladies, Wine, and Design has chapters in several UK towns and cities including Cheltenham, Ipswich, Southampton, Sheffield and London and hosts a mix of online and in-person events 

What is the outlook for networking trends in the UK?

It’s too early to say how networking in the UK creative industries will change in the future. But there are some clues to be found within recruitment and employment. Just as we’ve seen work shift towards a mix of office based, remote-first and hybrid, the same can be said for networking.

Another positive shift worth noting is that there are a growing number of networking groups focused on community, inclusion and driving change. One thing is clear: creative people need each other.  And they will always gravitate towards finding support and connection.

On 24 November, we celebrated the first group of interns who took part in the Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme with Babbasa as part of the OurCity2030 Pathway into Creative & Tech.

We had a wonderful night celebrating everyone’s achievements over the past six months. The graduation event, at the Gather Round co-working space in Bristol, brought together the brilliant interns plus many of the programme contributors, friends and family to reflect on the successes and learnings from the scheme.

We launched the programme earlier this year. It is aimed at young people aged 18-24 from diverse backgrounds wanting to gain more insight and real experience in the creative industries.

Two of the biggest challenges facing the sector are a long-term skills shortage and a lack of workforce diversity. This was highlighted by Bristol Creative Industries’ A Creative Force to Be Reckoned With report which found that increasing diversity and inclusion is a significant priority for six in 10 creative firms in Bristol, but almost half said they want help finding diverse talent from underrepresented groups.

The internship programme was designed specifically to tackle those issues and create more inclusive workplaces. We were delighted that brilliant agencies from the BCI member community stepped up to provide three month placements to the 14 interns:

At the end of the first placement, three of the interns used the experience to explore other projects, while 11 stayed to undertake a second placement.

What happens next: Five of the interns got jobs

As the pilot programme comes to an end, here’s an update on how taking part in the initiative impacted on the interns and what they plan to do next:

Abdifatah Kheyre is going travelling for a while but has some exciting plans to launch a new project with a friend.

Abdur-Rahman Shafi has been offered a continuation at his first placement at Noble where he will be doing an internship extension, with the view for being promotion to digital marketing executive after six months.

Ahmed Ismail is considering his options in design and software development.

Amy Smith has been offered a role as production runner at Aardman on an upcoming project.

Kayjay McDonald-Ferguson is looking to continue with his freelancing projects in design and strategy and is set to start a bootcamp coding course.

Laurel Beckford has been working with Babbasa on the organisation’s social media campaigns and is looking for further work in film production and social media.

Mohd Wani has gone on to study an MA in information experience design at The Royal College of Art.

Omar Ibrahim has started a front-end web development bootcamp and will continue to study whilst trying to get more work experience. He is looking for a junior level role in front-end web development.

Priscilla Kodjo is staying on at her placement at Time Machine Designs as a freelance concept artist.

Sara Matloob has applied to study with the Chartered Institute of Marketing and hopes to build a career focused on public relations and the experiential sector.

Sophie Kirk is continuing to pursue her career in film and television art departments, with her improved graphic design skills opening up more opportunities for freelance work.

Seren Spooner was offered a job as a junior designer at Armadillo, her first placement.

Touka Mostafa led an EDI audit at one of her placements and delivered her findings to the board. She has recently accepted an account executive role at Armadillo, one of the participating agencies.

Yasmina El Khatib hopes to continue her education and study a modelmaking course with a focus on fabrication. For now, she is looking for a design and creative role to allow her to save for her masters.

Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme intern graduation

The impact the programme had on the interns

We asked some of the interns to reflect on taking part in the programme.

