Young talent secures placements on Bristol Creative Industries Internship programme
Fourteen young people from across the city have now been selected as the initial cohort for the Bristol Creative Industries Internship Programme, in partnership with Bristol-based social enterprise Babbasa.
Through three core programmes – Support, Challenge, and Placement Programmes – Babbasa brings together soft skills training, mentoring schemes, career-oriented events and personalised recruitment support.
The programme is aimed at young people aged 18-24 from underrepresented 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 programme has been designed specifically to tackle those issues.
A report commissioned by BCI in late 2022 titled A Creative Force to Be Reckoned With found that increasing diversity and inclusion was a significant priority for six in 10 creative firms in Bristol, but almost half said they want more help finding diverse talent from underrepresented groups.
Many of the city’s most well-known creative companies have offered six-month full time paid placements to applicants in roles covering advertising, marketing, design, animation and digital.
Sarah Foley, Senior Designer, Mr B & Friends, which is participating in the programme, said: "We’re on our own journey for better representation and inclusivity within our agency and the industry as a whole. Our DE&I team (in its fifth year) understand that there are barriers to getting into the creative industry for those who are in underrepresented groups.
“Whether that be lack of education, lack of opportunities or lack of awareness that this is a career path for them, we were looking to be able to provide an opportunity for young people and this internship programme has helped give us that."
Applicants met participating agencies for an informal interview and meet & greet session at The Watershed, where they had the chance to chat directly with the participating agencies to learn more about the businesses and remit of the available roles.
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.”
Successful applicants will work for six months, undergoing two placements at two different agencies, both lasting three months each.
The programme will provide a mix of professional skills training, creative skills training, inspirational talks, networking events, mentoring and opportunities for future employment.
Zoe Lynes, Head of Services at Babbasa, said: “This is an amazing opportunity we are creating for young people across Bristol and our collaboration on this scheme has been a real passion piece for all of us here at Babbasa.
“This project has allowed us to foster a strong collaborative relationship with Bristol Creative Industries, aligning our mutual goals of raising up those young people who have been disadvantaged, to work together to build opportunity, excitement, and progression for those young people who need it most in Bristol.”
Chris Thurling, Chair of Bristol Creative Industries, added:
“We are delighted to welcome our first cohort for the internship programme. Just the recruitment process itself has been incredibly rewarding for all involved and has only reinforced the reasons as to why we set up this initiative.
“We are incredibly excited to see the new recruits take the next step in their journey and kick off their roles with some of the very best creative businesses not just in the city of Bristol, but in the UK.”
The businesses and Bristol Creative Industries members participating in the programme are:
