About Us.

Bodmin, with a population of 16,000 set to grow to 23,000 by 2030, has areas of high levels of deprivation. It has a high percentage of young people, high youth unemployment, high levels of child poverty and low educational attainment at Key Stage 4. The majority of jobs available are low-paid, often seasonal, and there are few opportunities locally for young people to find higher-paid jobs, so it is hard to retain young people with higher skill levels.

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The Creative Studio project idea evolved from conversations between Mark Talbot, Higher Education Lead for CELT, and Jon Drever, who is a visiting lecturer at the Bodmin College Digital Media Degree Course. Mark is a member of the Bodmin Town Team, and the Town Team felt that this exciting concept would be a worthy initial project for the newly created CIC.

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Bodmin College is the only 11-18 College to run a successful Digital Media degree course. It started in 2015, in partnership with Falmouth University, as a Foundation Degree Course and this became a full BA Honours Digital Media Degree Course in 2019. With low cohort sizes, the course provides support for students who might be unable to attend the University for a variety of reasons including ill health, carer responsibilities or other family issues. It is this nurturing and supportive environment that has created an alumni group of around 80 graduates. 

 

Some of these have gone on to be successful, producing work for celebrities like Coco Gauff and Anthony Joshua and top global brands like Gucci.  Others, although equally talented, have found it hard to transition as easily into the industry and they will have an opportunity to benefit by working within the BCS. This initial project will do more than provide space as it will provide education, mentorship, business opportunities and support that will help young people and adults build skills and move successfully into the world of work and entrepreneurship. 

 

The graduates will be the backbone of our initial cohort of members, but it is hoped that the studio will attract other local creatives to join. The aim is for the studio to become a successful generator of work opportunities and help bolster the creative industries in the area. It will be an incubator for some but will also become a successful studio in its own right, with local and national clients. It will operate as an organised community of freelancers who will benefit from strength through collaboration. This is a unique concept, and clients will be aware that they are not just receiving quality services but are also helping to revitalise a town.