”The programme helped me find myself, be a better human and chase my dreams.”
Abdifatah Kheyre

“This internship really has made my dream career happen. The continued support throughout has been great. I have also made some friends that I will have for life.”
Amy Smith

”I took many learnings from the experience, but above all I learnt the importance of being an active learner. In a work setting it is important that you can communicate with the different departments and not be afraid to ask for what you want. In both agencies I felt comfortable to be myself and felt listened to. I like that the internship was tailored to what I needed.”
Kayjay McDonald-Ferguson

”Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t always a straight path, and I was never comfortable to put my hand up and say I want to learn more. But I have to say, I’m so glad I sat in the uncomfortable space for a little bit because I pushed past that point, I managed to develop and grow in so many different ways. ”
Touka Mostafa

”I loved seeing how many agencies were interested in diversity and inclusion and I really enjoyed the networking opportunities that came with the internship programme. I also enjoyed learning new skills during our Friday sessions and watching all of the interns develop new skills that they’re proud of.”
Sara Matloob

Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme cohort one: A short film

For more from the interns, participating agencies and other who took part in the programme, watch this brilliant short film: 

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The experiences of the participating agencies

The Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme is not possible without the fantastic agencies who take part and provide placements for the young people to gain valuable experience.  

Here, some of the agencies reflect on their experiences:   

“The best businesses need the best talent. The best talent is diverse. This programme has helped us collectively engage that talent.”
Nina Edmunds,
Halo

“We’ve always aspired to have an internship programme that promotes diversity and inclusion and encourages the community to open more doors, yet time and resources have been a barrier to achieving this. By joining forces with Bristol Creative Industries, Babbasa and other member agencies, we were able to make it happen.”
Lucy Rees, Newicon

“Collaborating with peers from other participating creative agencies has been a great experience. It has allowed us to actively contribute to shaping the program while exchanging ideas and learning from one another, particularly in areas around HR, people & culture, and innovative working practices.”
Anthony Butterfield,
Aer Studios

“We wanted to be challenged in our DE&I efforts. We hoped this scheme would help us push forward on our learning and DE&I journey and it has done exactly that.”
Abigail Croft,
Diva

“Our intern was really keen to learn all the different roles within the agency and really engaged in everything she was doing. Seeing her confidence grow each week, so she was asking the right questions to allow her to execute the task in front of her was a real highlight. The fact we could see the talent was there enough to offer her a job shows what an impact she made, and that is the true highlight.”
Jeremy Bourton,
Armadillo

“This amazing opportunity provides a springboard for young people with a paid placement that can really make a difference to their professional development. On the other side of the coin, it’s made me a more rounded professional and helped me to evolve.”
Matt Woodman,
Atomic Smash

“The BCI Internship Programme is a golden opportunity to partner with community-facing organisations. It is a real opportunity to learn as well as teach, whilst being supporting by BCI who follow the interns through the whole process.”
Ceilia Hunt, Aardman Animations

Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme intern graduation

All of the interns are now Bristol Creative Industries members. Please do reach out to them if you are looking for collaborations or for young people to fill junior roles. We will also be welcoming them to Bristol Creative Industries events in 2024, so you will get a chance to meet them.

We look forward to welcoming back the cohort as ambassadors for the programme in 2024 and to help inspire the next group of interns.

Want to get involved and offer placements to interns?

Conversations for the 2024 Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme have begun with Babbasa as part of the next OurCity2030 Pathway into Creative & Tech.

If you run a creative business in Bristol and are interested in hearing more about how to get involved, contact Bristol Creative Industries membership manager Alli Nicholas on alli@bristolcreativeindustries.com

Big thanks to @eljaybriss for the images.

It’s the time of year to give back to those who need it most, that’s why we’re putting together a community foodbank.

The teams across mustard jobs are planning to rustle up as many long-life food, hygiene and sanitary products as possible. Last year’s foodbank donation was impressive, but this year we want to make it even bigger, that’s why we are enlisting the help of our local community.

 

So how can you get involved?

We’re making this donation as easy as possible for anyone who is interested in taking part. Just pop to the mustard jobs office with your donations, we’ll list the address details at the bottom of this page. Then, we’ll put it in one of our collection box for safe keeping, until we do the big drop off at the foodbank. We’ll get everything delivered to the foodbank by our mustard team, so there is no stress for you or your team.

