Creative Bath Business Bus Tour

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Students navigate career journeys with help of local ‘Business Buses’

Students from Bath Spa University have been given an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of some of the city’s most creative companies as part of the University's Business Liaison Team’s Workfest programme.

Through Bath Spa’s partnership with Creative Bath, 27 second and third year students travelled across the city in innovative ‘Business Buses', stopping at regular intervals to gain first-had experience of the inner workings of some of the most creative teams in the area.

Businesses on the tour included Mytton Williams, Half Moon Bay, The Guild, Ready, Really Decent Books, Anthem Publishing, MediaClash, Rocketmakers and Edit.

The group of students learnt more about the range of roles available, as well as the different spaces that local businesses operate from and the potential for collaboration. From large corporations to small start-ups, this was the first time many of students had stepped inside a work environment and experienced the variety of career paths on offer.

Feedback from the tour was positive with students saying it, ‘broadened their understanding of the types, sizes and services of creative companies' and they can ‘actually imagine what life after university could be like’.

Abigail Branagan, Business Liaison Consultant at Bath Spa University, said: ”We were thrilled to be able to team up with Creative Bath for a second year to offer students this unique guided tour of the city’s creative companies.

“Our students enjoyed expanding their learning of the career opportunities that are available on their doorstep, and it was fantastic to see a number of last year’s students now working in the companies we visited.

“The students’ enthusiasm to explore Bath’s vast creative scene was evident and the knowledge they have learned from local business leaders will certainly stand them in good stead for the future.”

Jess Chalmers, Bath Spa University BA Graphic Communication graduate, took part in last year’s tour. After meeting the team at local brand design agency, Mytton Williams, Jess secured a work placement as a Junior Graphic Designer through the University's Summer Placement Scheme. She joined fellow Bath Spa University graduates Carl Godfrey and Chris Makin who are also colleagues at Mytton Williams.

Lucy Plummer, Creative Bath Community Manager, added: “The Business Bus is gives students a unique opportunity to experience not only what different companies across the city do, but also to soak up the huge range of company cultures found across the creative and digital industries.

“From freelancers working alone to CEOs managing dozens or hundreds of people, the Business Bus offers short but impactful visits to creative workplaces and highlights that working in this city can be incredibly varied and exciting. We were thrilled to receive such great feedback from the students as well as the businesses who got involved, many of whom are actively recruiting graduates.”

For more information on the work experience opportunities offered by Bath Spa University, visit the Business page.