boomsatsuma welcomed representatives from the Department of Culture, Music and Sport (DCMS) and the West of England Combined Authority to see first-hand how boomsatsuma is successfully upskilling and reskilling young people in new and exciting ways

Having moved three of its creative, digital college courses into a new training centre at Bristol’s centrally located Leadworks, boomsatsuma’s Executive Dean, Dr Susan McMillan, welcomed Elizabeth Mitchel, DCMS, and Gail Caig (Creative Industries Council and Bristol Creative Industries) to meet course tutors and students.

Gail Caig, Creative Industries Council and Bristol Creative Industries, states:

“The talent on show on our visit to boomsatsuma in Bristol was impressive. The Creative Industries needs young people with creative and tech skills and this was a real opportunity to meet the next generation of talent. My work supporting the Creative Industries Council focuses on areas where there are barriers to growth for the UK’s creative sector, such as access to skills and ensuring we have a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Our visit really highlighted what excellent work is already happening in Bristol to enable young people from all backgrounds to access jobs in the sector”

The fact find mission informed DCMS and West of England Combined Authority’s with insights as to how boomsatsuma’s close links with West Country creative industry businesses and skills strategy impact students’ development in a significantly positive way.

Elizabeth Mitchell, DCMS Head of Skills, Diversity and Levelling Up, Media and Creative Industries comments:

“The DCMS team was so impressed by the energy and quality of the young students we met at boomsatsuma. The company’s admirable focus on matching their young people’s talents to the needs of the industry in Bristol will ensure a strong and localised talent pipeline for the creative sector.”

The expanding Createch sector in the West Country will bring meaningful employment opportunities across the coming years. Strong links with companies at the sharp end gives boomsatsuma students first hand experiences to gain the skills and knowledge to prepare them very well for an incredible range of careers.

Dr Susan McMillan states:

“Many of the city’s young people – at School and College – may not be aware of these creative tech roles, yet with some insight and training, they will be ideally suited to these careers. We work directly with schools across Bristol and the West Country to inspire children about working in the Creative Industries. We are now offering free, inspirational workshops and talks to schools in subjects from Game Art and Web Design to Virtual Reality. On our college courses we help students focus their ambition and skills. Our new portfolio of creative and technical degrees then gives young people an opportunity to enhance their understanding and industry experience and focus on employment through our meaningful and working relationships with employers from the BBC to The Bottle Yard Studios. We are connecting up the sections of the talent pipeline.

“I believe it is that our connected approach, from school, to college, to degree, to employment, is what differentiates boomsatsuma as a very effective educator.”

The ongoing expansion of boomsatsuma, with new technical degree’s coming on-line next year, precipitated taking on the Leadworks as a new course centre. Being located so close to We The Curious, The Watershed and Bristol Beacons places students in the creative heart of Bristol.

About boomsatsuma

boomsatsuma is a Bristol-based independent education provider, offering training pathways to people from all backgrounds, from 16 to degree level, into expanding creative industries. #InBristolYouCan