Whether you’ve got a little or a lot, anything will help.

 

Recommended items:

We have a great relationship with the St Nicholas of Tolentino Foodbank and they’ve let us know what they need the most.

 

It’s time to step up and support those who find themselves in crisis this winter. If you’d like to donate, please deliver your donations to:

mustard jobs

The Tramshed, 25 Lower Park Row,

Bristol

BS1 5BN

 

If you have any questions or queries, feel free to reach out to the team on marketing@mustardjobs.co.uk | 0117 929 6060

 

Thank you.

Moonraker VFX, a Bristol-based Visual Effects Studio, took part in the RTS Futures Festival yesterday, offering valuable insights, advice and information to aspiring individuals seeking a career in the television industry.

The free event took place at M Shed on Bristol’s Harbourside and drew over 400 young attendees, where a range of the city’s media organisations were on hand to give careers advice.

Hosted by the Royal Television Society, the RTS Futures Festival provided a platform for industry professionals to connect with graduates and students, guiding them through the complexities of the modern broadcasting landscape.

Moonraker—known for its groundbreaking work in Natural History programming including the BBC’s recent Earth series—engaged with attendees, sharing knowledge and experiences to inspire the next generation of talent.

Simon Clarke, Creative Director at Moonraker, commented, “Participating in the RTS Futures Festival was a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with the bright minds set to become future leaders of the television industry in the decades to come. Moonraker’s presence at the event underscores the studio’s commitment to fostering talent and contributing to the growth of the sector.”

RTS Futures aims to help graduates and those in the early stages of their career to progress and learn about different areas of television. It has an ongoing calendar of events, learn more: https://rts.org.uk/rts-futures

Join Weston College in the heart of Bristol to learn more about supporting the next generation of creatives! Are you looking at offering work placements? Internships?

Looking to grow your team?

Give back to a new generation through guest lecture and project work?

Want to find out more about Weston College? We may surprise you….

The Faculty of Creative Arts Employer Forum is designed to work alongside industry to deliver industry aligned curriculum, work experiences, progression and employment routes and pipeline talent. Courses covered at Weston College and University Centre Weston include:

Game & Animation

Creative and Digital Media

Broadcast, Journalism and Podcasts

Performing Arts and Theatre

Art and Design – including fashion, textiles and business

Photography

https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/creative-arts-and-design-courses-16-18-year-olds

Tuesday 7th November

6-8pm

Bristol Training Institute, 12 Colston Avenue, BS1 4ST

RSVP lynsey.mckinstry@weston.ac.uk

mustard jobs XP Divisional Lead, Jamie Rogers, outlines how 2023 is going for the job market across the sector.

Over the last year, mustard jobs have seen a surge in activity within the events industry across the UK. With Brexit, Covid and the Cost of Living Crisis significantly affecting the rate of movement within the industry in recent times. We’re breaking down the current trends, salary expectations, candidate availability and industry growth of the events sector.

At the beginning of the year we saw various external factors make candidates more hesitant about moving roles. Even though the cost of living remains high, the UK hasn’t plunged into a recession yet so candidates are maneuvering in the market again.

Industry Growth

The events industry is booming across the UK, and Brand Experience within London remains a particularly busy sector for the mustard team for permanent and contract roles.

Covid-19 has become a memory of the past and as a result the Tradeshow Exhibition industry is back and better than ever. Virtual Broadcast has maintained popularity within the corporate space as streaming functionality is more accessible than ever. This has provided continued success for global brands looking to improve sustainability, reducing flights and event waste.

Whilst London still remains the hub of the event sector, other areas such as Manchester, Leeds and Bristol are seeing sharp growth, fueled by increased flexibility to work from home post pandemic. As a result, we’re seeing top talent move away from London.

The majority of Candidates within the industry are looking for two key factors.

Firstly, Sustainability. Eco washing has become a prevalent issue across the industry, with brands implying sustainability rather than working on making real positive change. As more candidates in the industry are looking to work within an actively sustainable organisation, being certified as B-Corp or part of an industry specific sustainability group such as Isla, will ignite candidate attraction.

Next up, Flexibility. As a lot of employees within the sector devote their weekends and evenings to meet the demand of the job, working the ‘allotted’ 9-5 are becoming increasingly difficult to adhere to whilst maintaining a work-life balance. As a result, there is increased pressure on employers to offer flexible hours to align with this.

Desired Skills

The digital age has taken events to the next level. Consequently, employers are looking for event professionals with a mix of digital skills, the more digital integration the better. AR and VR offer interactivity that will engage audiences across the entire industry and showcasing any digital skills will give your CV the edge. This could include anything from working on virtual events, website registrations, video content, motion graphics, graphic design, animation and 360 photography.

Salaries

Salaries have gone up drastically when comparing the mustard XP salary guide from 2021 to 2023. As an example, a Mid-weight 2D Designer working in London in 2021 would be earning around £28,000 – £36,000 but in 2023 they’re more likely £40,000 – £50,000.

This could be because a lot of candidates left industry during the Covid-19 lockdown period for job security elsewhere so there is smaller pool of candidates, as a result employers are battling for the top candidates, offering higher salaries to entice them into their role. As the industry has bounced back in full force the demand for skilled candidates has increased.

“The Experiential, Events and Exhibitions industries have fluctuated dramatically within my five years as a recruiter in this space. We’ve seen various highs and lows across the industry over the last few years, but now is such an exciting time to be expanding your business or to move into a new role.”

– Jamie Rogers, XP Divisional Lead at mustard jobs.

IN 2023, WE RECERTIFIED WITH A SCORE OF 130.3.

130.3 is an outstanding achievement and something we should all be very proud of.

In 2019, ADLIB was one of a small handful of recruitment businesses globally that certified as a B Corp, our starting point was a score of 82.8. Our belief is that the B Corp assessment provides a structure, with clear measurement, to set clear improvement targets. Our initial certification was simply the start of the journey.

We set out our intentions through the publication of our annual impact reports and set the bar high. This approach and transparency ensured we achieved the focus and accountability needed to make improvements and reach our goals.

This impact report reflects on our recertification, what we have achieved, and provides a glimpse into where we head next.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

GOVERNANCE – In 2020 ADLIB converted to a 100% employee ownership model. True stakeholder capitalism.  Our recertification score acknowledges this transparency, from an internal perspective with regards to the day-to-day financial management, quarterly updates and access to the entire P&L. External publication of impact reports on social and environmental performance and commitment to our code of conducts.

WORKERS – We’re a people business in every sense of the phrase. Since our initial certification we have invested heavily into our team through numerous initiatives to build a stakeholder model that is fit for the long term.

COMMUNITY –  At the centre of any community is a shared belief in attitudes and interests in common. For ADLIB, community covers a lot of ground. We support regional ecosystems, provide insight and advocate for international communities that are fighting for equality. The team have built their own communities from the ground up, we’ve supported community based projects that improve people’s lives, and play an active role within the B Corp community.

ENVIRONMENT – As a B2B service provider we store an increasing amount of customer and candidate data. Given our learnings from within the Green Tech South West community, we are increasingly aware that the life cycle of storing, processing, and transmitting digital information is an area that we need to pay significant attention to.

CUSTOMERS – In 2021-22 we aimed to improve our customer score by 10 points via the MotherBoard Charter. After long discussion with B Lab it was concluded that Mums in Tech are not recognised as underserved. Furthermore, the initiative is a not for profit, charging charter signatories an administration fee only and therefore no points were awarded. Our response was threefold.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

The Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme, in partnership with Babbasa as part of the OurCity2030 initiative, is a stellar example of how BCI members can come together to fund and deliver a complex programme of internships and training to support some of the region’s most underrepresented young people. 

After a successful pilot over the past few months with 14 brilliant agencies, we are now looking for more creative businesses to join our mission.

They will support the second cohort of interns during the next phase of this innovative project in 2024.

How it works

Agencies pay a one-off fee which covers:

✅ Onboarding to the programme including guidance and templates around internship structure/workplan.

✅ ED&I, mental health and neurodiversity training with a focus on working with young people from underrepresented groups.

✅ HR support and mentoring from Bristol Creative Industries’ dedicated internship programme manager Clare Leczycki.

✅ Recruitment and employment of two interns over six months.

If you are interested in taking part, email Bristol Creative Industries membership manager Alli Nicholas on alli@bristolcreativeindustries.com 

 

Three of the agencies supporting the first cohort of interns discuss why they are involved in the programme:

Paula Newport, director of people and culture, Aardman Animations:

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Nina Edmonds, finance director, Halo:

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Shani Hawthorne Williams, senior digital marketing strategist, Newicon:

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If you are interested in taking part, email Bristol Creative Industries membership manager Alli Nicholas on alli@bristolcreativeindustries.com

Are you interested in exploring the latest recruitment challenges and how to overcome them?

Do you want to engage in insightful discussions with an industry expert and fellow professionals?

We are thrilled to invite you to a special recruitment roundtable event in collaboration with Bristol Creative Industries (BCI).

Presented by Liz Gadd, founder of Moxie and Mettle and Recruitment Bootcamp, this recruitment roundtable will give you the chance to explore some of the latest recruitment challenges.

The event will be held on the 15th of August 2023 and you will have the option of choosing between two time slots, 9:30am – 11am OR 12:15pm – 1:45pm. This is an in-person event, which will be held at the Engine Shed in Bristol.

The recruitment roundtable is designed to foster meaningful conversations and knowledge-sharing within a small group of participants (12 max) from diverse companies. Hosted by BCI Board Director, Heather Wright, the event will commence with a warm welcome and an introduction to Liz Gadd. Liz will then present some recurring recruitment issues and answer all your recruitment questions. We recommend emailing your questions ahead of the event to ensure they are answered.

As spaces are limited for this event, we kindly request interested participants to reply to this email promptly and secure their place at the roundtable. Early registration is encouraged to guarantee your participation.

Don’t miss this chance to be a part of an enriching recruitment roundtable, led by Liz Gadd, in partnership with Bristol Creative Industries. Whether you’re an HR professional, business owner, or recruitment enthusiast, this event promises to provide valuable insights and networking opportunities.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Recruitment Bootcamp is run by experts who can teach you how to attract the best talent for your business. Stay ahead of important issues and trends by signing up HERE.

In May we announced the 14 young people selected as the first cohort for the Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme, in partnership with Babbasa and 14 creative businesses from the BCI membership community.

Two months into the programme, which is aimed at young people from underrepresented groups, we’re sharing an update on what the interns have been getting up to.

Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme interns

Clare Leczycki, Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme manager, said:

“Our interns are two months into their first three month placement and we are delighted with the progress. Each of the supporting agencies are providing a 360 degree view of the different departments alongside bespoke support around the interns’ key areas of interest.

“I have the joy of spending Fridays with the cohort as part of the skills and training programme which is co-produced with the interns. Guest speakers come in to share knowledge and expertise on a range of topics. So far we have explored mental health and resilience tools and strategies, neurodiversity and uncovering barriers to work, how to speak to your employers about your needs, the power of networking and navigating live project briefs.

“The group is also working on a live brief which allows them to come together with a focus on their area of expertise. They learn from one another whilst producing a tangible product that they will be able to showcase at the end of their internship.

“I am blown away at how well the group has bonded, how they show up each week with great energy, ideas and commitment. I appreciate the time I get to spend with them.

“The journey for the interns and the participating agencies is far from straightforward. For the agencies, creating learning opportunities and delivering training whilst running a business and being ready to make changes to welcome people from diverse backgrounds to their organisation is a lot to manage all at once.

“For the interns, being a new person in a company can already feel quite daunting. Not really seeing anyone else who looks like you can feel quite intimidating, especially when you are so early on in your career.

“My job is to ensure everyone is having a positive experience, so it’s lots of listening, encouraging open conversations, building trust and nurturing relationships. There are lots of different needs to attend to and success looks different for everyone so managing expectations is key in navigating this project.

“Our aim is to create a space that empowers everyone involved to be open and ready to learn, to be comfortable with vulnerability, to share challenges across the team, addressing issues when they come up and be ready to respond and make changes when needed.

“Some days we get things wrong but I trust we are all here for the same reasons; to make long-lasting change to the creative industries by providing opportunities to these incredibly talented young people who need a foot in the door and a warm welcome when they step inside.”

What the interns have been getting up to

Kayjay McDonald-Ferguson, who is interning at saintnicks, is regularly sharing LinkedIn updates with brilliant behind the scenes insights from the programme. Here are some of his posts:

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Three of the interns joined the Bristol Creative Industries board meeting to deliver a brilliant presentation:

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Some other updates from the programme:

Bianca Jones on the mental health awareness session:

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Clare Leczycki on the mental health awareness session:

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Meet Laurel Beckford

Laurel is an intern at ThirtyThree.

Laurel Beckford

Meet Amy Smith

Amy is an intern at Halo.

See a video below or watch it on Instagram.

 

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A post shared by Halo – Brand Agency (@halostudio.love)


“Being inspired by those we hope to inspire”

Armadillo discusses being involved in the programme. 

On the workshop during which the 14 interns were selected, Rob Pellow, executive technical director at Armadillo, said:

“Meeting the potential interns and working with them in the workshop was an unbelievably eye-opening experience. Nothing had prepared me for the level of passion, curiosity and dedication to finding work that energises them.”

Megan O’Keefe, senior account manager, added:

“I’m really looking forward to being part of this project. Having joined the workshop, it’s clear how engaged everyone was and how keen to learn. There were some great questions so I’m looking forward to having some fresh perspectives and input.”

Read the full post.

 

Meet Mohd Wani

He is an intern at Atomic Smash.

See the full post on Instagram.

 

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A post shared by Atomic Smash – WordPress UK (@atomicsmash_studio)

 

ThirtyThree on why the agency is part of the internship programme:

See the full post on Instagram.

 

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Meet Ahmed, the latest addition to the Newicon team

“We are thrilled to introduce Ahmed, the newest addition to the growing Newicon team. Ahmed has just stepped on board as our Software Development Intern, armed with an innovative mindset, enthusiasm, and a resolve to leave a lasting positive impact.”

Read an interview with Ahmed.

Ahmed Ismail

 

Mr B & Friends X BCI Internship

“Last year, we shared our ‘Guide to a fair and inclusive workplace’, that hopes to address some of the hiring biases and challenges that are also preventing diverse talent from receiving and benefiting from opportunities. It considers where best to post job ads that will reach diverse audiences and how to write job ads without using gendered language. This tackles the practicalities of promoting the opportunities, but we were also looking for our opportunity to be able to provide an opportunity. Cue fanfare. This is when we heard about BCI’s new internship programme.

“We are thrilled to have welcomed our first intern, Sara Matloob, to the Mr B & Friends team. With a love of baking chocolate chip cookies, Jane Eyre and an interest in copywriting, idea generation and marketing we’re very excited to have her join the team.”

Read the full post.

Sara Matloob

To stay updated on the Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

 

Main image credit: Alli Nicholas, Bristol Creative Industries membership manager

Second image credit: Eljay | www.instagram.com/Eljaybrisswww.eljaybriss.co.uk